FOR 22-year-old Mere Vakacoa, a second chance was all it took to bridge the gap between the cane fields of Ba and the innovative zero waste towns of Japan.
The final-year University of the South Pacific (USP) student who hails from Sorokoba, Ba, with maternal links to Nayavu, Tailevu recently returned from an intensive eight-day cultural and educational exchange under the Japan-East Asia Network of Exchange for Students and Youths (JENESYS) program.
Currently pursuing a Bachelor of Commerce in Land Management and Population Studies and Demography, Ms Vakacoa’s journey to Japan was a lesson in perseverance.
After an unsuccessful application in 2023, she refused to let self-doubt deter her ambitions.
”I am someone who applied for a second time,” she said.
“I thought that I would fail, but I still tried the second time, and I got accepted as a participant for JENESYS 2025, representing Fiji.”
The eldest of four brothers recalls the moment she received the news of her selection as a representative of Fiji’s youth.
”When I was chosen, I broke into tears of happiness because so many had applied, and I never in my wildest dreams thought that God would bless me with this opportunity to represent Fiji’s youth and culture.”
The program, hosted by Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) in collaboration with USP and organised by International Cooperation Supporters (ICoS), saw Ms Vakacoa join a cohort of nine students from across the Pacific, including Samoa, PNG, Solomon Islands, Nauru, and Tonga.
Focused on the theme of Marine and Environment, the delegation travelled through Tokushima and Kagawa prefectures.
The itinerary was a deep dive into Japanese infrastructure and environmental stewardship, featuring visits to the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC) and the NPO Clean Ocean Ensemble.
A standout experience for the group was visiting the zero waste town of Kamikatsu, a community famous for its meticulous waste management system.
”Waste is sorted into 43 categories, including compost separated from home,” Ms Vakacoa noted, adding that the trip broadened her world-view on how daily habits contribute to national progress.
The transition from Fiji time to Japan time, coupled with a significant language barrier, proved to be the greatest hurdle.
”I navigated this by keeping an open mind, following the schedule, and relying on the translators and coordinators, which taught me patience, adaptability, and the importance of effective communication across cultures.”
Beyond the technical learning, it was the strong sense of respect, discipline, and collective responsibility” in Japanese society that left the most lasting impression.
Whether through a Hyotan Island Cruise or a traditional homestay, the values of punctuality and community cooperation resonated deeply with the Ba native.
Now back at the USP Lautoka Campus to finish her degree, Ms Vakacoa encourages her fellow students to step out of their comfort zones and ignore the what ifs.
”I would tell fellow students enrolled at USP that opportunities like JENESYS are not out of reach, they are meant for those who are willing to try.
”Do not let self-doubt limit you, because if you never apply, you will never know what doors could open.”
