Under the agreement between Xavier High School (located in Chuuk, Federated States of Micronesia), Sophia University, and APIC, a cooperation agreement between the three institutions has been signed which Sophia University will constantly accept one international student from Xavier High School each year, designating the high school as its overseas affiliated school.

This scholarship system was put in place in order to support the development of education in the Micronesian region (Republic of Palau, Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), and Republic of the Marshall Islands). The first student from Xavier High School entered Sophia University under this program in the fall semester of 2014.

The cooperation agreement was partially revised in May 2017, which allowed the increase in number of students to enter each year from only one to two. In total, nine students have entered Sophia University under this program, and three have graduated as of March, 2021.

　In order to accept international students on a long-term basis, APIC provides related expenses including travel costs, enrollment fees, tuition fees and living expenses. APIC is committed to helping students from Micronesia reach their goals, and is only able to provide these expenses with the help of its donors. We appreciate any donation amount, at any time. First-time donors are more than welcome, as are repeaters. Please consider funding a meaningful cause.

　About Xavier High School　

Xavier High School was established in the island of Weno in Chuuk, Federated States of Micronesia, by the Society of Jesus in 1952. Xavier High School is a four-year co-educational high school which has approximately 150 students.

Xavier High School is the most prestigious high school in the northwest region of the Pacific Ocean where students come not only from the Federated States of Micronesia, but also from countries such as the Republic of Palau and the Republic of the Marshall Islands. The school has a high academic level, and in recent years, many students have been awarded the Gates Millennium Scholarship, one of the most competitive scholarships in the United States.

Many leaders in the field of politics and economy of FSM, Palau, and Marshall Islands graduated from Xavier. Emanuel Manny Mori and Peter Christian, the former Presidents of the Federated States of Micronesia, are also alumni of Xavier High School.


Strong Bonds with Japan

Micronesian president of Japanese ancestry

The Chuuk archipelago, where Xavier High School is located, has a strong connection with Japan. Since the Meiji period, many Japanese have settled in the islands, and their descendants are now playing important roles in society. President Mori, who is from Chuuk, is a descendant of Mori Koben, who emigrated from Kochi prefecture during the Meiji period. He was said to be a model of a famous adventure comic “Boken Dankichi (Dankichi, an Adventurous Boy)”.

Former "South Sea Islands"

Japan governed the Micronesian region for 31 years (1914-1945) as a mandated territory of the League of Nations. Because of this historical background, Japan and the region have had a close relationship. Even after the region declared independence as three countriesnations (Republic of Palau, Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of Marshall Islands), strong bonds have existed between Japan and these three nations in various aspects such as politics, economy and culture.

School building built by a Japanese company

The building of Xavier High School was originally a telecommunication facility of the former Japanese Navy built in 1938 by a Japanese construction company from Yokohama “Mabuchi Construction Corporation”, which was called Mabuchi-gumi at that time. The school building was wholly repaired by the company without compensation in 2008.

Greetings from the President of APIC
Seven years have passed since APIC established the "Xavier High School International Students Scholarship Program” in April 2014. Thanks to your support, we have been able to see three students graduate so far. During this time, APIC has received generous donations from many people. I would like to express my sincere gratitude for these donations.

Our country has quite a close historical relationship with the Micronesian region (please refer to “About Xavier High School” shown above). We think that human resource development is a necessary measure for the growth of these pacific countries, so we built a chance for the people there to permanently receive Japanese highest education. We were encouraged by the fact that we were able to receive high praise and support from the parents of the students at Xavier High School, Board of Directors, the Society of Jesus who runs the school, and also important people of FSM.

The students themselves overcame many difficulties due to the change in their living environment, and left the school achieving excellent grades.

However, since the COVID-19 pandemic has greatly restricted the freedom to travel, the students are facing difficulties now. We are in a situation which graduates are not able to return to their home countries, and the new students cannot come to Japan. APIC is working on motivating the students to study abroad by being considerate to their feelings and work hard together to overcome this difficult situation, based on the purpose and meaning of this scholarship program.

This concludes the most recent status update of this program. APIC would like to kindly ask for your donation to our meaningful cause written above, and for your further support to the "Xavier High School International Students Scholarship Program” donation.

Finally, we pray for the pandemic to end as soon as possible, and sincerely wish for your health and great happiness.