We held the 2026 Volunteer Festa.
~"For someone else" - starting now, from here~
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On July 8th (Wednesday) and 9th (Thursday), we held the "2026 Volunteer Festa" at the 1st floor lounge of the Meimeikan building on the Machida campus.
〇J. F. Oberlin University Volunteer Festa
Service-Learning Center has held the "Volunteer Festa" annually since 2012 as a project to support the participation of university student groups in volunteer and social contribution activities.
| Group classification | Organization name | Overview/Keywords |
|---|---|---|
| University organizations | Farm Circle Obical | Vegetable cultivation, community interaction |
| University organizations | Service-Learning Center Volunteer (SLC-V) | Disaster support, academic affairs personnel |
| University organizations | Furikuto | Creating safe spaces, supporting part-time high school students, free spaces |
| University organizations | Chonren | School support, Cambodia, international exchange |
| University organizations | Volunteer Club Sakubora | Community service, child support, exchange activities, social welfare |
| University organizations | Obirin Gakuen Student Cooperative Student Committee | University Co-op, Student Life |
| University organizations | Volunteers at Yatoike Park Adventure Playground | Independence, free play, supervision |
| Guest Group | Machida Community Activity Support Office | *Guest participation |
| Guest Group | International Nature University | *Guest participation |
| Guest Group | Hyakukichi | *Guest participation |
| Guest Group | GIFT | *Guest participation |
At this year's festival, student organizations from our university that are involved in social contribution, volunteer activities, and international cooperation set up elaborate PR booths. In addition, the following diverse programs were implemented as part of the overall event, enlivening the venue.
● Food bank / Job hunting supplies collection
A student volunteer group organized a collection of surplus food items and unwanted job-hunting supplies (such as business suits and bags) from households. The collected items were then distributed to students at a local part-time high school.
● Tanabata decorations
We used bamboo donated by "Watage," a community care group active in Sagamihara City, to create Tanabata decorations with the help of our visitors.
● Stamp rally
We held an event where participants could win prizes by visiting three different group booths, allowing many people to enjoy interacting with various organizations.
~Voices from our university students~
▼ Executive Committee Member: Natsuki Ishibashi (College of Arts and Sciences, 3rd year)
▼ Executive Committee Member: Natsuki Ishibashi (College of Arts and Sciences, 3rd year)
This was my first time participating in the festival, but I wanted to expand the connections between my volunteer club and other organizations, so I took part in the planning as a member of the organizing committee.
With the idea of "Don't see volunteering as an intimidating hurdle, and try doing something for someone else, even if it's just for a day," we came up with a catchphrase and, with the cooperation of local residents, we were in charge of arranging the bamboo branches for Tanabata. On the day of the event, people from the free school and employment support facility that we usually work with also came, and we were able to gain new inspiration from interacting with people of different generations. Through our interactions with children, the elderly, and people with disabilities, we are learning not to "do everything for them," but rather to consider how to bring out their sense of accomplishment and growth.
You can start volunteering even without high aspirations or specialized knowledge, as long as you have the courage to take the first step. Understanding the difficulties and struggles of others will also broaden your own world. Let's all get involved in volunteer work together!
▼ Participating Organizations & On-site Staff: Atsuya Kitano (College of Arts and Sciences, 4th year)
I enjoyed the warm atmosphere and interactions with other organizations when I participated last year, so I decided to be involved again this year as an exhibitor and staff member.
Through my daily activities and interactions with diverse individuals, including local residents and students from other universities, I learned the importance of basic manners like greetings and how to communicate effectively. Although I was originally an introverted person, I feel that my volunteer work has made me more open and allowed me to communicate smoothly with anyone.
Volunteering is a wonderful experience that adds color to your campus life. If you're even slightly interested, please feel free to join us!
This year's Volunteer Festa 2026 served as a valuable opportunity to put into practice our university's philosophy of "learning to serve others," and to translate the idea of "doing something for someone else" into concrete action. Volunteer activities in diverse fields deepen one's interest in social issues and provide a starting point for finding the first step one should take.
Our university Service-Learning Center will continue to provide such opportunities for learning and practice, striving to nurture human resources who can create a better future by collaborating with local communities.
Inquiry
J. F. Oberlin University and Affiliated Schools General Planning Department, Public Relations Section
- webadmin@obirin.ac.jp
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