Kanae Kimoto

My APCC Journey

Kanae Kimoto
Managing Director and Secretary General, APCC

Kanae Kimoto has been involved with APCC for over 25 years, and is the only person to have worked there for such a long time. There is no doubt that she has made a significant contribution to the development of APCC. We spoke to Kanae about her journey at APCC.
Ms. Kanae Kimoto has been involved in APCC for more than 25 years, or we can say she is the only one who is working in APCC for such a long time. There is definitely no controversy that she contributes a lot in developing APCC to this stage. So, let's hear her APCC journey from her own words.

1) How did you become involved with APCC?
In the fall of 1995, I found a small job advertisement in the newspaper that said, "We are looking for staff to work at the Children's International Exchange Secretariat." That's when my involvement with APCC began. In fact, I had moved to Fukuoka from another prefecture to work in the management of an international sporting event (the Universiade), so I had never heard of APCC at the time. However, since graduating from university, I had always wanted to work in an international project, so I remember being very attracted to the keywords "international exchange" and "children," which were an extension of that. (Since I became a staff member in November 1995, I have taken two one-year breaks to give birth and raise my child, but apart from that, I have spent about half my life with APCC. That's a long time.)
In the fall of 1995, I came across a recruitment call for the secretariat staff of a children's international exchange job in a small advertisement section of the newspaper. I stepped forward after seeing this advertisement, and my relationship with APCC began. In actuality, the real reason for my move to Fukuoka was to become involved in the management of an international sports competition (Universiade), so at the time, I was completely unaware of APCC. However, ever since graduating university, I have always aspired to engage in a job relating to international affairs. Consequentially, I remembered being very drawn towards the keywords “international exchange,” and “children.”
(Since becoming an employee in the November of 1995, besides taking a one-year break twice for the birth and upbringing of my children, I have spent around half of my life with APCC. It has been a long time.)

2) What was your first impression of APCC?
I was amazed to see so many people from countries I had never heard of, let alone met, gathered at once, and they were all 11 years old! And in Fukuoka! And the organizer of this huge project was a private organization, not a government or a company. When I joined the APCC organization, it was a voluntary organization (executive committee) without legal status, so I was even more surprised. However, at the center of it were the members of the Fukuoka Junior Chamber of Commerce and many citizen volunteers who had become fans after participating in previous projects, and I felt a great sense of enthusiasm and energy. My impression of the project, which was my first time meeting 300 multinational children in the summer, was that "children are children, even if their language and culture are different. They are the same from all over the world!" In a good way, the children's carefree smiles, playful behavior, and homesick tears are all the same, even though they are from different countries. It was exciting to see the world of "everyone is different and everyone is good" unfold before my eyes as a reality.
There were people who I obviously had never met before, from countries I have never even heard of all meeting together in one place, but what's more is that they were all 11, and in Fukuoka of all places! I was utterly surprised. Furthermore, this huge project was being carried out by a private organization that was neither an administration nor an enterprise. When I first joined the APCC organization, I was even more surprised because it was completely voluntary without legal personality (executive committee). However, at its core, there were many members of the Fukuoka Junior Chamber and citizen volunteers who previously participated in the projects and became fans, so I truly felt the extent of their enthusiasm and energy. My initial impression of this summertime event where 300 multinational children met for the first time was, “even if there is a difference of language and culture, children are children. Being a child is universal!” In a good sense, the carefree smiles, ridiculous behavior, and homesickness and tears were all the same for children of different countries. It was extremely uplifting to bring the world of “everyone is different and wonderful” to reality.

3) What has surprised you most about working in APCC?
The biggest surprise I have had working here is that, even though we are a private organization in a regional city, we are able to directly connect with so many countries, including government agencies such as the Ministry of Education, without going through the capital, Tokyo. Although it has taken time and effort, I feel that the trust between us and our overseas partners has become stronger and stronger as the years go by. It is not a business relationship based on financial gain or loss, but rather, we have been able to build true mutually cooperative relationships with people from various countries, as friends who join hands to realize our vision of raising children to be global citizens of OMOIYARI. I think this is a valuable asset.
The biggest surprise I've had while working here is that although APCC is a private organization from a local city, it is still possible to connect directly with many countries, including their government agencies such as the Ministry of Education, without involving our capital, Tokyo. I feel that the trusting relationship with our overseas partners is gradually becoming more solid with each passing year. This is not a business relationship revolving around gains or losses of money, it is about a true cooperative friendship and joining hands with people from different countries in order to realize the vision of raising children to be global citizens with the OMOIYARI spirit.

4) How has the APCC program improved over time?
The evolution I have seen over the past 25 years has been remarkable. I believe that the project, which started as an international goodwill event, has transformed greatly and strongly into a movement to foster OMOIYARI global citizens through continuity. In the 10th year since the project began, an alumni organization called Bridge Club (BC) was formed, where past participants of the project could gather, and participation in the APCC project is no longer a one-off. A human network has been formed that allows global citizens to connect with each other across generations and borders, and this has now become one of the major features of the project. In Fukuoka, the movement to foster OMOIYARI global citizens involves many people every year, including elementary, junior high, and high school students who respond to the annual public call for participants, citizen volunteers and host families who run the project, people who participate in the project at the local and school levels, and supporting companies and organizations, and the circle is expanding rapidly. With the project continuing for more than 30 years, some volunteers and host families have participated for two or three generations. I think this is also a happy phenomenon that shows the evolution of APCC.
The evolution I have seen over the past 25 years has been remarkable. Our business which started as an international friendship event has continued and transformed into a movement that raises global citizens with the Omoiyari spirit. After the first 10 years, participation in APCC was no longer a temporary involvement because the Bridge Club was established, which is an alumni organization where past participants can gather. And thus, a human network system that allowed global citizens to stay connected across national borders and throughout time was created, which is now one of the major aspects of our business. The Omoiyari movement that nurtures global citizens involves many people every year, so our circle is steadily expanding in Fukuoka from elementary, middle school, and high school students who respond to the annual recruitment projects, to citizen volunteers and host families who are in charge of management, to everyone who participates in the projects through their communities and schools, and of course the support companies, organizations and many more people involved. After more than 30 years of business, some volunteers and host families have been participating for two or three generations. I think this is the perfect phenomenon to illustrate APCC's evolution.

5) What do you wish other people knew about APCC?
The value that APCC values and wants all future generations to have is "compassion." In an age of ever-increasing diversity, we believe that "compassion" is the key to working together with people of different beliefs and cultures and living together peacefully. We would like to convey this to everyone and have them empathize with us. APCC's efforts are a place (a device) to foster a compassionate spirit in all situations, so we hope that you will get involved in some way, foster a compassionate spirit, and spread that circle.
APCC believes in the idea of everyone in the next generation to uphold the value of having “a heart full of compassion or OMOIYARI spirit.” In an era of increasing diversity, we believe that a “heart full of compassion” is the key to collaborating and living peacefully side-by-side with people of different ideas and cultures. I would like for everyone to convey this message and sympathize with others more. Since APCC's endeavors have cultivated this space that nurtures a heart full of compassion in every situation, I hope that everyone can become involved in some way to foster their compassionate heart and expand this circle of people.

6) What would you say are some of your strongest beliefs about APCC.
I believe that "real-life experiences of intercultural exchange at a young age are a source of nourishment for growth." Even if they speak different languages or grow up in different environments, they never give up on communicating by making full use of gestures and gestures, and as a result, they experience the joy of being understood and the struggle of not being able to get things the way they wanted. This can lead to an increased interest in cultures, languages, and environments different from one's own. There is also a lot to be gained from this experience, such as a mindset that allows one to find differences interesting and to be positive about intercultural exchange, rather than fearing or avoiding "differences." For many children, experiencing intercultural exchange is a big challenge, so I think the confidence and independence they gain from facing it help them grow.
My belief is that “the genuine experience of cross-cultural exchange as a child establishes the foundation for their growth.” Even experiencing cross-cultural non-verbal communication and then sharing the joy of mutual understanding after a long struggle gives kids a new horizon. After that, an interest in foreign languages, cultures, and environments with other children will expand. Furthermore, instead of fearing or avoiding what's different, children will instead find these things interesting, as they will gain many experiences by switching their mindset about cross-cultural exchange to a more positive outlook. It is challenging for many children to experience interacting with foreign cultures, but the confidence and independence gained from facing this challenge will support their growth.

7) Message for Smile supporters of APCC. What would you tell someone who is thinking about donating or volunteering in APCC?
APCC's business style has remained almost unchanged for 30 years. Of course, new programs have been offered and business names have changed to keep up with the changing times and needs. However, the basic principle of providing children with real-life experiences in intercultural exchange has remained unchanged and has been carefully passed down for 30 years. The main target of the business is elementary school students. Because there is an age limit, the participants change each time. In other words, even though the business style is the same, different encounters and dramas are born each time. That's why APCC wants to continue providing a place to experience intercultural exchange to children of the future, 50 or 100 years from now. For the sake of future children, we will always need people who will be involved in this business as volunteers and take on the role of leaders, and people who will accept homestays. And above all, we believe that we need the support and support of all our supporters who will financially support us so that we can continue the business.
The business style of APCC has remained unchanged for almost 30 years. Of course, we have implemented new programs and business names in response to changing times and needs. However, the principle of providing children with the real-life experience of cross-cultural exchange has remained constant for 30 years. Our main target has been elementary school students, but the participants change every time because of age restrictions. Because of this, even though our business style is constant, unique situations and encounters appear every year. Therefore, APCC strives to continue to provide this space of cross-cultural exchange for children to experience in the future, whether it will be 50 or 100 years from now.
To create the sake of future children, we will always need people who volunteer to be involved in this program and provide homestays. Above all, I think we need the financial assistance from supporters who can help our business continue.