Japan donates more books to BCC

The Barbados Community College (BCC) has received a donation of books including various types of literature from the Embassy of Japan, aimed at deepening cultural understanding and ties between the two countries.

The donation was made through the Read Japan Project, which is an initiative designed to provide readers worldwide with an accurate view of Japanese society, history, and culture.

During the brief handover ceremony in the college’s library, Principal of BCC, Annette Alleyne, expressed her gratitude for the donation, noting that the project’s goals were in keeping with the college’s own, broader, mission.

”Now the goal of the Read Japan project is to provide readers from around the world with an accurate picture of Japan through the donation of books. At the BCC, we welcome diversity. We are an inclusive institution; we understand that diversity is our strength.”

Alleyne said the BCC aspires to be a world-class centre of excellence in education and learning. For that reason, the college would “continue to create spaces and occasions where students can have dialogue. Where they can interact with persons from other cultures, where there is respect for persons who are different, where we value our own traditions and heritage and where we can build stronger societies based on mutual respect,” she  said.

At the handover ceremony, Japan’s Ambassador to Barbados, His Excellency Yusuke Miyasaka, spoke positively of the relationship between the two countries since they established diplomatic ties in 1967.

He said several initiatives at BCC reflected this commitment, including Barbados’ first technical degree in Game Art and Animation, its co-hosting of Japanese film screenings, and the recent introduction of a Japanese language course into the curriculum.

“This marks the second donation, following the first one made on October 25, 2022,” he said. “This collection, in particular, includes many books focused on learning the Japanese language. I would be happy if more students try to learn Japanese and I sincerely hope that these book donations will not only help to deepen the bonds between Barbados and Japan but continue to inspire intellectual curiosity and academic exploration among the students.” 

(SB)