- The following is content from the press release -
We will begin operating a "social school" for elementary school students in cooperation with local facilities and stores to foster "exploration skills" through practical social experiences and exploratory learning while exploring the city.
(Head office: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Osamu Yazawa; hereinafter "eSmiley"), a company that develops and promotes childcare and welfare support businesses, has announced the launch of "WOW! The social school "Wow! Quest" and opened a physical store (Honmachi, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo) today, February 22, 2022.
The opening of the actual store was supported by the Shibuya Ward Local Street Project*, a community revitalization project promoted by Shibuya Ward that uses vacant storefronts to create communities and enhance the attractiveness of the city.
*"Shibuya Ward Local Street Project
https://www.city.shibuya.tokyo.jp/jigyosha/syoko_rodo_soudan/akitempo.html
TOPIC
1. about the store outline
2. background and purpose of establishment
3. planned program
4. opening commemorative campaign
5. about the management company
1. about the store outline
Store name: Wow! Quest Shibuya Honmachi Lab
Official site: https://www.wowque.st/
Address: 6-8-2 Honcho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Access:
▼ Train
11-minute walk from North Exit of Hatsudai Station on the Keio New Line
14 min. walk from North Exit of Hatagaya Station on the Keio New Line
▼ Bus
4-minute walk from Honmachi 1-chome Station on the way to Shinjuku⇄Nakano Station.
Shibu63/66] 10 min. walk from "Hatashiro" bound for Shibuya⇄Nakano Sta.
2. background and purpose of establishment
What can we do for our children today, when it is said that about half of the jobs will disappear within the next 10 to 20 years? What should we teach them? We believe that children, who will live in this age of diversity and face challenges in a society that we have yet to see, need to develop abilities that cannot be measured by scores or deviation scores alone.
For example, we have collectively named the ability to survive in future society "exploration skills," which include the "power of inquiry" to think and act on one's own, the "creative power" to express thoughts in form, and the "logical thinking and communication skills" to summarize thoughts and convey them to others.
By walking through the city with the children and using the "city" as a subject for learning while interacting with local residents, we nurture their "power of exploration" and help them acquire the ability to live in the future.
We will provide such a new experience.
3. planned program
The following programs are planned for new learning experiences to be implemented in the future.
(1) Become a reporter and report on the city and its people, and disseminate your findings through local media!
In this program, children become writers and interview attractive towns and people, write articles, and in collaboration with local news media, actually publish and distribute their articles.
Research skills to find interview subjects. Listening skills to elicit good stories. Writing skills to write articles, etc. can be nurtured.
(2) Explore shopping streets and facilities, and publish your findings and discoveries in a book!
This is a program that tours local shopping streets and facilities to discover the attractions as seen from the children's perspective, and then turns those attractions into books, such as photo collections and picture books, which are actually published.
The ability to express yourself by taking pictures and drawing pictures of what you notice and discover while walking around town. It is also possible to nurture copywriting skills, such as putting thoughts into photographs, scenarios for picture books, and titles for artworks.
(3) Develop new products and menus with merchants and sell them!
This is a program in which children take the lead in developing new products and menus in collaboration with local stores, listening to their issues and needs, and if adopted, actually selling the products at the stores.
Imagination to solve problems and needs. The ability to think logically and organize thoughts. The ability to communicate ideas in an easy-to-understand manner.
*Please note that the above program contents are subject to change.
In view of the new coronavirus infection situation, the program is scheduled to be implemented from April 2022, and until then, the campaign will be open to casual participants.
4. opening commemorative campaign
WOW! To celebrate the opening of the quest, a campaign will be held from 2/25 (Fri.) until the end of March!
For more information about the campaign, wow! Quest Official LINE, so please register as a friend and wait for the details of the campaign.
▼ WOW! Quest LINE official account
https://lin.ee/K5i1SO5
5. about the management company
URL: https://www.esmiley.co.jp/
Location: 1-11-9-307 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 151-0072
Established: March 2, 2016
Representative: Osamu Yazawa, Representative Director
Business Description:
Picture book business (SDGs picture books/publishing and sales/co-creation picture books)
Crowdfunding support business
Production and distribution of educational videos
Disability and Intractable Disease Support Program (Community/Produce)
Business Development (Creation and Improvement) Accompanying Support Business
Digital Marketing Business
eSmiley, which has been involved in a variety of activities such as Kicz Chubu, a video storytelling service, and SDG picture books, has launched a social school "WOW! Quest" and opened an actual store in Honmachi, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo. Although the school is for elementary school students, it is also an attractive learning experience for parents with older children who will be entering their first year of school in just one month.
Let's take a look at the details from the press release.