NPO Seibo is committed to creating opportunities for the next generation of young people to put “learning connected to society” into practice.
We have been working together with Iwakura High School for nearly three years, steadily expanding our activities. Through initiatives such as creating an original brand by designing Malawi coffee packaging, as well as engaging in sales activities and exchanges with Malawi, students have been able to experience firsthand the real impact that support and action can generate.

As part of this collaboration, students from Iwakura High School took part in school information sessions held on November 15 and December 6, where they presented their Senbazuru (One Thousand Cranes) Project and conducted sales activities.
Here, we report on those activities.

What is the Senbazuru Project?
When people hear “Senbazuru Project,” many may imagine an activity focused on folding paper cranes.
However, at Iwakura High School, the Senbazuru Project is an inquiry-based initiative in which students themselves confront social issues and plan and manage projects in collaboration with companies and local communities.

Seibo’s representative, Yamada, first discovered this project online three years ago. Feeling a strong affinity with Seibo’s own educational activities, he reached out by email—this marked the beginning of our collaboration.

Presentations at the School Information Sessions
At the November 15 information session, members of the Senbazuru Project took the stage to introduce their activities to visiting junior high school students and their parents.
The presentation time was limited to within three minutes.

Within this short timeframe, the students discussed repeatedly what they should convey in order to communicate the essence of their activities, carefully refining the content of their presentation.

Connections Created Through Sales Activities
In addition to the presentation, an introduction booth and sales event for the Senbazuru Project were held in a classroom.
The items sold included Cambodian dried fruit with packaging designed by the students, as well as Malawi coffee developed in partnership with Seibo.

Some visitors reportedly expressed surprise, saying, “Did high school students really design this?”

Although it was their first time participating in sales activities and they faced moments of uncertainty, the students improvised on the spot—handing out flyers and trying to speak to visitors with a single word or phrase. This became a valuable opportunity to practically develop their ability to communicate and convey ideas.

A Circle That Is Gradually but Surely Expanding
Over the two days, more than 40 groups of visitors had the opportunity to learn about the Senbazuru Project.
We hope that these encounters will spark interest in the learning at Iwakura High School and encourage participants to broaden their perspectives to the wider world, including Malawi.

NPO Seibo will continue to value both “communicating” and “taking action,” supporting the challenges of young people and serving as a bridge between them and society.