BAHRAINI Fatema ‘Narumi’ Dhahi’s passion for everything Japanese will climax with the chance of pursuing higher studies in the country she adores.
The 23-year-old is among a group of international students to win special scholarships from the Japanese government.
Ms Dhahi, who has been learning Japanese for nearly a decade, is delighted at being chosen as one of the latest Bahraini scholarship recipients.
Her Japanese friends gave her the nickname ‘Narumi’ because she is such a big fan of the manga (Japanese comic) Naruto. “Just like Naruto, I never gave up!” she said. Her language-learning skills were highlighted at a recent reception at the Japanese Ambassador Miyamoto Masayuki’s residence in Barbar. Ms Dhahi told attendees of the event about her journey of knowledge, having entered a language programme for those 16 years of age and older, despite being only 14. “I want this to be a motivational message,” she explained, adding that people should always take responsibility for trying something new, no matter how challenging. She will study management in Tokyo.
She told the GDN that having worked in the field of engineering she was seeking further skills in management for the next step in her career. “Management is an essential part in all projects, and a successful project has a clear plan when it comes to managing the team, time, risks, budget and every other aspect.” Nine other Bahrainis were in attendance at the event, having also been selected to represent the country in the Ship for World Youth (SWY) Programme which is sponsored by Japan’s Cabinet Office. They are Fatema Alkhulaif, Zaid Ayman, Maryam Alnajim, Maram Almokhdhabi, Fatima Alshamasi, Yusuf Hasan, Yousif Alshams, Maryam Al Hashemi and delegation leader Faisal Alkhayyat - young people from all walks of life, including teachers, a lawyer, an engineer and several university students.
They will spend two weeks in Japan, travelling to different cities, meeting delegates from other countries, attending seminars and introducing people to Bahraini culture. “Although I’m very happy to have been chosen, I also feel a great sense of responsibility,” Mr Ayman told the GDN. “We will be put into teams and will have to conduct discussions about different United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.”
The mechanical engineering student who works for Bahrain TV added that this year’s programme would be a hybrid between online and in-person activities.The Ship for World Youth Programme traditionally involves 140 Japanese and 140 international youths living on a ship together, but there will be no ship in this year’s programme due to ongoing Covid-19 restrictions. Delegates will instead fly to Tokyo later this week and exchange expertise with participants from Brazil, Canada, Mexico, Oman, Peru, Poland, South Africa, Sweden and Australia.
The Japanese Ambassador congratulated Ms Dhahi and the SWY scholars, emphasising the value of physical gatherings in the post-pandemic age.
“It is ironic how the more popular virtual meetings get, the more important face-to-face meetings become!” said Mr Miyamoto. Youth Affairs Minister Rawan Tawfiqi was present at the event, along with alumni from previous iterations of the Ship for World Youth Programme.
The Japanese government’s scholarship covers tuition fees, air ticket fares and a monthly stipend of the duration of the student’s studies in Japan.
zainab@gdnmedia.bh
&uuid=(email))