NEWS
The Japan Service-Learning Program (JSL) was Held
Update: January 13, 2025
From Monday, December 8 to Monday, December 22, 2025, the Japan Service-Learning Program (JSL) was held over a two-week period. This year, we welcomed four students--two each from Lady Doak College in India and Silliman University in the Philippines--and carried out a variety of activities on campus and in the Mitaka area under the theme of "service activities in various local educational settings."
During the program, the students assisted English classes at Higashi Elementary School in Koganei City and supported after-school events organized by the local community group "Chi-Q-jin." They also visited the homes of Chi-Q-jin members, where they enjoyed Japanese home-cooked meals and experienced the warmth of family life. In addition, they supported English classes at Koka Gakuen Elementary School in Chofu City and engaged in international exchange through cooking and games with elementary, junior high school, and high school students at Free School Cosmo in Mitaka.
Beyond school-based activities, the students also had opportunities to learn about community welfare. They visited Kobokan Community Center in Sumida Ward to deepen their understanding of community-based welfare initiatives. Together with ICU students, they also enjoyed an excursion to Tokyo Skytree, further strengthening their connections.
On campus, the students joined the activities of the student group "ICU Compost," learning about composting food waste. One of them also participated in the "Mitaka Osawa Wasabi" project--an environmental initiative jointly revived by students and local residents--gaining insight into collaborative efforts between the university and the community.
Throughout their stay, ICU students with prior international service-learning experience supported the visiting students, helping to build strong bonds and mutual understanding among the participants.
The program concluded with a final presentation, during which the visiting students shared the insights and learning they had gained over the two weeks in front of ChiQ-jin members and ICU students who had supported them. Their reflections included comments such as, "I realized how daily routines cultivate independence and responsibility in children," "I was inspired by how environmental initiatives are practiced with a sense of personal ownership," and "My interactions with local people left a deep impression, and I hope to create a similar community-supportive space in my own country someday." These presentations clearly conveyed the depth and diversity of their learning experiences.
