Making Friends

Image of making friends at V-station

This illustration shows that there are a wide variety of people in the circle called V-station.

• One wants to consult about volunteering and student life, and one is listening.
• Some people discuss various topics together, such as volunteer activities, plans, and current issues.
• One starts to take an interest when she sees how other people behave.
• One thinks by himself about what kind of activities he wants to participate in, and what kind of issues society faces.
• One goes to activities alone, and one sees him off expecting a souvenir story.
• Some people enjoy themselves by participating in activities together.
• One finds it a place to rest and relax away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
• One is invited by a friend to start volunteering.

In this way, there are people doing various things at V-station, and at first glance it seems that there is no sense of unity as a whole because only each small groups gather. Even in the actual volunteer center, there is a imbalance that is symbolized by the illustration above. For example, even with the same V-mate, it is common to see people chatting beside people having a meeting in the center. Each person concentrates on his or her own interests and ways of spending time, and it is rare for people in different fields to interact across the board.

But it doesn't make themselves feel isolated. This is because the student staff and others are making efforts to ensure that those involved in the activities do not feel socially isolated and suffer alone.

In particular, by consulting with the volunteer coordinator, they will work together with you to find a solution to your problem. In the process, by connecting people who normally work separately, not only can we solve the labor shortage, but it can also be an opportunity to gain new awareness.

Enjoyment of Activities with Others

Some people like to do things on their own, but there are many people who enjoy working with others. By interacting with people during activities, not only will the activities proceed smoothly, but the activities themselves will be enriched. One of V-station's philosophies is to enable people with different backgrounds and perspectives to work together toward a common goal.

Examples of specific forms of cooperation include the following:

"There was a shortage of manpower for the activities I was doing. Therefore, I asked the volunteer coordinator to introduce people who seemed to be interested in this field of activity, and had them experience the activities. As the result, the enjoyment and rewarding of the activities were conveyed, and they became more likely to participate."

"I had a problem with my activities, and I discussed it with the members of the project. In response to this, we came up with an effective idea to solve the problem, and my worries were resolved."

"Usually I go to activities by myself, but I often meet people who are doing other activities at V-station. As I chatted with them, I became a fellow volunteer with whom I could talk if I had any concerns."

Of course, cooperation in V-station does not always come true, or the relationships forged are not necessarily profitable. However, with the support of the student staff and the volunteer coordinator, I expect that many people will find it a positive experience to connect a wide variety of people.