Interview Of JCI World President
Mahbub Manik
As-salamualaikum.
Please read the following interview of JCI World President Kentaro Harada:
A chat with the junior Chamber international president
Link: http://print.dailymirror.lk/life/132-life/54001.html
Full Text:
Interviewed by Reihan Stephen
Kentaro Harada, nominated by JCI Japan, was elected 2011 JCI (Junior Chamber International) President at the 65th JCI World Congress held in Osaka, Japan, in November 2010.Born in 1972 in Kagoshima, Japan, Harada holds a Bachelor of Law degree from Waseda University. He has also earned a Certificate of Special Studies in Administration and Management from Harvard University Extension School.
Harada serves as the president of Harada Kogyo Co., Ltd., a steel processing firm specialising in steel coils and furniture manufacturing and transportation. He is a member of the Fukuyama Kita-Kai, a group that preserves the traditional Japanese musical drama form, Noh, and is a member of the National Association of Underwater Instructors. Harada resides in Fukuyama City, in the Hiroshima Prefecture of Japan with his wife Makiko and daughter Sawako.
What have you heard of Sri Lanka?
I have a good friend from Sri Lanka who I met through JCI activities and he has told me that it is a wonderful place with very active people and I’ve met a few Sri Lankans as well and its very surprising that a lot of them speak Japanese extremely well so that about it that I know of Sri Lanka. Even the way Sri Lankans speak English is very understandable unlike other countries.
Tell me about JCI
Junior Chamber International (JCI) is the only worldwide non-political
and non-sectarian youth service organization. It is an international
community of citizens between the ages of 18 to 40 with the aim and
purpose of creating positive changes in the world. The organisation
believes that these changes must result from one taking “collective
action to improve themselves and the world around them.” What is
important is that the JCI was not started by any government it was
started by ordinary citizens like you and me. We have around 200,000
members and 5000 organizations we are the biggest international
organisation active citizens. The JCI’s objective is to unite people
with common objectives of making the world a better place.
What is it like to be the JCI world president?
Well I get to travel a lot. Sri Lanka is my 39th destination this year I have been traveling since January I would have traveled to 55 destinations by the end of my term as president but then I’m not going sight seeing. I have my objective goals and also I have a lot of responsibilities on my shoulder so its hectic but very interesting. Meeting people new people and involving them in a united cause everyday is very interesting.
Why is the JCI a youth is based organization?
We want to make a change in the world. We want to bring about good leaders into the world to lead nations and organisations and where else better to start grooming them other than with the youth!
Will you be traveling to the north of Sri Lanka which is just recovering from 3 decades of civil war and starting any CSR projects there?
Unfortunately my schedule is controlled by the JCI headquarters and I won’t be able to go to the north but I will definitely try to do project there along with help of the local JCI community.
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*Sincerely,*
Mahbub Manik
2011 LOM President
JCI Dhaka Central (Bangladesh)
Tel: +880 1815007037
Visit www.jcibangladesh.com to learn how young people are working to create
positive change.