UNAFEI
170th International Training Course
Closing Ceremony
20th Sep 2017
Farewell Speech by Ms. Nanja LIMBO
From Namibia
Honorable Members of the Diplomatic Corps;
Mr. Takeshi SETO, Director of UNAFEI;
Ms. Kayo ISHIHARA, Deputy Director of UNAFEI;
Mr. Takahiro Moriya, Deputy Director General, TIC, JICA;
Faculty and Staff Members of UNAFEI;
JICA Staff Members;
Distinguished Guests;
Fellow Participants;
Ladies and Gentlemen
On behalf of my fellow participants from Japan and overseas, allow
me to express our profound gratitude and sincere appreciation for having beengranted the opportunity to participate in this 170th International Training Course.
Our genuine gratitude goes to the Government of Japan, the organizations of JICA,
UNAFEI and ACPF, and all the people who have made our participation not only
possible but remarkably a successful experience.
This training course involved 25 participants from 16 different
countries, including Japan, and of different professional backgrounds: theJudiciary, Corrections, Parole and Police. The theme of our course, “Treatment ofIllicit Drug Users", has been explored, discussed and deeply analyzed throughvarious methods and processes of learning: lectures delivered by UNAFEI
Professors, International Visiting Experts and Japanese Ad-hoc lecturers,
Individual presentations by the participants, group workshops and plenary
sessions, observation visits, and so on. All these methods, together with thefavorable learning environment, deepened our knowledge and broadened ourviews of the issue.
Our training course focused on identifying best practices for theeffective treatment of illicit drug users who came into contact with the Criminal
Justice System. During the course we learned and discussed key points toremember when continuing our work in our home countries: (1) that drug use is a
public health problem and requires treatment approaches which incorporate
harm reduction strategies; (2) community based treatment options as analternative to custodial treatment were viewed as more effective; (3) drug users
required special risk and needs assessments protocols due to their multifactorial
health disorders and thus required diversified treatment options and (4) mostimportantly that the criminal justice sector adopt evidence based diversion andtreatment systems that included health, social and other community basedorganizations supporting the effective treatment of drug users during the presentencing, incarceration and aftercare services . We are now aware ofinternational trends and wish to remain so, via the establishment of a global
network for the exchange of updated information on the practices of theparticipating countries.
In this regard, we would like to express our sincere gratitude to all
Japanese lecturers, Volunteer Probation Officers and the international visiting
experts whose presentations were very informative and interesting. The visiting
experts truly represented the meaning of the word, expert. They were vastly
experienced practitioners in the field of treatment of illicit drug users, with specialreference to Ms. Harue KAMIOKA of DARC and the VPO’s for their outstanding
passion and support.
I would also like to highlight the study tours which allowed us toacquire further information and explanations from officials, experts andpractitioners. I could not forget Hiroshima’s Peace Memorial Museum and theKyoto temples. The extreme contrast of human destruction and human tranquility
reminded me that human beings are able to change and improve towardspeaceful existence with the right support.
In particular, it was a great honor for all of us to be granted acourtesy visit with the honorable Vice-Minister of Justice and to attend thewonderful party he hosted and to which he invited officials from some of ourrespective countries’ embassies in Tokyo.

Madams and Sirs
It is said that “first impressions are lasting”; for this reason, we would
like on this occasion to express our profound gratitude and appreciation to JICA’s
officials and staff members for their warm welcome, punctuality, hospitality andcontinuous caring. JICA was our first sweet home in Japan, and our first guide who
introduced us successfully to Japan as a whole, through useful orientation
sessions and corresponding lectures about Japanese culture, society, economy,politics and so on.
Thank you JICA, we will remain indebted to you forever for all you
have done for us from our arrival in Japan until our departure. And today, wecannot talk about the intensive efforts made by JICA without mentioning “HISA–
san and MINASE-san”, who were omnipresent throughout the programme as
JICA’s Coordinators and to whom we are so grateful for their patience, tolerance
and, above all, warm caring.
Distinguished Ladies and gentlemen,
Having been adequately prepared, we left for UNAFEI. Upon arrival,
we were treated with an unforgettable reception; such had never been seen or
experienced before. In short, it is difficult to find words that will do justice indescribing this reception; the first impression really lasted forever.
Before coming to Japan, we, overseas participants, had never heard
about UNAFEI until it became our sweet home for more than a month. Each time,after our observation visits, we realized how comfortable and wonderful it was tobe back in our familiar rooms. On this occasion I would like to express our sincere
gratitude to all the staff of UNAFEI who were always there at the front doorwaving with both hands, wishing us a good trip; and when we were back, they
were always there once again waving with both hands, welcoming us so warmly
whatever the time or the weather. This would not be possible without a totally
devoted, committed and tireless staff.
In this regard, special thanks go to our tender leader and silent
example during the whole programme, the director of UNAFEI. SETO san, you did
not give many lectures in this training programme; however, you have given us anexample of a modern leader, a caring father, a gentleman and a source of
insightful inspiration. We could all see in you how leading by example is the bestway to build team work and make the change we need. Thanks for all yourattention, despite your busy schedule and responsibilities.
It is worth noting here, that you are truly blessed SETO san, for thegreat and valuable team that you have at UNAFEI. It is really a team thatembraces challenge, persistence, self-denial and preparedness. We would like on
this occasion to express our genuine gratitude to all members of this teamstarting from the cleaners, kitchen staff, administrators, programme officers,
linguistic advisor and all knowledgeable professors namely: the deputy director
ISHIHARA san for her friendly assistance, the programming officer YAMAMOTO
san and OTANI san , KITAGAWA san, WATANABE san, YAMADA san, HIRANO san,FUTAGOISHI san, OHINATA san, FURUHASHI san, and TSUJI san for their tirelessefforts that improved our knowledge and experiences.
Thank you mother UNAFEI, for in the absence of our families andfriends, you really have been our families and our friends.
Distinguished Ladies and gentlemen
On behalf of my fellow participants I would like to express oursincere gratitude to ACPF for its valuable assistance. During the short period oftime that we were here, we could observe the importance of the ACPF’s
continuous support for UNAFEI’s training programmes: this is recognized by all ofus, and, I could not forget to mention the ACPF Branch Study Tours in Fukushima,Sapporo, Nagano, Yokohama, Nagoya, Saitama and Osaka that provided us withwonderful tours, hospitality and more than enjoyable receptions that allowed us
to show case our Japanese language and dance skills. We really feel indebted tothe ACPF for its generosity, warm hospitality and continuous assistance.
Madams and Sirs,
Very special thanks go to the Japanese participants who facilitatedand accelerated our adaptation to the Japanese environment. Thanks to them,our everyday life has been made so exciting and interesting through spontaneousinteraction and weekend tours at the expense of their rest and their families.
Special thanks to them for providing us with satisfactory explanations about
Japanese traditions and ways of life. They were always near at hand when called
upon to give information or answer our questions, even while doing some
shopping or choosing our food on our outside visits. We were extremely delighted
also to enjoy Japanese dishes such as takuyaki, tempura, yodufo and okonomiyaki

with them. We, overseas participants, feel very glad, even very proud, for sharing
with them the same programme.
Last but not the least, we would like to thank UNAFEI for allowing us
to experience the Japanese language course, to make self-introductions inJapanese, to witness a Japanese traditional tea ceremony, to practice someJapanese folk songs, and above all to experience wonderful karaoke moments inlounge B. Also, we will not forget the fun-filled table tennis tournament, during
which we enjoyed the participation of the director, his deputy and UNAFEI’S
professors and staff. In addition, the unforgettable visit to FUJI Mountain.
Madams and Sirs
In conclusion, the course achieved its objectives and on behalf of myfellow participants, I would like to assure you that, after the completion ourTraining Course, we will strive with persistence to raise the bar, whatever theobstacles and difficulties, until change is achieved and challenges are met, for wereally feel now more empowered and equipped with this rich learning experiencethat we have undergone.
Distinguished ladies and gentlemen,
Forgive my long speech for it is not a mere formality on the occasionof this closing ceremony. We really feel that whatever the words and expressionsof gratitude we use, they will not be enough, and they will never reveal thewonderful feelings we would like to convey. I have said it before and wish to say it
again; Japanese hospitality is SUBARASHIDESU.
May GOD Almighty Bless this wonderful country and its friendly
people and bless us all.
Thank You Very Much ……………Doumo Arigato Gozaimas