Law Yu Jie, Grade 11
UWC ISAK Japan
When I first learned about the United World College movement, I was intrigued by their mission of transforming education into a force for a sustainable future. Back in Singapore, the place I called home for the past 17 years of my life, awareness about the importance of creating a sustainable future is present; however, tangible actions are often missing. From this, I’ve often doubted the power that I, as a 17-year-old, have to change anything about the current situation. Since coming to UWC ISAK though, I’ve been shown that with determination and passion, I am capable of using my power to improve the world in any way I could possibly want to.
When I was first introduced to Creativity, Activity, and Service (CAS), a compulsory core element of the IB Diploma, I was at a loss of what project I could possibly start or join. I was not particularly interested in starting a project by myself and instead, I more valued the importance of continuing a senior’s project as time is often needed to create a solid foundation and grow. Furthermore, I believe that one project with a long-term impact is often better than many projects with a short-term influence. After looking around, my senior introduced me to her CAS project called REシクル (Reshikuru). The group aims to help solve the pressing food waste issue in Japan. Annually, 100 billion USD worth of food is thrown away in Japan due to either over-consumption or the high Japanese standards for food’s appearance and aesthetics. This issue is even more prominent in Nagano Prefecture, a major agricultural region in major where UWC ISAK Japan also happens to be. REシクル works on upcycling food waste into edible products such as rice bran furikake (rice seasoning) or apple rice bran cookies.
Personally, I wanted to be a part of a CAS project that could help the local community because as a developed country, Japan never happened to cross my mind as a potential place where I could help the community. I thought that having a local project would be a valuable opportunity to form connections with the Japanese community and avoid living inside of simply a “UWC Bubble.” Moreover, I was especially intrigued by how REシクル combines business with environmental issues because back at home, the standard formula to solve environmental issues was mainly simply raising awareness - something which can be impractical and restrictive at times. By joining a social entrepreneurship project, however, I soon realized that it was a more feasible way for the public to show their support and help solve the environmental issue of food waste. Furthermore, I have never been exposed to entrepreneurship and from just the past few months, I’ve noticed how this project has exposed and allowed me to the way businesses function. While I still have a lot to learn, I’ve really enjoyed researching and learning about the way a start-up can grow first hand.
After joining REシクル, there were many challenges such as the language barrier I had while working to place our products. As I can not understand Japanese, my ability to reach out to different companies was hindered.
When I was first introduced to Creativity, Activity, and Service (CAS), a compulsory core element of the IB Diploma, I was at a loss of what project I could possibly start or join. I was not particularly interested in starting a project by myself and instead, I more valued the importance of continuing a senior’s project as time is often needed to create a solid foundation and grow. Furthermore, I believe that one project with a long-term impact is often better than many projects with a short-term influence. After looking around, my senior introduced me to her CAS project called REシクル (Reshikuru). The group aims to help solve the pressing food waste issue in Japan. Annually, 100 billion USD worth of food is thrown away in Japan due to either over-consumption or the high Japanese standards for food’s appearance and aesthetics. This issue is even more prominent in Nagano Prefecture, a major agricultural region in major where UWC ISAK Japan also happens to be. REシクル works on upcycling food waste into edible products such as rice bran furikake (rice seasoning) or apple rice bran cookies.
Personally, I wanted to be a part of a CAS project that could help the local community because as a developed country, Japan never happened to cross my mind as a potential place where I could help the community. I thought that having a local project would be a valuable opportunity to form connections with the Japanese community and avoid living inside of simply a “UWC Bubble.” Moreover, I was especially intrigued by how REシクル combines business with environmental issues because back at home, the standard formula to solve environmental issues was mainly simply raising awareness - something which can be impractical and restrictive at times. By joining a social entrepreneurship project, however, I soon realized that it was a more feasible way for the public to show their support and help solve the environmental issue of food waste. Furthermore, I have never been exposed to entrepreneurship and from just the past few months, I’ve noticed how this project has exposed and allowed me to the way businesses function. While I still have a lot to learn, I’ve really enjoyed researching and learning about the way a start-up can grow first hand.
After joining REシクル, there were many challenges such as the language barrier I had while working to place our products. As I can not understand Japanese, my ability to reach out to different companies was hindered.
Guest Writer - UWC ISAK Japan |
This, however, did not stop me from thinking of other ways to maximize my potential, and I eventually helped out in the production team as we figured out new and improved recipes. Many hours were spent trying out different methods and testing many different varieties of cookies before we finally reached the final product that we thought was marketable. The team has also worked on fundraising to support future plans such as mass production, and the overwhelming support I felt while advertising our vision to friends and family helped me realize that a lot of them often have the passion, yet not the means, to help in making the world a more sustainable place to live in.
I am grateful for the opportunity that UWC ISAK has gifted me: to allow me to learn and stretch myself in areas that I have previously no experience in. I am excited to see what my CAS project will bring, and to continue my journey of self-discovery while using my seemingly small effort to make the world a more sustainable one to live in. |
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