体験談

友達に誘われて応募した今回のアフリカボランティア。思えば、出会いも偶然だった。誘ってもらったのは、実は友達の友達。海外に興味があった大学1年生の初めにインスタで海外によく行ってそうな人を片っ端からフォローして出会ったのが、まさかの大学の友達の友人でした。その人から海外旅行のイロハを教えてもらい、たまに遊んだりもした。そしてたまたまアフリカのことを教えてもらい、抽選だったがダメ元で応募した。そして今年の日頃の行いが良かったのか見事当選。アフリカで盆踊りができるという期待に胸が躍りつつ、心配もあった。行くと親に伝えたところ、何度も闇バイトを疑われ、説得するのに苦労したが、2ヶ月かけて行きたい熱意を話し、許しを得た。ワクワクとドキドキで向かえた当日。空港に着き、同志の方とたくさんお話しをすることができ、参加者皆さんの人の良さを実感した。いろんな方のお話を聞くにつれ、不安が一気に解消されて自然と笑顔が増えていった。現地では初めての体験ばかりで、一瞬一瞬が新鮮だった。そして参加者全員で作り上げたお祭りは素晴らしいものになり、参加した自分も感動していた。時間をかけて計画したものが形になる喜び、来場者の方に今までにない体験・感動を提供できた喜び、初めての試みをみんなで力を合わせてやり切った喜び。いろんな喜びが込み上げて、人生の忘れられない1ページになったと確信した。そして今では人生を賭けて仲良くしたい友達にも出会えた。今でも余韻が残るくらい幸せな一時でした。参加を検討している方々には迷わず参加していただきたい。今までの価値観・人間関係・こだわり・生き方全てが好転するきっかけになります。この機会を機に、人の温かさと体験の新しさを感じてみませんか。

I joined the volunteer trip to Africa after a friend suggested it. Looking back, the way it all came together was pretty random: it was actually my friend’s friend who first invited me. At the start of my freshman year in college, I went on Instagram and followed anyone who seemed to travel abroad a lot, hoping to learn more about traveling overseas. Who would’ve guessed one of them turned out to be a friend of a friend from my own university? That connection was how I learned the basics of traveling abroad, and we hung out from time to time. When they told me about Africa, it really piqued my interest. There was a draw because of too many applicants, and I applied thinking I had nothing to lose—and ended up getting selected. Maybe it was good karma.

I was excited about the idea of doing Bon Odori in Africa, but also a bit anxious. My parents even suspected I might be getting roped into something shady. It took two months of pleading, but I finally won them over. On departure day, I arrived at the airport full of anticipation and butterflies. That’s where I met my fellow volunteers, and I was immediately struck by how warm and genuine everyone was. Talking with them and hearing their stories made all my worries melt away, and I couldn’t help but smile more and more.

Once we got to Africa, everything felt like a brand-new experience. Every moment was thrilling in its own way. The festival we worked on together turned out to be absolutely amazing, and I was so moved to be a part of it. Spending so much time planning and seeing it all come to life gave me a sense of accomplishment that’s hard to put into words. We brought a whole new experience and excitement to local visitors, and the fact that it was a first-of-its-kind event—achieved through everyone’s teamwork—filled me with joy. It felt like we’d created an unforgettable chapter in my life. I even made friends I want to stay close to for the rest of my days. I’m still basking in the afterglow of that happiness.

If you’re on the fence about going, trust me: just do it. It could be the spark that transforms your whole perspective, your relationships, even your way of life. This is your chance to feel the warmth of human connection and discover something totally new. Why not take it?