The International Volunteer Awards is an annual event where people who joined or planned international volunteer activities in Japan and around the world present their experiences and results. NICE has held it since 2012. The theme for 2026 is “In an age of division, choose to be ‘together.’” Participants bring the encounters, conflicts and changes born at work camps, and share the meaning and possibilities of choosing “together” from the field with society.
The East Japan Convention takes place on Sunday, October 25 at the Yokohama Youth Development Center. In the Project Division, the people who planned and ran projects NICE co-organized with NGOs in Japan and abroad explain the social background, this year's results and challenges, and plans for the future. In the Volunteer Division, people who took part in international volunteer programs through NICE between October 2025 and September 2026 talk about what they saw and learned on site. This time, five presenters are scheduled to speak about activities in France, Indonesia, Izumo City in Shimane, Togo and Sado City in Niigata.
The day also includes “World Tour Time,” a relaxed exchange period when you can freely visit booths introducing activities by country and region, and a world-tour game for everyone. After each division, participants vote, and the results decide who goes on to the national convention. The national final is planned for December 19 in Tokyo, and online voting is also scheduled from November 9 to 30.
Key points
- Free admission: anyone interested in international volunteering can listen and meet people
- Five volunteers share firsthand stories from France, Indonesia, Togo, Shimane and Sado
- A participatory event: audience votes decide who advances to the national convention (Dec 19)
Why we recommend this event
International volunteering feels much closer when you hear it in the words of those who did it. This event lets you hear not only results but also the doubts, conflicts and personal changes behind them.
Work camps within Japan are presented as well as those overseas. For anyone thinking of joining, it is a valuable chance to picture the activities and ask experienced volunteers directly.
Editor's comment
At the NICE booth we visited at Global Festa Japan, the words “the first step is the willingness to learn” stayed with us. We think this event is a good place to take that first step.
Admission is free and you can drop in easily. Why not add it to your calendar?