“Doing what I can for someone else”: How I naturally arrived at volunteering for PLAS | Aya Kanno

◆ Self-introduction

Hello! I am Aya Kanno, a PLAS volunteer. I have been working with PLAS since last December. I have a full-time job, working as a research and development staff member in France. I spend one or two hours before work happily volunteering for PLAS!

◆ Introduction to my responsibilities

I help with events and public relations activities to let more people know about PLAS's work. While I often prepare for events, I also get the opportunity to be involved in various things, such as managing the posts for the note platform you are reading right now, and helping out other departments within PLAS!

◆ Why I applied to PLAS

I have always made it a priority to "do what I can for someone else," and I have been involved in launching refugee support activities and planning volunteer events. When I made my choices one by one based on what I learned through those activities, I naturally arrived at PLAS.
I resonated with the vision of PLAS: wanting people in difficult situations to live their lives happily and positively, and wanting to provide support that doesn't just "give," but "builds" together so that people can support themselves.

◆ What is fun and challenging about being an intern

Tasks come in with a different sense of time compared to my regular job, and while I do feel that gap, I think I am enjoying it, including that aspect! Everyone I work with at PLAS is truly wonderful, and when I experience their empathy and their ability to accept things openly, I realize how much I am enjoying this time. I also really like that it is easy to share opinions, which makes it easy to feel a sense of contribution.

◆ Future career

I want to launch an NPO/NGO like PLAS that is trusted by everyone and where I can contribute fully to others together with my colleagues! I believe that through my activities at PLAS, I will meet many people and have many experiences. Thinking that these encounters will lead me to new challenges in the future, I am here at PLAS today, energetically doing my internship work!

◆ How would you describe PLAS in one word?

I think it is a gathering of wonderful people! I am exposed to everyone's "ability to care for others" every day, to the point where I sometimes wonder if I am out of place.

Why don't you also become active as a PLAS intern?
PLAS is always looking for interns!
Click here for the internship application requirements: