Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Student Association

History:

More than 10 years ago, Cambodian students have again come to study in Japan. The number of students have increased year by year. Then, CSAJ (Cambodian Students Association in Japan) based in Tokyo was created to serve as the interface for the communication between Cambodian students in Japan.

However, with more increase of student numbers in many parts of Japan, leads to difficulty in control by CSAJ alone. As the result, about 5 years ago, students in remote areas have estiblished associations in Kyushu, Kansai and Nagoya to serve the purpose of garthering and communication.

Bear the idea of unification of Cambodian students in Japan, only one student association should exist in Japan. Regional student association in Japan should be classified under the highest hierachy- CSAJ. To meet the logic of the hierachy, the Tokyo based association was changed to CSAK( Cmbodian Student association in Kanto).

As the resutlt, under CSAJ, now there are Kanto Club, Kyushu Club, Kansai Club and CSAN.


Problem:
Under geographic hierachy, we in Toyohashi should be in Cambodian Student Association in Chubu, which doesnt exist. The existing association in this area is the CSAN(Cambodian Student Association in Nagoya). As the name says, it is originally created to serve students in Nagoya only.

As the fact, we in Toyohashi do not belong to any assocition althogh we are close to CSAN.


Point:

There is an idea that:
--> Studentin Toyohashi should belong to some association.
--> CSAN should open to integrate all students in Chubu area as member.


Action:
What should we do? There are 3 options:
1) Stay unbelonged as now
2) Integrated with CSAN
3) Create a new association
-----> Lets discuss and give your idea with condition and decision


Related event:
Students in Nagoya will also discuss about this problem in their annual assembly December 1, 2007.
Our decision and condtions will be taken into account. And we are invited to the meeting.

8 comments:

CHIN Hok said...

My Opinion,

For some reasons, I would say we should be a part of CSAN. First, it is not good to stay independent as now for we should join to strengthen our Cambodian Student Association. Second, we might not be able to create another association because there only few of us in Toyohashi. Last, CSAN is the nearest and closest to us. Therefore, getting into CSAN is somehow the best choices among the three mentioned in the original post. However, as Toyohashi and Nagoya are in Chubu area, CSAN should change the name; it should be Cambodian Student Association in CHUBU.

jappy said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
事務局 said...

To my opinion , it is abit hard for us to join the CSAN. and even harder to create new Group.
anyways, what i didn't feel good to join was the name of the group.after it change, i'll consider to join. but even i'll join, maybe we Toyohashier still inactive in the group. because we are far from Nagoya.

jappy said...

I do understand minahara's concerns. However, if we think in positive way, taking the advantage of being far for nagoya, we may help broaden the activity of the association in area around us. Because, we have been inactive here so far. With support from people in Nagoya, we may be able to do some cultural activities etc, here.

Veasna said...

It's just an old issue. It was already discussed last year in Tokyo.

The name Association should be used for all (national wide accross Japan). Tokyo changed their name, but the one in Nagoya keep the same name (Association + Nagoya) because of various reasons.

Whatsoever, i don't care.

jappy said...

It's an old issue but nothing is solved.

You don't care about what? and why?

Camlaweco said...

I think it will be a difficult thing to suggest Khmer students in nagoya to change their association name. Suppose that there is a Cambodian students association in toyohashi, and other areas request to change this name, how it can be responded. It is really difficult to change their identity, especially when it has been developed from a long way of history. I think the same feeling is applicable to you too if so suggested. Another thing is that if integrating Toyohashi people into CSAN, it is still difficult to ensure that what CSAN do also takes into account the interest of the toyohashi people since there is no representative voice in the CSAN committee. Only when toyohashi has voices in the committee that fairness and justice can be secured. And if toyohashi is integrated, csan has to also take other parts of chubu whereby the committee must be composed of representatives from those parts, including toyohashi. CSAN statute may allow to do that, but it needs further amendments. I think the best choice is to create a regional association where management structure/committee is formed by all representatives from different areas in Chubu. By doing so:
1. CSAN can keep their identity and their activities in this Nagoya,
2. Representatives from different area have their own representatives as normal members and members of committee/management team by using the name "Cambodian Studetns Association in Chubu,"
3. This association will serve the interests of all members in Chubu area within its own framework and structure, rather than depending on CSAN, and we can have our voices (voting and making decision) in this association framework,
4. This association will represent one member of the CSAJ members by replacing the present status of the CSAN whose regional framework is not clear for this moment, and
5. It is a compromising solution where win/win approach is taken whereby csan can keep their original framework or identity and toyohashi, nagoya, and others in Chubu has their own regional framework.

With best and waiting for more debates and comments.

事務局 said...

who is Camlaweco ?