The arrival of two new volunteers from Japan makes it 700 volunteers to have served the nation since the Japan International Cooperation Agency started operating in Samoa in 1972.

JICA feels that this is the magic number as they see it as a great way to start the new year.

The two new JICA volunteer recruits arrived recently, assigned to Samoa Family Health Association [SFHA] in Midwifery and Aoga Fiamalamalama School in Alafua, for the Welfare and Education for Persons with Disabilities.

The two volunteers were welcomed by Ministry of Finance staff member Faavae Mulitalo of the Aid Coordination and Debt Management Division.

Mr Mulitalo thanked JICA for its continued assistance providing technical assistance through JICA volunteers in assisting the various ministries and organisations of Samoa.

Ms Azusa has worked in midwifery for almost 12 years since 2013.  She has worked for over a decade mainly in the Maternity Ward at Kyoto University Hospital, engaging in midwifery and other nursing duties in the gynaecology, fertility and emergency outpatient departments, said JICA in a statement.

According to the statement, Azusa adores children, she has a deep passion for prenatal care, especially newborn babies which gives her work a lot of purpose knowing she helped bring a child into the world.  She has delivered approximately over 2,000 newborn babies since becoming a midwife, continuing her passion and finding her work most rewarding.  

“Each day is different from the previous day, sometimes when the maternity ward is too busy she will miss out on breaks but does not complain as her goal is always successfully completing a safe birth arrival.  Her projected work with SFHA will take her across three clinics in Savalalo, Motootua and Salelologa, Savaii,” said JICA.

Ms Yukari will work with Aoga Fiamalamalama School. Her passion for working with disabilities grew from having an older sister with a disability spectrum.  Her sister has thrived and is quite independent with the special care she received since birth from disability service providers and her family members in Japan.  

“Yukari has been a nurse for 14 years now. Working in Yokohama city from 2014 to 2024, providing medical care in daily life support and recreational activities to patients with severe motor and intellectual disabilities [SMID],” said JICA.

“For the last 4 years as head nurse, holding study sessions on medical treatment, nursing and on-site education, providing knowledge and technical guidance.”

Both volunteers recently underwent pre-departure training in Japan for English language, development studies and cross-cultural relations.  They are currently undergoing in-country training mainly in Samoan language, health, safety and security sessions and will work in Samoa for two years until January 2027.  

Their arrival was met with heavy rain and flooding in Apia but it has not deterred nor dampened their spirit to work in developing Samoa in their respective areas of expertise, in forging bonds of trust.

From 1965 to 2024, 56,995 JICA volunteers were assigned to over 99 countries.