Donation builds better future one book at a time

By    reggie cantù

Host nation relations are not only the province of the command structure at U.S. military bases overseas, they can also be improved by the kindness and volunteerism of military spouses.

This was demonstrated on Jan. 12 when representatives of the Army Community Group of Okinawa (ACGO), an organization of military wives, donated 750 English-language books to the city of Kitanakagusuku for use in district elementary and junior high schools.

Cinda Doggett, Kim Koenig, Paveena Shotts, Jamie Ziegler and Jaew DeTata made the official presentation to school officials at the city office, with Mayor Kunio Arakaki and other municipal representatives in attendance.

The project was carried out in coordination with the director of the Ryukyu America Historical Research Society, Shizuo “Alex” Kishaba. This is the sixth year that a book donation has been made, benefiting, with the latest three in Kitanakagusuku, at least 16 schools throughout the island.

Cinda Doggett, the current chair of the book committee, explained that the ACGO works under the umbrella of the American Women’s Welfare Association, a nonprofit group that raises funds for charitable American and Okinawan organizations.

“We started working with Alex’s [Kibasha’s] group to help its goal, which is to get Okinawan students to learn English earlier,” she said.

Kibasha, a native Okinawan who lived and studied in California in the 1970s, said the society’s goal for the educational system in Okinawa, and ultimately all of Japan, is “internationalization,” a strategy that includes student exchange programs and Internet linkups with American universities.

“All the other countries around us – Korea, Thailand, India, Philippines, Viet Nam, Singapore, Hong Kong – everyone is utilizing English at a very high level, except for Japan. We’re not,” he said.

“It’s so difficult to make the ministries budge (on their policies) so we’re going at it alone. We have 14 municipalities who’ve decided to follow us instead of the ministry. This is one example,” he said. 

“We’re going global,” he continued, “and that is the purpose here. And eventually we will be sending students to some of the best universities. You know, Korea just sent 35 students to Harvard. We, Japan, one.”

The book project comprises a vital part of the overall vision, since schools here do not generally budget for English materials.

In accepting the donation, District Superintendent Kenkichi Kaneshiro expressed his gratitude for the ACGO’s efforts. Three principals, a school librarian and a teacher, as well as two junior high school students, were also on hand to add their thanks.

The book drive is an ongoing annual effort. Those wishing to donate should look for repositories at Kadena Air Base and Torii Station.

Membership in the ACGO is open to anyone, and information on joining the group can be found at its gift shop at Torii Station. You can also find it on Facebook by looking for ACGO.