Think Globally, Act Locally: Helping Afghan Refugees in Japan

In August 2021, the Taliban took over the government of Afghanistan. Consequently, the previous governmental employees were dismissed from their jobs, those who had studied abroad or worked for international organizations were persecuted, and women were prohibited from working and from going outside their house unless accompanied by male companions. Three of those who had previously studied in Japan evacuated to Japan through the help of their Japanese contacts. This effort led to several exciting developments. First, many people offered to assist the refugees once they arrived in Japan. Then, it raised awareness among the Japanese volunteers about global issues, especially Afghanistan. Ultimately, it enhanced intercultural communication skills among all participants. In this article, the author will share the stories of these Afghan families, the insights and lessons learned by their supporters, and the implications for global education and English learning. 2021年8月、タリバンがアフガニスタン政府を掌握した。その結果、それまでの政府職員は解雇され、留学経験者や国際機関で働いていた者は迫害され、女性は男性の同伴がない限り就労も外出も禁止された。日本にかつて留学していた3人のアフガン人は、日本人の知人や日本の団体を頼って日本に避難した。この努力は、いくつかの画期的な展開をもたらした。第一に、避難民が日本に到着すると、多くの人々が支援を申し出た。第二に、国際的な問題、特にアフガニスタンに対する日本人ボランティアの意識が高まった。第三に、参加者全員の異文化コミュニケーション能力が高まったことである。本稿では、アフガニスタン人家族のストーリー、彼らの支援者が得た洞察と教訓、そしてグローバル教育と英語学習への示唆を紹介する。