SIERRA CLUB
Reiko Ichimura

A student from Japan who was studying environmental politics in Canada at York University in Toronto, Ontario, Reiko Ichimura applied to the Washington Internship Program in late August of 2005. She had been a research assistant on campus at York’s Glendon College Career and Counseling Center, and she worked at Takashimaya Department Store in Nagoya, Japan. Reiko raised money for Tempus International to increase the literacy rate in Nepal; she was an event organizer at Fair Trade Toronto for Oxfam, Canada; she worked as a teaching assistant at the Advanced Center of English in Toronto; and she was an administrator at Peace Boat in Tokyo, which cleared landmines in war-affected areas. Reiko speaks English, Japanese, and French. Within a month, W.I.P. placed Reiko at the Sierra Club. The Washington Internship Program helped Reiko extend her visa through InterExchange, and she subsequently worked at her internship for five months starting in January of 2006 while living at Summit Hills among other students from Canada and the United States in apartments operated by W.I.P. Reiko reported on her internship as follows:    

“Although I had plenty of volunteer experience at nonprofit organizations, I was not fully familiar with the conservation field, which made me a little nervous when I started my environmental placement at the Student Coalition Department of the Sierra Club. For a month or so, I was busy getting to know the management style, priorities, and structure of this organization. I helped each staff member and learned about the Sierra Club as a whole. This approach taught me about all the projects run by the Sierra Student Coalition, and I became knowledgeable enough to expand my work.”

“My biggest contribution was recruiting participants for summer training programs involving high-school and college students. I also researched and contacted like-minded organizations, Sierra Club members, and teachers who might be interested in advertising the programs. Many of my duties related to the Campus Climate Challenge, through which schools implement clean-energy methods to reduce CO2 emission. I replied to inquiries from students interested in this campaign, and I developed materials and managed databases. In the process, I learned about global warming and the energy situation within the U.S.”
 
“In addition, I worked on the Goldman Environmental Prize, the world’s largest award given to grassroots environmentalists from all around the world. I learned how the nonprofit sector relates to politics, and I even had a chance to deliver invitations to congressional and senatorial offices. I attended a luncheon with winners and legislators in the Capitol. After three months, several youth organizations in North America gathered to create a statement in response to the next G8’s agenda on energy security. I was invited to join the team because I speak Japanese and know the culture, and I translated documents and contacted youth organizations in Japan. I worked with two major youth organizations in Japan and persuaded one to join. Although my internship has now ended, I will continue working on this project. I personally established good relationships with organizations that I contacted in addition to one in China to which I wrote about Campus Climate Challenge. I promised that I would keep playing a role as a go-between and advisor. I am carrying out the Campus Climate Challenge in Japan.”
 
“My internship not only gave me practical training but also intellectual knowledge. My primary objective was to pursue urban life that is environmentally sound while contributing to global justice. By training from January 1 through June 6, I found the right path. I’m willing to use this experience to the fullest in achieving my future goals.”

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