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設立の背景：Background of Kokusai-kodomo-gakko(ELCC) establishment

In 1998, a Filipino community group in Nagoya approached the Nagoya Student Youth Center, a church-affiliated facility, reporting that their children were being refused enrollment in public elementary schools. In response, the Kokusai-kodomo-gakko (ELCC) was founded to support children with Filipino roots who were unable to access public education.

At that time, many long-term migrant workers in Japan either overstayed their visas or did not have the correct residency status. As a result, children born to these workers were considered stateless and did not have access to public education. The Nagoya Youth Center responded by establishing a small school on an emergency basis at an Anglican church to provide educational opportunities for these children.

Subsequent collaboration among the ELCC, church officials, civic organizations, and government authorities led to tangible progress. Beginning in March 2002, the city of Nagoya permitted these children without status, including those who were overstaying, to enroll in local schools. Today, Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) also recognizes their enrollment.

Even so, in our region some children have continued to give up on schooling for various reasons—such as limited Japanese proficiency shortly after arrival, refusals of kindergarten admission, or a lack of understanding among administrative staff.

As the number of children migrating from the Philippines to Japan has continued to grow, ELCC has welcomed those who, for a variety of reasons, cannot enroll in Japanese schools. In the past 25 years, the ELCC has enrolled over 400 children.

In March 2026, the Nagoya Youth Center, which has managed the school since its inception, will cease operations. To support the ongoing development and preservation of the school’s philosophy and practices, a new general incorporated association has been formed.

活動紹介：Programs & Activities of ELCC

The core program of the ELCC is education for children with Filipino roots.

Unlike typical classrooms, our program focuses primarily on Japanese language learning. We place a special emphasis on children with Filipino roots.

We believe that nurturing language, the foundation of all learning, requires fostering comprehensive language development and deep thinking skills.

To achieve this, we provide instruction that balances Tagalog, the children’s mother tongue, and Japanese. Additionally, it is crucial to help children accept their Filipino heritage in a positive way and build a strong sense of identity to develop healthy self-esteem.

For these reasons, we are also committed to offering education related to their heritage language and culture.

While our primary focus is on elementary school-aged children, we are adaptable and welcome students ranging from kindergarten (age 4) through high school.

Classes are held Monday through Friday and offer a comprehensive curriculum that includes Tagalog, English, Japanese, mathematics, science, social studies, music, home economics, and art. Filipino educators and approximately 20 volunteer instructors teach these subjects. Our volunteers represent a variety of backgrounds, including retired teachers, working professionals, and current students. They are all dedicated to supporting the educational development of our learners.

Additionally, we collaborate with numerous individuals and organizations who provide assistance in various areas such as daily life management, school administration, and health-related activities.

Admission Guide

【Admission Guide】

Organization Overview

Name	Kokusai Kodomo Gakko
English Name	Empower Learning Center for Children (ELCC)
Headquarters	260 Miyahigashi-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi
Established	2025 (Acquired legal status on July 25, 2025)

Board members