Social Work in Hawaiʻi Seminar
The Univers Foundation is one of the sister foundations to Nā Lei Aloha that are supported by Shinnyo-en. Motivated by the trends of declining birthrates and an aging population in Japan, Univers focuses on contributing to productive aging through research, grant making for civic activities, fostering social welfare personnel through international exchange, and promoting volunteer activities.
The Social Work Seminar in Hawaiʻi was developed in partnership with the University of Hawaiʻi’s Thompson School of Social Work and Public Health and in cooperation with universities from across Japan. Since its inception in 2004, Nā Lei Aloha Foundation has assisted with ground support of 20 social work students and professionals from Asia who spend two weeks learning of how Aloha and ʻOhana are foundational to how socials work is practiced in Hawaiʻi. Students have the opportunity to visit social service sites such as hospitals and non-governmental organizations where workers and clients of diverse ethnicities, languages, and cultural backgrounds live alongside each one another. At the heart of the Seminar is the opportunity for students to be immersed in Hawaiian cultural experiences such as studying hula and connecting with the land.