Seibo is collaborating with schools across Japan, from elementary schools to universities, to provide meal support in Malawi through research activities and extracurricular projects. As part of this, Seibo has initiated a collaboration between Kosei Gakuen Middle and High School (Kosei Gakuen, Principal Shinji Uda), established by Kosei Gakuen Educational Institution, and Shirayuri Women’s University, established by Shirayuri Gakuen Educational Institution.

Since January 2023, Seibo has conducted special classes at Kosei Gakuen, deepening students’ understanding of international exchange and social business. Through project-based learning (PBL), students have collected donations and sent them to Malawi, creating a significant social impact.

With the shared Catholic mission school background and alignment with the Global Business Program (GBP) at Shirayuri Women’s University, Kosei Gakuen is now participating in PBL-based collaborative high school-university programs. Seibo acts as a bridge between the two schools, providing continuous learning opportunities, and facilitating this partnership.

For more on Seibo’s collaboration with Kosei Gakuen, visit here.

Course Implementation and Future Prospects
The first class took place on February 7, 2024, bringing together university students with interests in studying abroad, domestic international support activities, and initiatives related to solving social issues, with middle and high school students who have experienced working with an NPO. This was a meaningful time for all involved.

In the 2023 school year, Kosei Gakuen collaborated with Seibo to conduct social business classes and practices, including promoting and selling their own fair trade coffee, which resulted in donations for 14,000 school meals in Malawi, supporting local primary schools and kindergartens. With the involvement and motivation of university students, the middle and high school students can grow further, while the university students gain leadership experience in business.

Yuka Ueno, associate professor and coordinator of the Global Business Program at Shirayuri Women’s University, expressed her enthusiasm, stating, “I am very pleased to have this opportunity. Our university students can share and apply what they have learned at the university level with the middle and high school students, mutually deepening their learning experiences.”

For more on the Global Business Program (GBP), visit here.

Seibo’s Outlook
Seibo will continue to act as a link between different education sectors, creating more opportunities for smooth high school-university partnerships. Shinji Uda, Principal of Kosei Gakuen Middle and High School, said, “Starting a gentle form of high school-university collaboration through NPO activities is desirable for both middle and high schools and universities.”

In the future, Seibo will continue to expand its activities with high schools and universities, focusing on international support and the practical learning of social business.