Category Archives: Our participants

Our participants

Meet Catherine Hsieh – participant in summer 2011!

Catherine Hsieh

Hello there!

My name is Catherine Hsieh, nicknamed Kate. My friends usually describe me as a friendly, caring, open-minded and easy to get along with. I am a 26 year-old girl coming from Taiwan. I like reading, exercising, dancing and also singing karaoke. Taiwan is a lovely place where people are friendly and enthusiastically.

I am very excited about having the chance to experience Japan culture with people from different countries. It would be great if I could learn about other cultures around the world by experiencing it.

I can’t wait to meet you guys in this summer!

Our participants, Our Partners

Empowering week in one of the disaster areas in Miyagi!

Collapsed elementary school, it was only thing left in the area.
How many people can fit in a jump rope?
Children with some books and games that were donated

World Campus International had an opportunity to collaborate with other non-profit organization, “Kids Door” to organize a project in Minamisanriku-cho, Miyagi pref. last week. We named this project as “Kids’ Campus” and Hideto Yasui (General manager) and Yui Mihara (Operation manager) were fortunate to be a part of this experience.

This intensive experience started off with our fact-finding trip with “Kids’ Door” to the same area at the beginning of the week. On our way back to Tokyo, after meeting with some locals and other non-profit organizations that worked there, we came to the conclusion that we could arrange something for the children at the shelter.

Two days later 25 people gathered and hopped on a bus on Thursday night on April 14. Right after we arrived in Togura district in Minamisanriku-cho next morning, we got to clean a closed elementary school in other district. As both elementary and junior high schools in Togura district were collapsed after tsunami, they decided to re-use and re-open the closed elementary school in other area for the children in Togura district. Some had to move out Togura district or may have to take school bus for one and a half hour every day for this transition.

On the 16th and 17th we planned several “lessons” for the children to give an opportunity for them to experience what they would normally experience at their school. We had Home room, PE lesson, Lunch, English class, Math and Music class. About 30 children came from several shelters and the age range of the children were between four years to high school students.

People talk about glint in children’s eyes and it was so true. When they meet something new or something they enjoy, you see the sparkle in their eyes. The curiosity, passion and the energy that those children brought to us was so inspiring and empowering. There was one boy who was playing with Hideto’s computer. He just wanted to write a sentence to ask him, “When will you be back?”

We are planning on having another trip in May to work with those children again. This ordinary opportunity need to be provided them continuously… Smiles and spirits of kids really are the energy source!

Yui Mihara
(Operation Manager)

Plaing =octopus & its pot= game


Abiko City, Announcements, Arao City, City Life, Hiroshima City, Kumamoto City, Mito City, Omura City, Our participants, Our Partners, Suita City, Tama City, Toride City, Toyota City, Uda City, Ueda City

Regarding March 11, 2011 Japanese Earthquake

March 12, 2011

Dear Friends of World Campus International,

The shocking earthquake hitting the north-east part of Japan has caused massive destruction to the region. Currently, the Japanese national and local governments are working to assess the degree of damage.

Though there are areas of Japan that have been severely affected, all of our partner communities seem to have avoided tragedy. Currently, we do plan to facilitate the World Campus – Japan program from June 23 thru August 30.

Because the damages are reported in the northern region of Japan, and our community partners are located in central to western Japan, we are confident that our summer program will not be affected by the earthquake.

We have already contacted several community partners who are hosting our summer program and confirmed that they are OK and not severely or at all affected by these tragic events. We will continue to reach out to the rest of our community partners and communicate to you via this website any updated information.

Thank you for your understanding.

Hiro Nishimura
Chairman and CEO
World Campus International, Inc.

Update: Message from CEO, Hiro Nishimura on March 17, 2011

Update 2: Message from CEO, Hiro Nishimura on April 06, 2011 – Regarding New 2011 World Campus – Japan Program plan

Our participants

Excited Norwegian Participants!

Norwegians participants

Greetings from Norway! We are Torunn and Ola, and we are going to Japan with WCI this summer! Well then, here comes the question that some of you must be dying to ask:“Why do you want to participate in this programme?” Why, an excellent question! To put it simply, we want to experience Japanese culture in from a different point of view. One can, of course, experience Japanese culture as a regular tourist. Yet, to be able to see a culture from within, one has to live it, feel it. By participating in this programme, we can live with regular Japanese families and participate in their daily lives in a way which would have been nearly impossible as a regular tourist. Besides, we want to have fun! There would be no reason to apply if we thought this trip would be boring, now would there? So, if you want to experience Japanese culture from within and have a great time, you should apply for the WCI programme in Japan.

We’ll be seeing you!

Torunn and Ola