Our Class of 2021
Rural Leaders Training Program
In this second year of COVID-19, three Japanese participants started
the Rural Leaders Training Program this April, and one Guinean joined
them later in June. They are all striving to make the best of theirlearning at ARI.

JapanEri Okada(Eri) After graduating from university, I began
volunteering at ARI in the FEAST (kitchen) andlivestock (pig) section. Through experiencing theentire process where life is transformed to food,I thought deeply about what “life” itself is. Now,
I would like to think about a society where thislife is valued through organic farming.

Keisuke Katô(Keisuke) My International Studies in university
caused me to have doubts about a society that
does not utilize people's potential. At ARI, I would
like to reconsider my approach to development.
I want to learn from participants and be proactive
in our life together to prepare to build a bettersociety.

Jun Matsui(Jun) I have been working as a social worker inthe medical and welfare field, and there I felt theneed for social change. At ARI, I will deepen mystudy of community development and othertopics that will lead to a sustainable society, withthe aim of realizing a society where “no one is leftbehind.”GuineaFatoumata Diaraye Bah(Fatima) I studied business law in university. I
have been an asylum seeker in Japan for severalyears. I am thankful to have an opportunity tostudy farming. After ARI, I would like to work in
the agriculture sector in Guinea. It is my way tocontribute to the reduction of unemployment
and poverty in my country.

Rural Leaders Training Program
ARI provides powerful leadership training
for grassroots community leaders: theannual Rural Leaders Training Program.

Our Rural Leaders Training Center
empowers some of the most marginalized
communities on earth, so that they canenjoy and share the wealth of food, land,and community.

ServantLeadership

Community
Building

Every year, we invite rural community
leaders from grassroots organizations inAsia, Africa, Latin America, and the Pacificto our campus in Japan. The 9-monthtraining is guided by our motto, ‘That We
May Live Together.’SustainableAgriculture

Our Graduates
Solomon Islands (5)Eswatini (3)Papua New Guinea (11)Tonga (2)Zimbabwe (4)Mozambique (1)Timor-Leste (6)Fiji (4)Madagascar (2)Indonesia (88)
Malaysia (23)Samoa (2)Sri Lanka (91)South Africa (3)Zambia (18)
D.R. Congo (3)Cameroon (30)
Togo (1)Malawi (12)Liberia (30)

Burundi (1)Philippines (126)
Cambodia (7)Trinidad & Tobago (1)Sierra Leone (16)Kenya (34)

Guinea Bissau (1)Ethiopia (6)Eritrea (2)The Gambia (1)Vietnam (4)Uganda (18)Benin (2)Central African Republic (1)South Sudan (1)Laos (5)El Salvador (4)Haiti (3)Cuba (1)Pakistan (12)Taiwan (19)India (225)Japan (93)South Korea (59)

Nepal (38)China (2)Myanmar (91)

Bhutan (3)Bangladesh (82)

Leaders who have undergone our training
work in a wide range of fields in their owncountries. Some graduates are involved inrural development centered on agriculture,environmental protection, education, andmicro-finance, while others support the rights
of women, indigenous peoples, and refugees.
As servant leaders, graduates promote ourideals of “living together” according to theneeds of their communities across the globe.

Donatetoday!

Ecuador (1)Ghana (31)

Rwanda (1)Palau (1)Brazil (3)Nigeria (9)Tanzania (23)Thailand (89)

Kiribati (3)F.S. Micronesia (4)The map is oriented south-up as most of
our graduates’ countries are located in
the southern hemisphere.

Lesotho (2)It's Time to Invest in Rural Community Leadership!

The costs needed for Rural Leaders to participate in our training are mainly
financed by donations. Tuition and board amount to US$ 17,850, and the average airfare is aroundUS$ 2,500. We provide financial assistance for these leaders to take part. It is an investment inpeople who will bring about lasting community change.
For detailed information, please visit our website or call our oﬀice.

Visit www.ari-edu.org/en/donate/ to find out how to contribute!

1364

graduatesfrom 60
countries