Having completed the rigorous, three-year Japanese language track, Julia Bates ’17 and Meridian Howes ’17 were awarded the Lloyd Family Fellowship and traveled to Osaka, Japan. While in Osaka, Julia and Meridian worked at Suisen Fukushukai, a social services organization providing a variety of services and care for both children, adults, and seniors.
Co–op faculty and advisor, Beth Bridgeman worked alongside former Antioch College Japanese teaching assistant, Haruna Tomura, to establish this partnership. Julia and Meridian were the first Antioch College students to work at Suisen Fukushukai. The organization was thrilled with the work that Julia and Meridian contributed in their time there and look forward to continuing the partnership and hosting many more Antioch College students. Much of their work revolved around childcare, assisting adults with intellectual disabilities, providing services to senior citizens.