Fieldwork
On-site Research Project
On-site Research Project - Philippine Project (Guest)
2023
Sep. 12 - 19, 2023
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Visiting local households (people)
Interviewed local people from three different slum areas
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Visiting an elementary school
Enjoyed cultural exchange with elementary school children.
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Discussion
Discussed what participants felt and thought on that day. Sharing divered opinions helped us deepen our thoughts and understanding.
Participating in a study tour organized by NPO Access,
not only fieldwork but also engaged in discussions with participants from other universities
Fieldwork that can see the current state of poverty
The Philippines Project 2023 was truly enjoyable and gave me a lesson. We visited three slums and had the opportunity to engage with residents during home visits. We also organized our presentations and had cultural exchanges with elementary school children. In addition to these activities, we had crucial time every evening to discuss our thoughts and feelings about the day with other participants. Particularly, this time was significant for deepening my understanding.
By witnessing, directly asking, and feeling how people live in poverty, I experienced poverty indirectly, which was significant to me.
Real life experience
Last year's Philippines project was an unforgettable experience for me.
I was anxious about doing research and travelling abroad without prior knowledge. In particular, I had a preconceived notion that slums are dangerous and I was anxious about visiting them. However, when I actually visited, I found the people to be kind and open-minded. Their efforts to support their families despite poverty provided me with a good opportunity to reflect on myself. Before taking part in the project, I felt prejudiced and anxious about visiting slums. However, my views changed when I learnt about the problems in the slums and the seriousness of the education problems in the Philippines and proposed solutions from the problems of the Philippine government. This project was an important life experience that broadened my knowledge and made me see myself in a new light through real-life experiences.
