Thank you very much for visiting my home page.

My name is Chizu Matsushita.

I'm originally from Japan, but I have spent most of my professional life abroad.

 

I can trace the root of such life back to when I was 12 and in the last year of primary school.

I was among the four children who were invited to learn English,

from an "uncle" - an "OJISAN" in Japanese - in the neighbourhood.

OJISAN, as I heard at that time, had just retired from a job where English was used extensively.

The thought of being close to someone who had worked in the world

of a mysterious foreign language fascinated me.

In the following four years, OJISAN taught me English and transformed my world.

I grew so much in love with the language through my junior and high school to my University years.

 

I was raised by my mother alone since my parents divorced when I was 4.

In the household headed by a single mother, we were not poor,

but were certainly not like my classmates' households financially.

My mother, who was a genuine optimist, always encouraged me

to follow my dreams and aspire to do anything I wanted to do.

I am so grateful that my mother raised me that way.

While envious of my classmates who went out of the country for exchange or language training programmes,

it was at the age of 26 that I was finally able to get out of Japan.

 

I studied the theory and practice of "human rights" at a graduate school in England.

As a staff member of international organisations,

I worked in the field of humanitarian assistance and international cooperation for 20 years.

Meanwhile, I became a single mother myself and came to the Netherlands

with my baby daughter to earn my second Master's degree.

A former colleague of mine, a Dutchman, became my partner

and three of us now live in the suburb of The Hague.

 

My single mother who raised me alone, the OJISAN who opened the world of English to me,

and those who made it possible for me to study in England –

thanks to the encouragement and support of these and many other people,

my dream of living and working abroad came true, and moreover, I am now following my new dream.

 

The dream is to help empower individual persons, teams/groups and organisations

through "coaching" and "facilitation".

 

 In the International Public Policy programme at a higher education institution

in the Netherlands (The Hague University of Applied Sciences),

I teach courses such as international law, human rights, and intercultural communication.

 

Immediately after having a session or a class as a coach, facilitator, or lecturer,

I notice the spirit of clients and students has risen, the energy has shifted, and the tone of voice has changed. It is when I feel excited and uplifted. I love these moments. They keep me going.

 

Are you feeling that you have reached a turning point in your life?

Are you in a life transition?

Are you wanting a reminder of your dreams, things that you have always wanted to do

so that you can move forward?

Perhaps, you are someone who wants to change the world and do something about issues in society

through your own unique skills, gift, and passion?

 

Then I would like to support you.

 

If any part of my background speaks to your heart, please feel free to contact me at:

 

chizu@synergyfacilitation.com

+31-(0)6-1362 0518

 

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