On August 29, 2025, Seibo Japan held a roundtable session at the Catholic Education Association Conference.

Nine student staff members and two high school volunteers shared an overview of Seibo’s activities, the roles of student staff, their motivations for joining, and their current reflections.

Based on these introductions, participants divided into groups at each student’s table and discussed the following themes. Each of the students had been involved with Seibo’s activities since high school, allowing participants to engage deeply with content rooted in Catholic values.

・Yokoyama: Practicing Catholic Education in Society through an NPO

This roundtable focused on the theme “Practicing Catholic Education in Society through an NPO.”
Seibo’s work can be understood as putting Catholic education into practice by supporting children living far away, often unseen. A major goal of this activity is to nurture imagination and empathy in students—helping them consider the lives of people in distant places.

Yokoyama shared personal experiences of participating in Seibo classes and engaging in sales activities as a high school student. Together with participants, he reflected on the importance of practicing Catholic education during secondary school years and how such experiences influence students regardless of their future career paths.

・Nishida: Social Contribution through Each Student’s Unique Strengths

The theme of this roundtable is how the founding spirit of an institution can be translated into concrete activities, enabling students to truly experience it and transform it into wisdom that guides them as they step into society.
A concrete example was found in Kobe College’s founding principle: “Love God, Love Your Neighbor.”

Ms. Nishida, a first-year student at Kobe College, began her involvement through a class on volunteer studies. Since then, she has participated in the Osaka Expo, where she makes use of her communication skills in public relations, supporting high school students, and joining various events. She also plans to create video content to share the work of Seibo in the near future.

Together with her, we will explore how the universal values held by mission schools can take shape as forms of social contribution, while also providing opportunities for students to express their individuality.

・Yoshida: The Significance of Extracurricular Activities and Religious Education in Boys’ Schools

This roundtable focused on “The Significance of Extracurricular Activities and Religious Education in Boys’ Schools.”
Yoshida, a graduate of Salesian Junior & Senior High School, introduced the school’s pioneering collaboration with Seibo. During his time there, he proposed and implemented coffee sales, an initiative that continues today. After graduation, he has supported the school–NPO connection through monthly reports and grant applications.

Participants explored how religious education influences social contribution and considered practical ways to sustain ties between graduates and their alma mater.

・Ōtake: Teamwork and Continuity of Activities in Girls’ Schools

This roundtable centered on “Teamwork and Continuity of Activities in Girls’ Schools.”
Ōtake, a graduate of Koen Gakuin Girls’ Junior and Senior High School, participated in Seibo’s special classes during her studies. She later led a team project for coffee sales at her school’s friendship festival. Despite it being the first year for coffee sales, she collaborated with peers from grades 7–11 to create the project. The initiative has since been handed down and continued annually.

Together with participants, she considered how working as a team to build a project fosters growth and how to pass such activities on to the next generation.

・Hirano: Linking High School, University, and Career through NPO Activities

This roundtable focused on “Linking High School, University, and Career through NPO Activities.”
A graduate of Shizuoka Salesio Junior & Senior High School, Hirano is now a student at Sophia University. He has led Seibo’s student team, contributing to PR, report writing, and web management. The independence and collaboration skills he developed in secondary school supported his university activities and now connect to his career path.

He invited participants to explore questions such as “How can student experiences directly connect to careers?” and “How do NPO activities contribute to career development?” while discussing practical applications.

・Tsuruta: Maintaining Ties with One’s Alma Mater through NPOs after Graduation

This roundtable explored the theme “Maintaining Ties with One’s Alma Mater through NPOs after Graduation.”
Tsuruta, a graduate of Hikarigaoka Girls’ High School and now a student at Nanzan University, continues to stay engaged with her alma mater. Together with participants, she considered how graduates can continue to contribute to their former schools by applying what they have learned.

Finally, each table shared examples of how the discussions could be applied to future activities.
This roundtable, led by university students with mission school backgrounds, offered a valuable opportunity to explore “living examples” of Catholic education in practice.