Service

Chiku Centre Support Group

Embedded in the grade one curriculum is a Unit of Inquiry, "People create systems to connect communities." It has been designed to help young children build their capacity for leadership and service. In collaboration with members of the Chiku Centre group the grade one's build an understanding of homelessness and take age appropriate action. This has included learning what people really need and raising their own money through their actions, such as making a cardboard arcade. The children then funded and made onigiri with the Chiku Centre Group.

YIS Kindergarten - Takarajima Kindergarten Buddies

In 2011 YIS and Takarajima began a buddy partnership where they could be both learners and teachers to each other, sharing their respective kindergarten spaces and learning from each other through play and shared activities. The children develop their stewardship potential with the experience of sharing spaces, trying new things, helping others feel comfortable, trying new ways of communication, creating an environment that others will enjoy, playing in a space that is unfamiliar yet supported, and taking care of others' spaces and the natural environment.

Lady of Lourdes Baby Home

16 years ago, we established a connection with The Lady of Lourdes Baby Home in Yamate. The Home is for children ages 2-18 years of age, with 20 children between the ages of 3 and 6. These children all have at least one parent, but for various reasons cannot live with their parents and for most, rarely receive visits from them. Every year the ELC invites the younger children not yet attending school to our center and to play with us. In December, we organize a Craft Day with our parents to make gifts for our Baby Home friends.

5W Kiva Initiative

For the past 3 years, at the start of the school year, 5W students have been invited to learn about and connect with KIVA by making a loan to someone in the world who needs it. As KIVA states on their website: "We are a non-profit organization with a mission to connect people through lending to alleviate poverty. Leveraging the internet and a worldwide network of microfinance institutions, Kiva lets individuals lend as little as $25 to help create opportunity around the world." More than 90% of 5W students each year have chosen to take part each year. Together in 5W we have learn about how KIVA works and the students have work hard outside of school to raise enough money to make a US$25 loan. Then each student chooses the person or group to make their loan to. To date, ALL 5W students have been repaid! Thank you everyone.

Partners: KIVA

A list of Elementary Service Initiatives for 2018-19 can be found here

Sanagitachi Service Club

Sanagitachi works on bettering the lives of people in need and without stable housing within the Kannai area of Yokohama. Students and teachers regularly collaborate with the Sanagitachi Center to support homeless individuals around the Yokohama Stadium and Kannai station areas by distributing necessities such as soup, razors, toothbrushes, socks and blankets.

HS YIS Underwater Explorers

Partner: Project Baseline

The Combating Human Trafficking Group

The Combating Human Trafficking service group works alongside a non-profit organisation called Lighthouse to seek ways raise awareness about and combat the issue of human trafficking and the sexual exploitation of young people in Japan. Our group educates others by organising speaking events for YIS and the wider community and has contributed by translating Lighthouse materials into English to widen their audience.

Partners: Lighthouse: Center for Human Trafficking Victims

Van der Poel Community Service

The Van der Poel Community Service group works to improve the welfare of children in two local orphanages through a partnership with the Yokohama International Women’s Club. Students participate in regular outings and visits to the childrens’ homes and they also organize and host the Orphanage Christmas party held annually at YIS in early December. This is a major event that brings together the YIS community and the orphanage communities.

Partners: Yokohama International Women's Club

High School Environment Club

The HS Environment Club aims to act locally and promote environmentalism by ‘greening’ the YIS campus with plants, vegetables and flowers. Additionally, students act as good neighbors by regularly sweeping and maintaining the grounds at the entrance to the Yokohama Foreign Cemetery. Special community events such as beach cleanups are also planned to provide opportunities for environmental stewardship.

Partners: Yokohama Foreign Cemetery

The YIS group exists to support the work of non-profit organization Refugees International Japan by fundraising for and raising awareness about the challenges of refugeeism around the world. Main fundraising at YIS is based on the sale of greeting cards donated by various artists every year.

Partners: Refugees International Japan

Chiku Service Club

The Chiku Service clubs aims to help support people who are less fortunate within the Yokohama area. Students regularly volunteer in the mornings and at lunch on Fridays to help prepare and serve lunches in the Kotobukicho area near Ishikawacho Station to those who are in need. Additionally, fundraising events are held to raise money and collaborations with various grades to prepare and deliver onigiri (rice balls) are hosted regularly.

Partners: Kotobuki Chiku Center

HOPE Service Club

The HOPE Service club partners with the HOPE International Development Agency to support the development of underserved rural communities and to raise awareness about the needs of those in poverty, particularly in Cambodia. YIS students volunteer for HOPE’s Tokyo-based events, fundraise for HOPE projects and advocate for HOPE’s work on sustainable development on issues such as sanitation, education, women’s empowerment and microfinance. Some students in the group participate in direct service as part of an annual trip to a local village in Pursat Province, Cambodia to construct a 3-classroom school structure and build relationships with the local Cambodian community.

Partners: HOPE International Development Agency

LGBTQ+ Student Group

The LGBTQ+ student group aims to promote an inclusive and supportive environment for students of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities at YIS. Advocacy focuses on building awareness about issues facing the queer community and eradicating the social oppression of LGBTQ community members.

Animal Relief Club

This student group focuses on advocacy and promoting animal welfare with a focus on homeless dogs in Japan. Direct service opportunities have included regular volunteer work at a Tokyo animal shelter, discussing animal-related issues with elementary, middle and high school students and promoting the adoption of homeless dogs among the YIS community.

Sustainability Project

The Sustainability Project is a student run service group dedicated to increasing sustainability awareness in the YIS community and beyond. Our objective is to educate students about the issue of waste and to promote the reduction of it. We involve the YIS community in activities such as clothing drives, up-cycling workshops and have future plans to do even more.

Other Student Groups with Service elements:

• YIS Snow Club partners with Chill Japan
• YIS Library Council serves the YIS Community
• YIS Middle School and High School Student Councils
• Duke of Edinburgh International Award

OUR SERVICE MODEL

*In formulating our service model, we adapted the approach described in the ‘Service and Action’ section of the IB publication MYP: From Principles into Practice (2014).