AUICK Newsletter No.52 Site Visits to Organizations Supporting Active Elders

The second visit of 29 October was to the Kobe Silver College, a three-year educational institution to facilitate the active role in society of elder citizens. Participants also learned about Group ‘Wa’ (meaning harmony), which coordinates volunteer activities for the college graduates.

Managed by the Kobe Citizens’ Welfare Promotion Association, Kobe Silver College offers three-year courses to senior citizens, under its motto ‘study again and serve others’. The college was established in 1993 by Kobe City, realizing the need to support recently retired citizens, and encourage them to find a purpose through study.

Workshop participants at the Kobe Silver College

Anyone over the age of 57 can enroll, and there are no examinations or entry qualification requirements. The courses are in Welfare, International Cooperation and Exchange, Environment and Art. Extensive PR activities by the college mean that applications outnumber the 420 annual places, which have to be decided by a lottery system.

Around 60% of the college operational costs are funded by Kobe City government, so tuition fees are low – just 50,000 yen per year (although students have to pay for course materials). The college is managed by 19 full and part-time staff, with 250 instructors who are largely visiting lecturers from local colleges, universities or private institutions. The students (currently 59% male and 41% female) attend classes twice a week over the three-year course, but attendance is not strictly enforced if students have health issues or difficulties in attending.

AUICK workshop participants view a hand-craft lesson at the Silver College

As well as the four main academic courses, students engage in a wide range of sports, and practical pursuits like growing organic vegetables and making crafts which are then sold in an annual college bazaar. Then, instilled with a sense of self-worth and community spirit, around 400 students graduate each year, qualified and ready to serve the community through employment or volunteer activities.

Affiliated with the college is the ‘Wa’ (harmony) Group, a ‘Social Contribution Center’ which coordinates welfare, environmental, international communication and cultural volunteer committees.

These committees carry out activities commissioned by Kobe City, which range from providing computer and cookery lessons AUICK workshop participants view a hand-craft Silver College students and language lessons and daily life lesson at the Silver College
assistance for foreigners, to daycare and home-visits to the elderly,
as well as cleaning, park maintenance and environment education services. Wa was established in 1997, as a result of the growth in volunteer activities during the city’s recovery from the 1995 Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake. It is now a registered non-profit organization with 1,200 members averaging 70 years of age, of whom 90% are Silver College graduates. At the Silver College graduation ceremonies, the staff of Wa give presentations to recruit new members, and each year around one third of the college graduates join.

Membership costs 1,500 yen per year, and around 60 clubs conduct activities in the nine wards of the city. The group is managed by a head office of 14 staff, 5 committees and 9 local sub-committees in the city wards.

Website of Kobe Silver College
www.kobe-wa.or.jp/silvercollege/english/ksceibun.htm