We held the "Let's Play Soccer Around the World!" project, which was jointly carried out by three organizations: Seeds General Incorporated Association, GMSS Co., Ltd., and TOFA.

This time, a total of 22 people participated, including 13 children, mostly Japanese junior high school students, 4 instructors, and 5 staff members (3 of whom were from TOFA).

Through soccer, the participants were able to experience connecting with various people without speaking the same language, and it was an opportunity to experience Tanzanian culture and deepen mutual understanding.

■ Soccer exchange

Four mixed teams of Japanese and Tanzanians were formed and played in a round-robin format.

At the beginning, the players had difficulty communicating and did not appear to be functioning as a team, but over the course of two days and six matches, they gradually began to work together and we could see them coming together as a team.

Among them, the Japanese children gradually showed signs of taking on leadership roles and leading the team, which made me feel their strength.

Each team fought hard throughout the six games in their quest to win. Some teams felt bitterness after losing, while others celebrated with ecstasy after winning. It was because they were serious that they felt different emotions, and it also seemed to me that their bonds with their teammates became stronger because they were serious.

I also felt that soccer is a sport that everyone in Tanzania really loves. At the start of the tournament, there were only a few people on the field, including the participating members, but as the matches progressed, more and more people showed up, and by the end, I think there were over 200 people at the venue. There were many children enjoying playing soccer outside the court using spare balls that were used for practice.

■ Local life experience (Maasai village + Tarangire National Park visit)

We decided to stay in a Maasai village to experience the life of the locals.

First, they were welcomed with a welcome dance. Afterwards, they had the chance to actually experience butchering a goat. The children said that it gave them a renewed sense of the preciousness of life and gratitude for the food they eat every day.

Before dinner, we sat around the campfire and listened to an explanation about the lives of the Maasai people. We learned that Maasai boys have to pass a number of tests before they reach adulthood, and only after passing all of them can they start a family.

After dinner, everyone enjoyed the starry sky. The stars were visible all the way to the horizon, and the children were deeply moved by the beauty of nature, something that cannot be seen in Japan with its neon lights. Also, because it is in the Southern Hemisphere, the constellations that can be seen are different from those in Japan, so they had the added fun of spotting them, making for a fulfilling time.

The next day, on the way back to Arusha, we stopped off at Tarangire National Park. Tanzania is known for its wildlife and national parks! The kids were thrilled to see the animals up close.

■Visit to a local junior high school + cultural exchange

We visited Arusha Secondary School, a local public junior high school. As part of the cultural exchange, Japanese children taught Tanzanian children how to fold origami cranes, and Tanzanian children taught Japanese children how to make bead accessories.

When the Japanese children first arrived in Tanzania, most of them were unable to fold origami cranes. However, they practiced every day, and by the time the day came, all of them were able to teach others.

Although there were many children who could barely speak English, the Tanzanian children were able to fold beautifully by using gestures and other methods to explain how to fold the paper.

The Tanzanian children seemed to like origami, and many of them said, "I want to fold more!" and folded two or three pieces, and we ended up using up all of the origami paper we had brought with us.

After that, we spent the time until lunch together exercising on the school grounds using frisbees and soccer balls, and then went home together to eat lunch prepared by the junior high school.

Although it was only about half a day, it was a good opportunity for interaction.

*Photos are published with permission