(Mr. Yuta Nakatsuji was deputed to TBR (October to December 2024) from Kubota Corporation in Japan as part of a corporate volunteer program with Cross Fields Japan. He is an accomplished cost and efficiency specialist, and his story and views are personal)
I work for Kubota Corporation, a Japanese agricultural machinery manufacturer. One day, I came across an internal announcement on the company website about a volunteering program that aims to develop leadership skills. This project allows employees to work for NGOs or social enterprises in developing countries, addressing local social issues while fostering mutual growth between both parties. Since joining the company, I have held a strong desire to contribute to a better life for people around the world by solving food-related issues. I realized that to achieve this goal, it was essential to experience social challenges first-hand, explore potential solutions, and acquire the skills needed to implement them. For this reason, I found this volunteering program to be the ideal opportunity for me and decided to apply.
I chose Decimal Foundation in India as my host organization because it provided the opportunity to directly address food-related issues and offered an environment to develop the skills I wanted to acquire. Decimal Foundation, an NGO based in Mumbai, aims to eliminate malnutrition by providing children with breakfasts and nutritional education. Over three months, I engaged in various activities, including field visits to urban slums and rural areas, developing strategic plans, cost reduction initiatives, and fundraising efforts.
Among these experiences, the most striking realization was the severity of India’s social challenges. India has achieved remarkable economic growth in recent years and is projected to rank as the world’s fifth-largest economy by GDP in 2024. As such, I had imagined a country where people enjoy a prosperous life. However, I came to understand that India faces numerous challenges, including malnutrition, educational disparities, sanitation issues, and insufficient medical care. What makes these problems even more severe is that they are interlinked and perpetuated across generations. Witnessing these realities, I deeply felt the seriousness of these social issues and was struck by a profound sense of sorrow.
Nonetheless, what also left a lasting impression on me was the children I met, who, despite these harsh conditions, remained bright and hopeful about the future. When I asked them, “What is your dream for the future?” they enthusiastically shared aspirations such as “to become a police officer” or “to be a taxi driver.” I firmly believe that the reason these children can stay hopeful is thanks to the steadfast support of organizations like Decimal Foundation and other social sector actors. These individuals work with a strong sense of responsibility, knowing that their efforts shape the future of these children. Furthermore, they gather support from like-minded people, which becomes a powerful force driving their mission to uplift the children.
Through this three-month program, I deepened my understanding of social issues and realized that solving these challenges is not solely the responsibility of the social sector. It is also a mission for the business sector, which possesses the technologies and services necessary for impactful solutions. Moving forward, I aspire to become a leader who can operate across borders to help create a future where everyone can live a richer life. I sincerely wish to continue working with Decimal Foundation to support the children of the future and contribute to their ongoing efforts.
