World Campus – Japan alumni, Henning Rodtwitt(’08 & ’09,) Amanda Roland(’09,) Torunn Olsen(’11,) Ola Johannessen(’11,) Alexandra Kristinnsdottir(’11,) and Vegard Ovland(’11) held presentations at the University of Oslo and the Oslo Handelsgym. They presented the upcoming program and shared their experiences to over 30 Norwegian students.
World Campus – Japan 2012 Program presentation was held at the University of Eastern Finland in Joensuu, Finland on November 3. We thank Professor Terttu Rajala, the lecturer of Japanese language and culture for inviting us to the university.
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)
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.
On February 21, 2011, WCI CEO, Hiro Nishimura and Cyrill Gross, a regional representative held a program presentation at HWZ in Zurich.
