What began as a fun, family-friendly event with a “feel-good” purpose over 30 years ago has grown into a meaningful opportunity to demonstrate service, student leadership, and community collaboration for NIS students. Initially launched as an opportunity for the foreign community to demonstrate a willingness to ‘give back’ to the community they cherished, the ACCJ/NIS Walkathon has been a long-standing fundraising event in Nagoya. And as such, it has always held a special place in the heart of the NIS community. In its early days, students and families gathered to enjoy a cheerful day out, walking together for a cause while enjoying games, entertainment, and each other’s company. The bonus? Supporting local charities and feeling great about doing good.
From those early days, NIS students were already a part of shaping the event. The T-shirt design contest became a beloved tradition—students submitted creative ideas, resulting in the winner’s design proudly worn by hundreds on the day of the Walkathon. For those selected, seeing their artwork come to life in such a public and meaningful way has always been an unforgettable moment of pride.
As time went on and the school calendar filled up with competing events and commitments to support the community, participation from the school began to diminish. Even before the disruptions of COVID, NIS’s presence, though enthusiastic, had diminished.
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Recognizing the deep alignment between the Walkathon’s values and the school’s mission, the NIS administration made a decisive move several years ago to recommit to the Walkathon as a whole school event. It just made good sense as it is an opportunity for students to take what they learn in the classroom out into the community: collaboration, organization, communication…these are all key components of the IB Approaches to Learning (ATLs). The school made the event part of the official school calendar of days, ensuring that students, staff, and families could all come together as one community to participate fully.
Since then, the Walkathon has become more of a student-driven endeavor. NIS students take charge of organizing and running many parts of the event, showcasing their initiative and creativity. For example, the walk portion, central to the event’s identity for more than 30 years, is completely student-led. To motivate the community to walk, students organized a stamp rally, and the Gr.1-4 students this year collected pledges for donations to support “Make-a-Wish Japan.” Their creativity helps to keep alive this timeless tradition, reminding everyone of the symbolism behind the walk: the effort we put in is all to support others in need.
The festival portion of the event has also continued to evolve with student involvement. Activity booths designed and run by students featured everything from crafting bracelets and sun catchers to a variety of challenging games and face painting, delighting younger attendees and creating a joyful atmosphere for all who participated. The center stage highlighted several student musical groups who wowed the crowd. It was a perfect opportunity for them to use their talents to connect with the community beyond the school walls. These performances are more than just entertainment—they’re an expression of student identity and agency.
In many ways, the recommitment to the Walkathon by NIS has transformed the event from a one-day outing into an authentic service learning opportunity. It continues throughout the year when they can see the tangible results of their hard work as the proceeds get dispersed later in the Fall at a ceremony where NIS Gr. 10 students organize and welcome the many charities who receive the generated funds. Students can now clearly see how their efforts—whether designing a booth, organizing a game, planning the walk, or performing on stage—translate into real contributions that help sustain the many small but vital organizations that fill niche needs in the Nagoya community. …And then, the planning for the next Walkathon event gets underway once again!
The ACCJ/NIS Walkathon is no longer just a fun day out; it's a meaningful experience. It’s a living example of what it means to take action with purpose, to serve with heart, and to walk not just for exercise, but for a better, stronger community!
