At Demachi Salon, I led activities (Chinese, English, Ink painting, etc.) for a group of elders that come to this elderly care center. Throughout the 2 hour session, we would start with a casual chat while they do their daily health check ins, then I lead the activity of the day, we go on a virtual trip to places in Japan, daily exercise, and games at the end. I really had a lot of fun talking to the obaachans,and they were incredibly nice and warm to young people. The experience really made me appreciate the multigenerational connection. If you like interacting with or want to help elders, I think this would be the perfect place to practice your Japanese! But one advice would be to be aware that a lot of the elders speak Kansai dialect, which can make it hard to understand them at first.
「Volunteering」カテゴリーアーカイブ
Sam Lindwall: Volunteering at Umekoji Koen
For my CIP, I volunteered at Umekoji Park, working roughly 2 hours every Saturday morning alongside a group of 10-15 Kyoto locals. Each week had a new goal: planting and maintaining flower beds, trimming trees, improving soil quality, etc. It was a fantastic way to become part of a local community. Everyone was welcoming and eager to make conversation (especially during tea time at the end of each session!). I enjoyed gradually building relationships with a few specific members as the weeks went on. Many Saturdays ended with small group meals or time spent riding the bus together back to our respective homes. I would highly recommend this CIP to anyone looking for a low-pressure way to practice your Japanese and connect with people of varying ages, while soaking up—and contributing to—one of Kyoto’s most lush yet lively areas.
Mica Brabander: Volunteering at Mitsuba Preschool
For my CIP this semester, I chose to volunteer at Mitsuba Preschool right near Doshisha’s campus. I had the opportunity to play with a large group of kids (~30–40) aged 3 to 6 once a week.
Each week, I joined the kids for activities including drawing, playing tag, reading, and origami. I had an amazing experience getting to know many of the kids well, and I always looked forward to going each week. I was able to practice my casual Japanese speaking skills with the kids, and formal Japanese with the teachers.
I would highly recommend this CIP to anyone who wants to play with a ton of energetic kids. Although it was a bit challenging to understand the kids at first, it became very rewarding as I got to know and understand them! My advice is to try your best and don’t worry about making mistakes because kids are very forgiving!
Jake Lefort: Ohara International Clubhouse
My CIP was with Ohara International Clubhouse, an after-school program at Ohara Elementary/Middle School that focuses on teaching the students in Ohara about other cultures from around the world. My responsibilities mostly included planning games for the students, reading storybooks in English (while another teacher read the Japanese), and building strong relationships with the students!
Ohara is a really special place, and having the chance to volunteer there is an amazing opportunity to get out of the city and spend some time in nature every week. All of the teachers and staff at Ohara are also incredibly welcoming, especially the woman in charge of the Clubhouse, Hijino Kaoru-san.
If you’re interested in volunteering at Ohara, my advice would be to really understand the commitment you’re making – the commute can be a lot! But the work is really rewarding, and working in a small community like Ohara will let you really see your impact every time you come back.
Nicole Beamon: Volunteering at Nalba
Nalba is an after school program that provides children with a place to play and one highly-balanced meal a night. The team takes time and consideration to make sure each meal is locally sourced and delicious for both kids and adults. I had a very pleasant time at Nalba hosting games with the kids and cooking with the staff. From the beginning, I became very appreciative of Nalba’s mission and the help they provide for busy working parents. However, as rewarding as my CIP has been, I do believe that Nalba is for a specific kind of person. Everyday you’re invited to help with homework, talk/play with the kids, and initiate games. Their homework typically consists of kanji and Japanese grammar workbooks. The kids also tend to talk very fast even if they recognize that you’re a foreigner. With that being said, If you are a person who is confident in their speaking or listening skills, I believe you can really thrive at Nalba. Being able to guide them through their homework or even initiate conversations/games will truly add to the kids’ and your experience!
Logan Ruzzier: Curatorial Volunteering at the Kyoto Institute of Technology Art Museum
My CIP at KCJS was volunteering at the Kyoto Institute of Technology’s Museum and Archives. During my ten-odd 2-hour sessions, spread evenly through the Fall, I engaged in a wide variety of art historical and curatorial activities for the museum. These activities spanned the realms of posters, architectural plans, and fabrics. I worked hands-on each session with one of three staff members, who each specialized in one of the aforementioned fields. I helped prepare artworks for display, measured and organized them within the archives, and even worked with graduate students to get exhibit rooms in order.
My advice to you is to seize upon this opportunity if you are seeking the following from a CIP:
- 1-on-1 relationship building in an apprenticeship-style role
- Consistent exposure to uncompromising, workplace-level and instruction-oriented Japanese
- Conversations on any topic of your choice with highly knowledgeable, passionate academics (contingent only on your will to ask and ability to understand)
- Above all, the chance to gather diverse and esoteric art historical knowledge through real objects, as well as the responsibility of handling them
This is very much a project that returns what you give, so I recommend that you arrive at the museum each time hungry to help out and learn as much as possible.
Tamar Feinland: Volunteering at the Kyoto Animal Protection Center
I decided to volunteer at an animal shelter for my CIP. I mainly took care of the dogs, and the members at the center would teach me how they walked, trained, bathed, and played with the dogs, as well as how they cleaned their enclosures.
I was able to interact with the other members quite a bit, as we would always take care of the dogs together, so if we were playing or walking them then I was able to engage in conversation with them. I also really enjoyed spending time with the dogs, and it was clear that the people at the center cared a lot about each of them.
I would advise future students to try starting a conversation with the people at your CIP. I was always nervous that maybe the other members wouldn’t want to talk to me because I’m a foreigner and my Japanese is far from perfect, but whenever I worked up the courage to ask them a question about themselves or the dogs we would always end up having a nice conversation, and it was a great opportunity for me to practice Japanese and connect more with the culture.
Mina Chioldi: Volunteering at Mitsuba Kindergarten
For my CIP activity I got to volunteer and play with kids at a local daycare near Doshisha University. It mostly consisted of crafts, drawing, and games, and the faculty and kids were very welcoming even though I was a foreigner with a low level of Japanese.
This CIP was not a big time commitment and did not give me a lot of responsibilities, so I would recommend it if you generally like kids. They were very well behaved and cute, so I found it stress relieving to go each week and not focus on my schoolwork. I think that you would get more out of it if you had a higher level of Japanese, but it’s possible either way.
AJ Johnston: Volunteering at Ohara Gakuin
For my Community Involvement Project this semester I volunteered at Ohara Gakuin, an elementary and middle school in Ohara, a small town north of Kyoto. After a scenic bus ride up to the town, I spent my Wednesdays having lunch with the school’s students, assisting with their English classes, and observing other classes on a variety of subjects. Ohara Gakuin provided me with a look into the Japanese education system and the inner workings of an ordinary school. Studying the way in which teachers approached students of drastically different age groups and learning about English instruction in Japan was fascinating, and getting to know some of the kids over the course of my short time at the school was a lot of fun.
I would advise students looking into this CIP to definitely check it out, as it was a truly unique experience, particularly if you’re interested in working with children in the future or looking into the JET program. Try to take every opportunity to chat with the kids and other teachers, even if it’s awkward or neither party fully understands what’s being said. The kids generally want to get to know you, but can be shy or unsure of how much Japanese you understand— don’t be afraid to go for it and mess up!
Evan Arbolante: Volunteer at the local Animal Shelter
I worked at one of Kyoto’s local animal shelters for my CIP.
I had a great time taking care of the dogs and cats. Some of my responsibilities included walking the dogs, teaching them how to sit and walk alongside you, and cleaning their living spaces.
This CIP is perfect if you love animals and share a passion for protecting and caring for them. For me, it felt like a weekly therapy session where I could destress and build bonds with both the animals and the shelter staff.
For those wondering what CIP to choose, find something that excites you and offers a space to connect with others. The most valuable part of the CIP is that it gives study abroad students a chance to form a special community within Japan. Think about what kind of community you’d like to be part of when deciding on your CIP. No matter what activity people choose, CIP often leaves a warm and lasting place in our hearts—so my best advice is to come excited and ready to participate!