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Social and Pastoral Bulletin
 No. 9015, Jun. 1999 |
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Social and Pastoral Bulletin
No. 9015, Jun. 1999 |
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We will introduce here the social service activities of our school, based
on the official invitation to all students to participate in them.
 Our school started social services in 1980 and since that time a social
services committee, consisting of students elected from first year junior
high school up to third year senior high, runs the social service programs.Since its foundation Rokko school has stressed the importance of service
to others as an essential element of its Christian background, and, as
a result, assistance to people who are in need of help has always flourished
here. Activities like cooperation with the Community Chest Fund Raising
and the involvement in Miyage's Children home go back to about 40 years
by now.In the 70s Jesuit schools from all over the world raised, as their common
educational objective, the building of "Men and Women for Others",
and decided to adopt the education for the promotion of social justice
and to stress even more social service activities. Such an education aims
at training persons who will contribute to the building up of a more human
society. The educational distinctive of Rokko school is the accomplishment
of a society where everybody is considered important and where human rights
are respected.Nevertheless, each one of us tends to just think of oneself unintentionally
and, remaining egoistic, dislikes to do something for others. Social service
is exactly a fight against one's own egoism. The giving of 200 yen a month
out of one's pocket money for an Indian fund, severe volunteer work in
working camps and many other opportunities to contribute with one's work
or with money, all these I would like them to be done in an attitude of
natural cooperation. |
We understand that from now on in Japan and Asia, as well as in other parts
of the world there are demands to build societies where we, together with
those weak people who are suffering from social injustices and discriminations,
can enjoy real human lives. Rokko school begs its students, no matter where
they will be working in the future, that they strive to build a human society
from their place of work. Social services should be understood as a training
to do that.The pillar of education at Rokko is to experience the lives of those in
weak social conditions and to share their painful realities, so that opportunities
are provided to the students to reflect on human values and the meaning
of their experiences. We expect everyone to cooperate actively and understand
the meaning of such activities.
Each class raises funds from the students every month. The money is collected
for the Hansen disease patients of Damian social welfare Center in the
Indian province of Bihar. Those funds are mainly used for the daily expenses
and the education of children living in the same Damian Center compound
where their parents are interned as patients. In each classroom there is
a panel with the following message: "Let's assist one more classmate".
The funds raised go to support Indian classmates. The amount of money each
one is expected to give is estimated to be about 200 yen, more or less
the amount spent in one meal. Near 30,000 dollars are sent to India every
year, and every 3 or 4 years senior students, representing the school,
pay visits to India and upon return they report on how impressed they are
by how, usefully, the donations had been spent. |
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| (2) Working Social ServicesEvery summer all students from Junior 3rd year to 2nd year of High, do
one full day social service in welfare institutions around Kobe. The thinking
behind is to have the students meet and contact persons of all ages, living
in different social situations and environments. There are cases where
they stay overnight in the institutions, and some pay visits to Nagashima
Aiseien in Okayama or Nara. Teachers prepare the program of the visits
for 2nd year Junior students. (3) Community Chest Fund Raising Traditionally speaking 1st and 2nd year Junior students help in outdoor
fund raising. Organized in small groups, they collect money, from Sannomiya
to Motomachi stations, under the leadership of high school members of the
social services committee. Every year, the fund raising takes place during
the first Saturday and Sunday of the month. (4) Blood Donation Every year in December the blood donation bus, from the Japanese Red Cross,
comes to the school. Anyone, over 16 years of age, can donate blood. The
reason for doing that in December is because in winter there is a shortage
of blood.(5) Activities of the Committee of Social Services The members selected from every class collect the donations for India once
a month, prepare and implement each volunteer activity, do the PR in the
school and organize study sessions on social services and exhibitions during
the cultural festivals.(6) Other Activities
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As already mentioned above we assist the studies and living expenses of
children with parents suffering from Hansen disease. The goal for each
class to support "one more classmate" is 6,000 yen. The money
collected is also used to upgrade the facilities of the vocational training
workshops, and helps the students in India to find jobs after graduation
and to support themselves.Last year, the average monthly collection, without counting two months
December with a special collection for graduation and the New Year's gift
collection in January reached 7,200 yen, quite over the fixed mark for
each class. But comparing it to 1992 with 8,200 yen and 1993 with 9,300
yen, years related to the visit to India of delegates from the school,
the actual funds collected have somehow diminished.Last May we distributed to all the students the Report of the third visit
to India and discussed in all classes the collection of funds for India.
Its content is related to the 1997 visit to India during the spring vacations.(2) Working Social Services Last year Junior 1st and 2nd Junior students participated in the Community
Chest fund raising. The rest of the students went to several welfare institutions,
as is usual every year, and helped there organizing exchange programs.
They also helped in the "long-legged" fund raising, participated
in events of local community building promoted after the strong Kobe earthquake,
paid visits to the people living in temporary shelters and assisted them
to move to permanent housing.(3) Blood Donation This has continued for 17 years, every December since 1982. Last year alone,
108 people donated blood. This is more or less the average yearly number
in the 90s, but the first 8 years in the 80s, about 226 people - as average
- donated blood. The numbers went down to half and there is a need to stress
cooperation and understanding of this program. |
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| (4) Activities With Regard to the HomelessWe also promote activities with people in Kamagasaki (Osaka) and Kobe forced
to live in the streets. We collected from all students rice for the soup
kitchens. About 20 volunteer students participated in night patrols during
last winter. During the patrolling, we ask the homeless about their health
and distribute blankets, soup and rice bowls depending on their needs.
Last December our students helped in the cleaning of the welfare institution
"Deai no Ie" of Kamagasaki. |
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