ASEAN-Japan Youth Forum: Take Actions for Social Change (TASC) 2024 - Promoting Equitable Access for Persons with Disabilities

The ASEAN-Japan Youth Forum: Take Actions for Social Change (TASC) 2024 successfully wrapped up its activity during the Japan visit from 9 - 15 February 2025. This joint collaboration between the Japan Foundation and ASEAN University Network (AUN) is designed to bring undergraduate students from Japan and ASEAN countries together for a dynamic learning experience through a range of online and on-site programmes spanning November to February under a specific theme. With this year’s theme being “Good Health and Well-Being”, activities and field trips are tailored towards reaching an inclusive society, for it is essential to the well-being of individuals residing in a community. The trip to Japan involved visits to institutions that specialise in community-building, mental health and supporting people with disabilities. Throughout the trip, students understand that “equity” is essential to accommodate the unique needs of each individual.

Following the first article on TASC 2024 providing a comprehensive overview of the site visits to social welfare centres largely built upon the idea of “community-building”, this piece explores the visit to organisations and rehabilitation centres for people with disabilities in Osaka and Tokyo.

NPO Comekko

On the third day, students embarked on the next leg of their journey in Osaka, beginning with a visit to NPO Comekko–a centre dedicated to supporting children with hearing disabilities by fostering inclusive communication within families. NPO Comekko teaches sign language not only to children but also to their families, ensuring that no child feels isolated due to communication barriers. Learning here is made engaging through play-based activities, music, games and illustrated books, which creates an environment where children can develop their skills with confidence. The centre is also home to research and professors specialising in disability studies, offering free consultations to parents who want to better support their children. Through these initiatives, NPO Comekko exemplifies a commitment to inclusivity and reinforces the idea that the voices of every child deserves to be heard and understood.

Nabari City Community (Machi-No) Health Room

On the same day, students visited Nabari City Community Health Room (CHR), a local clinic designed to promote outreach initiatives by bringing healthcare and wellness activities directly to the community rather than relying on individuals to seek services at the clinic by themselves. During the visit, participants were divided into 2 groups, one engaging in art-based activities while the other in traditional dance. These activities have resulted in a deeper understanding of how art and culture is crucial to overall well-being. While the community members involved may not always be aware of the deeper significance of these creativity-based activities, their participation brought them joy and fostered meaningful connections. Following the activities, the students gathered together to share their experiences and reflect on the importance of art and culture.

At the end of the day, students traveled to Tokyo to prepare for the final leg of the trip and presentations of their group projects.

Japanese Society for Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities

The morning session of the final day featured a visit to the Japanese Society for Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities (JSRPD), a centre that realises “Full Participation and Equality”. Through the dissemination of knowledge materials from books to research papers, JSRPD raises awareness among the broader public to foster a deeper understanding of the experiences and contributions of persons with disabilities. Additionally, the centre actively promotes books written by individuals with disabilities, demonstrating their significant contributions to providing knowledge and the society.

By the end of this enriching journey across 3 cities, participants headed to the Japan Foundation headquarters for a reflective session on the insights gained over the 4-day site visits. This final discussion served as an opportunity to consolidate the lessons learnt and how it can be applied to their final presentations to ensure that knowledge acquired translates into meaningful and impactful contributions.

Translating Knowledge into Action Plans

On the final day, participants delivered a presentation of their group projects, each focusing on a specific topic under the theme “Good Health and Well-Being”:

Group 1: Golden Care Initiative

• Focus: Well-being of elderly people and their caregivers

Group 2: Project Memory Mosaic

• Focus: The elderly people’s cognitive ability and mental health

Group 3: Pink Talk-Every Woman Deserves to be Heard

• Focus: Women’s health and hygiene

Group 4: The Hope Room

• Focus: ASEAN students’ mental health

The presentations reflected the fresh perspectives of today’s youth, who are future leaders, and their powerful commitment to societal well-being. Nothing is more powerful than witnessing young individuals pursuing their dreams but also proactively contributing to an inclusive society driven by compassion. Their site visits allowed students to meet and interact with diverse groups in the local community from elderly groups to young children, ensuring they understand the challenges faced across generations. By the end of each presentation, constructive feedback was provided by the 2 advisors of this activity–Professor Takayoshi Kusago  and Mr. Ibnu Mundir–as well as Dr. Yuri Sato, Executive Vice President of the Japan Foundation.

TASC 2024 stands as yet another example of the important role of youths in driving meaningful change. Participants from ASEAN countries and Japan have not only gained valuable knowledge and engaged in direct interactions with marginalized communities or individuals who may feel isolated, they have also built a lasting friendship with one another. As inspiring as TASC 2024 has been, we look forward to TASC 2025 being another intellectually stimulating and activity-driven that can strengthen the Japan-ASEAN relations and unite youth on the grounds of inclusivity and cross-border collaboration.