The 2nd JICUF SWC 2026 Held at Lake Motosu!
From August 26 to 28, 2026, JICUF held its second Summer Waterside Camp (SWC) at Lake Motosu in Yamanashi Prefecture. With the support of Professor Masao Higashiyama of ICU’s Health and Physical Education Program, who also collaborated with us last year, a total of 23 students participated in the camp. Participants included ICU students as well as students with refugee backgrounds who are currently studying at universities and Japanese language schools in Japan through the Japan Education Pathways (JEP) and Japanese Language School Pathways program.
One of the changes to this year’s camp was the participation of several ICU students who had attended last year’s SWC and returnedas student staff members. They joined individual groups and played an important role in supporting communication and encouraging interaction among participants.
Since many of the participants, including the ICU students, were meeting one another for the first time, there was some nervousness on the first day. However, as they enjoyed activities together—including kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding (SUP), and mountain biking—and spent time playing card games and talking about a wide range of topics, including differences in their cultures and educational experiences, they gradually became more comfortable with one another.
As the camp progressed, the initial tension faded away. Throughout the camp, we saw students laughing, talking, and connecting with one another across differences in their affiliations and backgrounds.
The camp received very positive feedback from the participants and provided students with opportunities for new encounters and meaningful interactions that can be difficult in their university lives. We hope to continue creating opportunities like this for students in the years to come.
