Leonardo Kajioka Nardon
SWY18 (2005) Brazil, South America
- Position at the time of participation
- Government Employee
- Current status
- Senior Cultural Affairs Specialist at the U.S. Embassy in Brazil
Brief history
Born in Sao Paulo, Brazil
Graduated in Journalism from University Center of Brasilia
Worked for several companies/government agencies as journalist and press assistant
* 18th Ship for World Youth Program
Awarded MEXT Scholarship for Research/Graduate Studies in 2007
Researcher at Osaka University Graduate School of Language and Culture
Worked as ADM staff for the 21st, 22nd, 23rd and 24th Ship for World Youth Programs
Returned to Brazil in 2012
Selected as Brazilian National Delegation Leader for the Global Leaders Development Program (SWY26)
Admitted as Economic Advisor at the Japanese Embassy in Brazil in 2014
Admitted as Senior Cultural Affairs Specialist at the U.S. Embassy in Brasil in 2015
Q. Why did you participate in the SWY program?
I have always had a very deep interest in intercultural exchange. Coming from a mix of Japanese and Italian cultures, being raised in a multi-cultural and multi-ethnical environment I was very interested in the proposal of the SWY Program. Having the opportunity to spend time with young leaders from 12 different countries, discuss pressing global issues such as climate change, youth development and empowerment and other important issues was very appealing to me.
Q. How was your experience? What did you gain?
Nothing anyone could have said to me would have prepared me for the experience. At first, I was in awe with the amazing mix of cultures. Some countries I had heard before or seen on TV, some were completely unknown to me. Once the program began and the interaction between participants increased I realized that no matter how large the language barriers were, no matter how large the age difference between participants was, we were able to communicate and to find the common ground in several issues. That experience was mind-blowing. My world had just become many times larger and I was more aware of the hardships that people face, beyond what is published in conventional media. This experience was enriched by the technological developments such as the internet and social networking websites. The world had become larger, but the distances became shorter. All my friends were a mere email or internet voice call away. This changed the way I looked at the world and gave me new perspective on global issues. I began paying more attention to what was happening all over the world.
Q. How did your participation influence your life (career) after SWY?
My life changed completely through participation in SWY. For one thing, I got married to the sister of an ex-PY (alumnus of the program), and we now have a beautiful baby girl. Participating in SWY gave me more awareness to the different cultural aspects in different parts of the world. Cross cultural understanding became a big part of my career. My experience as administrative staff (ADM) for the various SWY programs gave me the basic knowledge that I use in the cultural and educational exchange programs I currently coordinate at my current position. However, the most important outcome of my participation in SWY cannot be measured. The joy of having been put in contact with several fantastic minds and great leaders through the various programs I have participated cannot be put into words. This is the most treasured outcome I have taken from the program – the people.
Q. What is your intention and goal of your life?
Education is the most important gift one can ever receive in life. People who are not given the opportunity to educate themselves live in a dark cave, from which there is no way out. As I build my new career facilitating educational opportunities for those who haven’t had them, I would like to be a tool and a catalyst for education and development, providing opportunities for those who strive to find them.
Q. Please write any episode or words that you remember from your SWY experience
The limited time that we spend on the ship as participants does not allow us to get to know every single participant or even to have a meaningful conversation with as many people as we would like to have. Through my experience as ADM staff, I realized that the time available for ADM staff to get to know and to have meaningful interactions with the participants is even scarcer. However, two occasions marked my life while I was a member of the ADM staff. The first came from a Tongan participant, who spoke no English and with whom I had had very little contact with, but after a couple of conversations using gestures and a few basic words in English, started calling me “friend.” The second one came from a Bahraini participant who was happy and touched because I knew her name. These two moments are imprinted in my memory because it is easy to have a lasting memory of someone that spent a lot of time with you, but moments like these two come a lot less often. This has made me cherish and respect the diversity as part of what makes every single person special.