レポート

5th Global Network Initiatives (GNI) Report

The 5th Global Network Initiatives (GNI) was held on Saturday, March 22, 2025 at Kumon Headquater Office in Shin-Osaka. GNI is an event where past EIC participants, Camp Leaders, and staff gather once a year. This year for the first time it was organized in conjunction with a trial event called Ichigojam Text Programing. Both events ran from 10:00 AM to 12:00 noon (Ichigojam Text Programing) and GNI from 13:30 to 17:00 PM respectively.

The Ichigojam program was attended by a total of 19 participants of past Kumon English Immersion Activities (KEIA) and GNI event a total of close to 100 people, not just from last year’s 2024 and past Global Immersion Camp (GIC) participants, camp leaders, camp staff, but including the parents, siiblings and intrcutors too, attended the events.

This event is more than just get together, meet and reminiscense past camps and activities. It’s a unique place for members of all ages, background, nationalities and languages, provided to them the opportunity to share their personal growth and development, dreams, projects, or reflecting on their life journey after program in a safe and non-judgemental environment. And most importantly members are given the chance to express their ideas, comments and feelings without fear of making mistakes. The aim of this event is to inspire and be inspired, to motivate and be motivated, and learn from each other. Finally we want everyone to leave feeling appreciated, moved, and full of joy.

Event Information

Date: March 22, 2025 (Saturday)
Location: Kumon Institute of Education Headquarters, Shin-Osaka
Attendees: 89 (39 children, 9 OBOGs, 9 Camp Leaders, 4 Camp Staff, 8 Staff and 20 parents)

Summary of the Highlight Program

The 5th GNI started with a brief digest video of 2024 Global Immersion Camp (GIC) which brought back the past memories of that camp for those who have joined that camp while showing the others how time flies but something does not change. It was a heart-warming feeling to be able to see familiar faces and meeting few participants, who have joined the GIC 11 years ago, came back to this event! After the opening video and message from Global Network Team (GNT) Leader, Mr Enokky, the participants were straight dived into the highlights of the program. First with the ice breaking activity of getting to know all the participants who have joined or involved in the camps since 2002 until 2024.

① “Dear Future Me (I)” & “Dear Future Me (II)”

In the first part of this activity (I), 4 people from the GIC 2024 participants were provided with the opportunity to go on stage and share about the things they have done and wanted to do after joining the camp 7 months ago. It was their first time to go onstage and talk to infront of so many people, without doubt the 4 members have definitely shown how much they have grown so much in confident within a short time. After which all the attendees were given the chance to convey their encouraging messages live or write on a sticky paper and paste it onto the presenters poster. And in the later part (II) during group time, all the participants were given the time to talk to each other about their own things they have done and wanted to do. Finally, members in the group were handed with a postcard where they could write their ‘Future Me (II)’ and return it to GNT for them to receive it back as invitation to the next 6th GNI event.

An audience gave an encouraging message to the presenter

② “Wonderland” – Presentation on the topic 「Water」

In every GIC ‘Wonderland’ is one activity where campers get to listen, know, learn, wonder and talk about the earth (land) we are living in now. Last year, the were thrown into the topic related to lakes. In continuation to what the participants have learnt in the camp, this time in the 5th GNI it was such a great pleasure to welcome back one of the camp leader to share about her work related to the importance of water. The lively interactive presentation seems simple and obvious but it served as a reminder to everyone presence in the event that we should not take water for granted especially the water that comes from natural resource such as fresh water. At th end of the presentation, attendees were presented a bottle of mineral water that was made from French Alps.

③ “My Journey” – Be inspired by listening to the OBOGs experiences

Have you seen or watched a TV program on ‘talk show’? “My Journey” activity is like the talk show where the master of ceremony (MC) engage with the guest speakers and audiences through talking and asking questions. Through this activity it was aimed to inspire the younger participants and adults too based on the talk by each OBOG’s personal experiences, growth and development, more than 10 years after joining GIC (EIC). On the other hand it was a good opportunity for the OBOGs too to be able to speak in English infront of a big crowd as main speakers and MCs, who are either currently studying in medical university, or have just graduated and will continue to pursue the childhood dream as a pilot or who will be starting work soon as a financial accountant. With the constant and continuous contact within the OBOG members and GNT staff, this activity could realized its aim.

Finally at the end of GNI – A Networking Time

The event ended with a networking time where all attendees and participants are free to talk to anyone they want to.
At the end of the group work, we shared ideas about what we could do to achieve our goals. Having such a place to make international connections and exchange ideas will continue to be an opportunity for all participants to share their thoughts and to learn from each other. The events held by the Global Network Team aim to establish GNI as a platform or a forum where we can see and support each individual growth through learning and exchanging ideas in order to discover own challenges and goals and to continue to try to understand the world. Through the expansion of perspectives, discussions, encounters, and connections we will all grow and develop our individual abilities as we move into the future within the international community. We hope to be a presence that will continue to provide such platform and support the GIC (EIC) Family members’s potential and expand them to the maximum.

Participant Comments

I was happy to meet my friends in this event who joined the camp together and I feel safe to see camp leaders who I already knew.

It was great to have the opportunity to meet up with the precious friends, camp leaders, and staff I met at GIC. It was also fun to have time to talk freely with everyone at the end. I wish there was a little more space where everyone could play, because we mostly listened to presentations and other things. I hope we have another chance to meet up. I’m going to be a junior high school student, so I hope there will be an event I can participate in.

I think it was a beautiful event, can’t explain the joy I felt seeing those kids and witnessing how they have grown so much. Not just in their speaking abilities but level of confidence as well. I had a great time catching up with old friends and making new ones. I really enjoyed wonderland presentation, it was both an insightful and vital information portrayed in a fun and engaging way. I bet the audience learnt something new. In my opinion, I think there’s more room for improvement in different areas such as, talent show and “my journey”. The talent show was lovely, but I was hoping for more. Regarding the “My Journey” the stories were beautiful and inspiring. A big respect to them for taking up such a challenge. Overall it was a short yet beautiful event. Thank you for the opportunity ❤️

First time I participated in GNI, I was surprised how many people joined GIC before. I would like to make a presentation on my work someday in the future.

Overall, it was a good experience. I could see the kids’ improvement and their future goals. It was motivating, and I want to see them achieve their goals in the future and be a part of their hard work. As for the event, the kids had already participated in GIC, so they opened up not taking much time. I was grateful to meet the kids again. Lastly, “My journey” by OBOG could have been much better if they had taken more time. It can motivate the kids to learn English even more.

What’s GNI?