JPN International Volunteer Programme (IVP)

Objectives

1. To promote an opportunity to share the richness of spirituality that the Society of the Sacred Heart Japan Province has developed and inherited based upon its educational mission.
2. To encourage young people to live in solidarity with people who are marginalised and vulnerable in society. 
3. To offer young volunteers a space for integrated formation, commitment, and social transformation from the spirituality of the Sacred Heart.
4. To build a community where the Japan Province can share and live together with young people through the mission of the Society of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (sending volunteers).

Activities of the IVP as for sending volunteers

Process of Selection

1. The applicant inquiries about to the volunteer programme link person.
2. The applicant submits the required documents.
3. The applicant has a personal interview (face to face/ virtual) with the volunteer programm link person and other person in the mission.
4. The volunteer programme link person coordinates a place of service for the candidate while s/he having the pre-departure formation program.
5. The volunteer programme link person coordinates details with a staff member of the volunteer service host destination.
6. After completing the pre-departure formation, the volunteer contacts the staff member of the volunteer service host destination.
7. The candidate visits the Japan Provincial House for a sending-off ceremony.
8. The candidate leaves for the service in mission.

Selection requirements from volunteers

• Previous experience of formal volunteer service program in any school or organisation
• Submission of the following documents for applying to the program:
  • Application form (Form A)
  • Volunteer motivation letter (A4 size)
  • Medical certificate of physical/mental health
  • Regular health check-up items + X-ray inspection-chest digital photography)
  • Letter of recommendation: the recommendation letter is to vouch for the skills, achievements, and aptitude of the applicant.
  • Copy of any ID with picture (passport, driver’s license, student card, and other ID)
  • Certificate of criminal record
• Submission of the following documents for joining the program:
  • Volunteer agreement (Commitment, liability waiver) and oath with the signature of candidate and guarantor.
  • Parental authorization for treatment of a minor child (below 20 years old)
  • Travel itinerary
  • Copy of passport
  • Copy of overseas travel insurance certificate
  • Personal interview (face to face or virtual) with the link person and others.
  • Participating the formation programme (preparation) in Japan before joining the service in mission.
  • Participating the post-formation programme after coming back from her/his service in mission place.

Pre-departure Formation of Volunteers

The Japan Volunteer Programme provides the following topics or areas of formation to volunteers through lectures, workshops, retreats, and other settings. Some lectures can be provided by the institutions/organisation which has a formal formation program/training.

1. Christian value formation for non-Christians.
2. Lecture on the spirituality of the Sacred Heart and Sacred Heart education.
3. Spiritual direction(regular accompaniment and retreat).
4. Intercultural training and conflict management training.
5. Lectures on the social, economic, political, cultural, and climate sitation of the host destination
6. Lectures on the language of the host destination.
7. Gathering and interacting with people who engaged with volunteer work abroad.

Post-Formation Program of Volunteer

• We have a personal interview based on the evaluation paper sent by the mission of the host destination. If there is a program with multiple volunteers, group sharing and reflection is conducted to enrich their experiences.
• Volunteer are required to submit the following documents in the post-formation program period:
  • Personal reflection, evaluation, and review of volunteer experiences
  • Evaluation of the International Volunteer Program in Japan (about the support system, preparation and formation program, etc.)
  • An article about volunteer experiences for website or journal of the Japan Province
  • Sharing volunteer experiences with the RSCJ community, new and former volunteers, etc.

Activities of the IVP as for receiving volunteers

Process of Selection

1. The link person of the province sending country contacts the JPN IVP link person when they have an applicant for sending.
2. The JPN IVP link person provides details of the program, such as possible mission sites, terms, conditions of stay, etc., to the link person of the sending country.
3. The volunteer candidate submits the required documents to the JPN link person after the approval of the link person of sending country.
4. The candidate has a personal interview (face to face/ virtual) with the JPN link person and others, such as Japanese RSCJ, who will accept a volunteer in her Ministry.
5. The JPN IVP link person coordinates a mission place for the candidate while having the online pre-formation program after approval for the applicant to be accepted.
6. The JPN IVP link person coordinates details with a staff member in charge of a mission place where the volunteer will be sent.
7. The candidate contacts the staff member in charge of a mission place after finalizing the host institution/organization.
8. The candidate will visit Japan for volunteering work.

Requirements to integrate the IVP in Japan

Previous experience of formal volunteer service program at any school or organization.

?Submission of the following documents for applying to the program;

• Application Form (*Form A)
• Volunteer Motivation Letter (A4 size)
• Medical Certificate of Physical/Mental Health (Regular health check-up items + X-ray Inspection - Chest Digital Photography)
• Letter of Recommendation: The recommendation letter is to vouch for the skills, achievements, and aptitude of the applicant.
• Copy of any ID with picture (Passport, Driver’s license, Student card, or other ID)
• Certificate of Criminal Record

?Submission of the following documents for joining the program in Japan;

• Volunteer Agreement (Commitment, liability waiver) and Oath with the signature of candidate and guarantor.
• Parental Authorization for Treatment of a Minor Child (below 20 years old)
• Travel Itinerary
• Copy of passport
• Copy of overseas travel insurance certificate

?Personal Interview (face to face or virtual) with the link person and others.

?Participating in the Formation Program in Japan

?Submission of the required documents after the volunteer work.

 

Formation of Volunteers

JNP IVP provides the following topics or areas of the formation program of volunteers through lectures, workshops, retreats, and other settings. Some lectures will be provided by the institutions/organization which has a formal formation program/training.

1. Lecture on Japanese Society, Culture, and languages.
2. Spiritual direction by RSCJ
3. Sharing the culture of a volunteer with the Youth in Japan.
4. Sharing volunteer experiences with the RSCJ community before leaving for the country.

The requirement of Volunteer after the mission

• We (host community and the JPN link person) have a personal interview with the volunteer before going back to the country.
• If we (Japan province) have multiple volunteers in the program, we conduct group sharing and reflection to enrich their experiences.
• We require the volunteer to submit the following documents after the mission.

• Personal reflection, evaluation, and review of volunteer experiences
• Evaluation of the International Volunteer Program in Japan (about the support system, preparation, and formation program, etc.)
• An article about volunteer experiences for website or journal of the Japan Province

 

Duration of volunteer service in mission

• Short program: from?to 3 months.
• Long Program: from 3 months to 1 year.

 

People being served : Agents of transformation (Educators)

Age group : Adults 26-60, Young people 18-25

Project status : Ongoing

Society presence : Japan

Focus of the project : People

JPIC Imperative : Transforming and Being Transformed

UN Sustainable Development Goals : 17 Partnerships for the Goals