Although I was tense and anxious when the training commenced‚ the trainees were very interested right from the start and engaged positively with the lectures. In addition‚ there were many occasions where the trainees taught one another‚ which was a tremendous help. The very popular study trip to Tokyo held in the third week included not only lectures but also some free time for the trainees to enjoy Tokyo. The session during that trip for the trainees to share information and exchange opinions seemed to have further strengthened their sense of unity. In the fourth and fifth weeks‚ the trainees created action plans in parallel with attending lectures‚ and I had them communicate with the organizations they belong to while preparing plans that they really wanted to implement. I will never forget their smiling faces after their action plan presentations.

Throughout the course‚ I could sense how passionate the lecturers were about the training‚ and how determined the trainees were to acquire as much useful information and knowledge as possible so that they could solve problems in their respective organizations. The lecturers‚ trainees‚ and also the JICA coordinator who connected them‚ pulled together as a united team‚ which I think made this an extremely worthwhile training course. As a newly-appointed course leader‚ I feel that I learned far more from the lecturers and trainees than I taught them about the training themes.

It was my first experience as a course leader so I was still finding my way‚ and I am sincerely grateful that I was able to reach the finishing line with the support of everyone involved. I hope that the trainees will leverage the fruits of this training and do their best to develop startup ecosystems in their home countries.