「Volunteering」カテゴリーアーカイブ

Christine Kang: Volunteer at Mitsuba Kindergarten

投稿日時: 投稿者:

I volunteered at Mitsuba Kindergarten, a local preschool in Kyoto, where I spent time each week interacting with children aged 3 to 6. My responsibilities included playing games, drawing, singing songs, helping with origami, assisting children with snack time and bathroom trips, and participating in their daily routines alongside the other teachers. I was essentially a “sensei” figure to the kids, helping out wherever needed while using the opportunity to practice and improve my Japanese.

The experience was both heartwarming and humbling. While the children were incredibly affectionate—often drawing me pictures, hugging me, or sitting in my lap—there were also moments when the language barrier made me feel unsure or overwhelmed. I struggled at first with basic vocabulary and knowing how to communicate in a way kids would understand, but over time I gained confidence by listening carefully, asking questions, and even laughing along with them when I made mistakes. I also learned a lot about Japanese culture, especially how structure and rule-following are emphasized even from such a young age.

I highly recommend Mitsuba Kindergarten to students who enjoy working with children and want to practice their Japanese in a natural and supportive environment. It helps to go in with an open mind, a playful spirit, and the willingness to learn—not just language, but how to communicate and connect without always having the right words.

Sergianni Jennings: Volunteering at Mitsuba Kindergarten

投稿日時: 投稿者:

This semester for my CIP I volunteered at Mitsuba Kindergarten. As a volunteer, I was able to play with children and also act as an assistant to the teachers for any help they needed. I had a really great experience at my CIP this semester and was able to make a lot of memories with the kids. I especially enjoyed sitting down and drawing together with them and was touched by the amount of drawings they gave me throughout the semester.

The teachers were also incredibly kind and I always enjoyed talking with them during my volunteer hours. The kids also have a daily snack time and the teachers would often include me as I had not tried many of the Japanese snacks that they served!

I would recommend this CIP to anyone who loves playing with kids and being in a lively environment. I would also suggest to those who do this CIP to have confidence in your Japanese when speaking to the children or teachers as they are all kind!

Alex Li: Volunteering at Mitsuba Youchien

投稿日時: 投稿者:

For my CIP, I volunteered in the Mitsuba Youchien every Tuesday for three hours. I would help the kids with drawings, puzzles, and other games as well as talk with them in Japanese. It was an extremely enjoyable experience and I was able to improve my Japanese through talking with the children. Although it was a bit intimidating at first, I thought they were much more patient and understanding than I had initially thought and it became second nature to talk about what they were doing and their hobbies and interests. I would recommend for people looking to do this to start asking specific questions and not being afraid to put yourself out there: that’s often the only way you will be able to start making deeper connections with the children.

Mia Nakamura: Volunteering at a Nursery

投稿日時: 投稿者:

 

For my CIP, I volunteered at Pesutarotchi Nursery, which is a place for kids from ages 0-6. Every week, I would go to the nursery, wake the kids up from their nap, gather them and eat a snack together, play with them, and then help clean up. The reason that I wanted to do this activity for my CIP was because I do not have much experience with young kids since I am the youngest child and cousin on both my dad and mom’s sides, so I wanted to get more comfortable playing and interacting with them. A lot of the time I felt very awkward, but after some time, just being around the same kids allowed me to build a rapport with them, so after a while they would come and play with me. My advice to incoming students is to just act like a kid when you’re playing with the kids and don’t overthink how to interact with them.

Emmett Young: Volunteering at Mitsuba Kindergarten

投稿日時: 投稿者:

This semester for my Community Involvement Project I volunteered at a local kindergarten by the name of Mitsuba where I was essentially hanging out with the kindergarteners there for a couple hours each week. This experience was really fun overall and was actually my first ever time working with kids of such a young age which is ironic given the fact that it was in Japan where a language barrier at some times was very prominent. Regardless, it was an experience that led to a lot of personal growth in learning how to interact with and become familiar with people without always being able to communicate what I hope to say. My advice for incoming students is to honestly do things that you haven’t done before. It sounds generic though when you do things that are not only new to yourself, but you’re also experiencing a language barrier at the same time, it teaches you a lot about how to handle those extremely foreign situations. Then as you get more comfortable with whatever you are doing, the feeling of gratitude is magnified. 

Camille Chang: Volunteering at the Kyoto Museum of Crafts and Design

投稿日時: 投稿者:

My CIP was volunteering as an interpreter at the Kyoto Museum of Crafts and Design. I met with many craftspeople giving demonstrations at the museum, and translated their explanations of their crafts to English-speaking visitors, and any questions that a visitor might have, into Japanese.

I am an art history major, and I have always had an interest in traditional crafts and folk art, so I wanted to develop more familiarity with the world of Japanese crafts and use my Japanese to do so.  I had to switch back and forth between English and Japanese, which turned out to be easier than I thought it would be. The act of interpreting across languages made it easier for me to connect the two cultures that I had to fuse as well. Shaking off habits I had in the U.S. to better fit my lifestyle in Japan, I also found that my Japanese and English also ebbed and flowed to fit each other’s existence in my brain (if that makes sense lol). By using so much Japanese, my English has also changed! This process also taught me a lot about Japanese work culture. I was essentially doing a part-time job at a Japanese museum, and I loved getting to know my coworkers and even translate a few wall labels into English for lacquerware exhibits.

I am super grateful to have had this opportunity while in Kyoto. While volunteering was difficult at times, it gave me a great opportunity to learn more about crafts, meet artisans who have made craft their life, and use my language skills to connect people from across the world.

Judson Buchko: Teaching Assistant at Ohara Gakuin

投稿日時: 投稿者:

My CIP was as a English teaching assistant at Ohara Gakuin, a 1st-9th grade regional school just outside of Kyoto in the sleepy town of Ohara. I assisted the English teachers there along with my fellow KCJS student Sebastian as an English conversation partner with the students, as well as assisting in class lessons by providing a native perspective and native fluency. Ohara is a beautiful little town located in the northern mountains behind Kyoto, and every time I took the bus up there each week, I was astounded once again without fail of its natural beauty. The students there were very kind, and were very patient with my not-yet-fluent Japanese skills, and I ended up making a few connections that, I think, will be important memories for these students as they grow up– reminding them that there are friends and connections to be made with people regardless of their home country, language, appearance, et cetera. To incoming students, I would say that while you’re in Japan, try and engross yourself at least in some way in the everyday lives of Japanese people. Try to get outside of the 留学生 bubble at least a little bit, and immerse yourself, even if it’s hard, as putting yourself in something like a school setting, or a workplace setting, really helps you gain some valuable and unique cultural perspective on the everyday culture and activities of real Japanese people.

Anna Trapani: Volunteering at Nagaoka-kyo Children’s Center

投稿日時: 投稿者:

For my CIP I chose to volunteer at an after-school children’s center that was near my homestay. The kids were elementary to middle schoolers, and I got to play games with them, help with homework, practice my Japanese, and learn about what childhood is like in Japan. It was an amazing experience that really made me feel like a part of the community. The memories I made with the children and the staff members will be forever very special to me. For those who are not the best at putting themselves out there in the social setting, I really recommend 1. volunteer activities, because they give you a sense of purpose, and/or 2. working with kids, since they will immediately take a liking to you. For those who do chose a similar CIP, I recommend getting to know some Japanese names for games beforehand and teaching the children games you used to play, too!

Anna Yan: Volunteering at 聖マリア幼稚園　 子ども食堂 (Kodomo Shokudō)

投稿日時: 投稿者:

At Kodomo Shokudō, I volunteer to help create a welcoming space where children and families can enjoy meals together. My main tasks include assisting with meal preparation and cleanup and interacting with children to build connections and learn more about Japanese culture.

This experience has taught me the importance of communication and adaptability in cross-cultural settings. Engaging with the children has been a highlight, helping me understand Japanese values like politeness and community through their actions. Plus, the food is really good – it’s always a treat to enjoy the delicious and balanced meals prepared here.

Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and engage with others, even if your Japanese isn’t perfect. Small efforts, like asking questions or sharing activities, go a long way in building meaningful connections. 

 

Xu Yitian: Volunteering at 聖マリア子ども食堂

投稿日時: 投稿者:

I participated in volunteering at the 聖マリア子ども食堂, where I helped the staff prepare dinner for kindergarten and lower elementary school children every week. In the process, I not only learned a lot about cross-cultural communication, but also felt the warmth and friendliness when interacting with the children and staff. For future participants of this program, I would like to say that although you may feel uncomfortable at first due to the language barrier or cultural differences, as long as you remain open and patient, gradually you will gain a lot and realize that you have made great progress in communication and understanding. Remember to be brave and interact with the children, their sincerity and smiles will bring you many unexpected benefits.