Guest User 7/27/22 Guest User 7/27/22

New Intern Maya Hemmi

Hello! My name is Maya Hemmi, and I am entering my final year of high school at Seisen International School this fall. I am excited to be working with YouMeWe as a student intern, starting by assisting with organizing the DAA summer camp. My interests lie in the intersection between technology, design, and business. I hope to pursue these passions at university. As an intern, I aim to gain work experience and learn from the dedicated staff to cultivate my own unique form of leadership. My ultimate goal is to help make a positive impact within my community, as I continue to learn and grow with others to become a more well-rounded person in the process!

Michael Clemons 7/16/22 Michael Clemons 7/16/22

PLEASE READ: We are VERY excited about this. Permanency Pacts and Transition Toolkits

We are VERY excited to introduce two new tools to help us in our work.

The Permanency Pact and the Transition Toolkit.

When we are working with the children in the homes, we are very much looking forward to them prospering after they leave the home as adults. This was the buy in from the staff from the beginning of our journey as a NPO and continues to be the challenge.

We realized when talking to the staff tasked with one of the Ambassadors (our term for aged out youth as they are no longer children and should not be called orphans. Even orphans we prefer to call Champions) that in many cases, we are the only consistency in the lives of the kids we work with from a young age. Staff come and go and the Principals of the homes retire or transfer. So, we understand the unique position we are in to develop a strong bond with the kids that can last into adulthood.

When the Ambassadors work with us, we have a checklist to understand more about where they are in life i.e. health insurance, bank accounts, birth certificates etc. We also try to make them aware of the many assets in the community which are available to them in our online Empower Village at YouMeWe https://youmewenpo.org/empowervillage and Empower International where we try to connect them with our network www.empower-village.com

IFCA (International Foster Care Association) www.ifcaseattle.org has shared with us two tools:

The Permanency Pact

Japanese

https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:a7b53c59-480e-3933-8c79-07a9fdba96d4

English

https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:7fdfa459-4a05-32b8-bf89-93e4ab320e4a

What’s a Permanency Pact? A pledge by a supportive adult to provide specific supports to a young person in foster care with a goal of establishing a lifelong, kin-like relationship.

Youth transitioning from foster care are often unsure about who they can count on for ongoing support. Many of their significant relationships with adults have been based on professional connections which will terminate once the transition from care is completed. It is critical to the youth's success to identify those adults who will continue to provide various supports through and beyond the transition from care. Clarifying exactly what the various supports will include can help to avoid gaps in the youth's safety net and misunderstandings between the youth and the supportive adult.

A Permanency Pact provides:

• structure and a safety net for the youth

• a defined and verbalized commitment by both parties to a long term supportive relationship

• clarity regarding the expectations of the relationship

A Permanency Pact creates a formalized, facilitated process to connect youth in foster care with a supportive adult. The process of bringing the supportive adult together with youth and developing a pledge or “Permanency Pact” has proven successful in clarifying the relationship and identifying mutual expectations. A committed, caring adult may provide a lifeline for a youth, particularly those who are preparing to transition out of foster care to life on their own.

Participants in a Permanency Pact

In addition to the two primary parties in a Permanency Pact (the youth and the supportive adult), it is recommended that a Facilitator assist in developing the Pact. The Facilitator may be a Case Worker, Independent Living Provider or other adult who:

• is knowledgeable in facilitating Permanency Pacts

• is familiar with the youth, and

• can provide insight into the general needs of the youth transitioning from care

The Supportive Adult is an adult who:

• has been identified by the youth

• has a relationship with the youth

• is willing to commit to a life-long relationship with the youth• is a positive role-model and

• is able to provide the youth with specific support on an on-going basis.

(Shawn from Michigan, FosterClub All-Star

“As I get older I am seeing the importance of family, community and peer support. Ever since I became engaged and active in my community my circle of support has expanded. My life has become so much more enriched now that I have accepted that I have a lot of people that care about me, I genuinely believe that family: peers, bio, foster, adoptive, in-laws are the most valuable thing a person can have in their life.”)

There are 45 Suggested Supports and the Japanese Version may vary but we have offered this Pact to the 6 Ambassadors who work with us now to formalize the support we already offer:

1. A home for the holidays

2. A place to do laundry

3. Emergency place to stay

4. Food/Occasional meals

5. Care packages at college

6. Employment opportunities

7. Job Search Assistance

8. Career Counseling

9. House Hunt

10.Recreation Activities

11.Mentor

12.Transportation

13.Educational Assistance

14.Relationship/Marriage/Parenting counseling

15.Assistance with Medical appointments/chaperone

16.Storage

17.Motivation

18.Someone to talk to/Discuss problems

19.A phone to use

20.A computer to use

21.Clothing

22.Spiritual support

23.Legal troubles

24.Cultural experience

25.Apartment move-in

26.Cooking lessons/Assistance

27.Regular Check-in (Daily, Weekly or Monthly)

28.Bills and Money Management Assistance

29.Drugs and Alcohol Addiction Help

30.Mental Health Support

31.Co-Signer

32.Help with reading Forms, Documents, and Complex Mail

33.Mechanical and/or Building projects

34.Housekeeping

35.Home Decorating

36.Voting

37.Volunteerism

38.Finding Community Resources

39.Safety and Personal Security

40.Babysitting

41.Emergency Cash

42.Reference

43.Advocacy

44.Inclusion in Social Circle/Community Activities

45.Adoption

Guest User 7/16/22 Guest User 7/16/22

Bullying in Japan

July 16,2022 | By You Me We NPO

On June 28, 2013, the Japanese government announced the introduction of the Anti-Bullying Act, in an attempt to take action in providing a safe and stress-free environment for students. [1] As time goes by, there has been an increase in bullying and suicide cases in school. In 2019, a record 612,496 bullying cases were recognized at schools across Japan. [2]

A study by the Tokyo Metropolitan School Personnel in Service Training Center in 2013 found that 66.2 percent of the more than 9,000 children it surveyed had been bullied. [3]

The chart below the types of bullying that occurs in educational institutions.

Information taken from https://savvytokyo.com/bullying-japanese-schools/

In April of 2021, Japan’s parliament enacted a law to help victims of cyberbullying in seeking to identify individuals who made defamatory posts online. Cyberbullying became a prominent issue particularly after the death of Hana Kimura, a cast member of the Netflix reality show “Terrace House” [4] Hana was bullied on social media, which lead to her death in May of 2020. Since COVID, the world has been primarily remote and cyberbullying is now a larger issue than before. Although the government is taking action to prevent and help victims of bullying, Japan needs to be better educated on the impact of bullying.

We must start spreading awareness of the dangers and repercussions of bullying and take more action. Many victims of bullying are too scared to speak out and when they do, not much is done to stop these bullies.

If you or someone close to you is going through an emotional crisis because of cyberbullying or anything else that may be putting your or their wellbeing at risk, please know that there are available resources to help. The TELL Lifeline is available for those who need free and anonymous counseling in English or Japanese at 03-5774-0992 (9am–11pm every day) or via chat (Friday, Saturday, Sunday 10:30pm–2am). In case of emergency, please call 119 in Japan for help.

For more information please check the website: https://telljp.com/lifeline/

_________________________

[1] Sugimori, Shinkichi. Anatomy of Child Bullying in Japan 6: Bullying Prevention (3): How to Interpret the Anti-Bullying Act. Child Research Net, 13 November 2015,

https://www.childresearch.net/papers/school/2015_01.html

[2] KYODO NEWS. Japan had record 610,000 school bullying cases in FY 2019, 22 October 2020,

https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2020/10/ad5b3a710eb7-japan-had-record-610000-school-bullying-cases-in-fy-2019.html

[3] Kawano, Kirsty. Bullying in Schools Modern Bulling Attacks Not Just The Odd Ones Out. Savvy Tokyo, 7 May 2021,

https://savvytokyo.com/bullying-japanese-schools/

[4] KYODO. Japan enacts law to enable simpler court step to find cyberbullies. thejapantimes. 21 April 2021,

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2021/04/21/national/cyberbullying-law-enacted/

Guest User 7/11/22 Guest User 7/11/22

DAA Artist Profile: Masatou Ono

Born in Kagawa Prefecture Lives in Tokyo, Masatou Ono is an illustrator and artist who draws human patterns through Eco & Love & Peace. Illustrations of activities such as mountain climbing and surfing, illustrations of one scene of the city, and artistic illustrations with the theme of environmental issues with a message are symbolically drawn. He graduated from Osaka University of Arts Textile Design Department in 1993. Awarded 25th Anniversary of Kodaiji Opening Local Character Grand Prix Gold Award in 2015, Shiga Prefectural National Athletic Meet / National Sports Festival for the Disabled Mascot Character Excellence Award in 2017.

香川県出身東京都在住小野正統 Eco & Love & Peaceな人間模様を描くイラストレーター・アーティスト。登山やサーフィンなどアクティビティのイラスト、街のワンシーンのイラストとともにメッセージ性を持った環境問題をテーマにしたアーティスティックなイラストをシンボリックに描いています。　1993年大阪芸術大学テキスタイルデザイン科卒業 2015年高台寺公開25周年記念御当地キャラグランプリ金賞受賞 2017年滋賀県国体・全国障害者スポーツ大会マスコットキャラクター優秀賞受賞

DAAの詳細はこちら YouMeWe

Please visit YouMeWe for DAA information

Guest User 7/11/22 Guest User 7/11/22

DAA Artist Profile: Taiki Tokunaga

Hi! My name is Taiki Tokunaga and I am a digital artist! I do illustrations, sketches, and designs on the iPad. I am grateful to be a part of DAA and deliver a joyful and memorable experience through art! I am excited to laugh and have a lot of fun with them together!

こんにちは！デジタルアーティストをやっている徳永タイキです！ iPadでイラスト、スケッチ、デザインをしています。私はDAAの一員として、アートを通して楽しく思い出に残る体験を提供できることに感謝しています。一緒にたくさん笑い、楽しみましょう！

DAAの詳細はこちら YouMeWe

Please visit YouMeWe for DAA information

Guest User 7/11/22 Guest User 7/11/22

DAA Artist Profile: Ken Tanaka

Pen artist from Fukuoka, active in Tokyo as a live performance artist and art instructor. His goal is to convey to all that with improvisation and heart, anyone can create a masterpiece.

福岡出身のペンアーティスト。東京でライブパフォーマンスアーティスト兼アートインストラクターとして活躍しています。彼の目標は、誰もが自由で、心がこもった傑作を作ることができる、という事を伝えることです。

DAAの詳細はこちら YouMeWe

Please visit YouMeWe for DAA information

Guest User 7/11/22 Guest User 7/11/22

DAA Artist Profile: Melissa Finkenbin

Melissa Finkenbiner received a Bachelor of Arts in Art Education in 2008. In 2011 she moved from the U.S. to Myanmar, then Armenia, Zimbabwe, and Japan. Living in these diverse places has directed her themes and materials, and she has exhibited in 18 art shows, including the Zimbabwe National Gallery. Melissa has taught art lessons and led art events over the last nine years, including teaching fair-trade artisans in Myanmar and teaching “Vino and van Gough” painting events in Armenia. In Japan, she has taught a few small groups of adults or children, making fine art and metalsmithing accessible for beginners. She will be teaching self-portraiture at DAA.

メリッサ・フィンケンビナーは、2008年に美術教育の学士号を取得しました。2011年に、彼女はアメリカからミャンマー、次にアルメニア、ジンバブエ、そして日本に移りました。それらの土地に住むことが彼女のテーマや素材を演出し、ジンバブエ国立美術館を含む18のアートショーに出展しました。メリッサは過去9年間、ミャンマーでフェアトレードの職人を教えたり、アルメニアで「ヴィーノとヴァンゴフ」の絵画イベントを教えたりするなど、アートレッスンやアートイベントを主導してきました。日本では、年齢に関わらず初心者に鍛冶や芸術を教えています。彼女はDAAで自画像を教えます。

DAAの詳細はこちら YouMeWe

Please visit YouMeWe for DAA information

Guest User 7/6/22 Guest User 7/6/22

Thank you 'Robert Walters' for the donation!

We would like to extend our gratitude and a huge thank you to ‘Robert Walters’ for the donation for Girls in Tech!! Thank you for being a part of our team of supporters that are making our project a reality. Your support and donation means the world to us and thanks to donors like you we can continue helping our community! Here are some words from the company: “For over 37 years, businesses across the globe have relied on us to find the very best specialist professionals and we are trusted to help build the careers of the world’s leading executives, job move after job move.”

For more information please visit: https://www.robertwalters.co.jp/en/about-us.html

Kevin Kinno 7/6/22 Kevin Kinno 7/6/22

New Intern Dax Emerson

Greetings! My name is Dax Emerson, and I am pursuing a Masters in Management with the Fox Business School at Temple University, Japan Campus. I am very excited to work with YouMeWe, as the youth care system in Japan has become a topic of great interest for me. My goal, in a nutshell, is to help achieve the mission of YouWeMe through living the organization's values each and every day. I look forward to learning a lot with YouMeWeNPO!