Girls Matter - Stop Sexual Violence In Japan

Dear Friend, 

Back to school has happened in Japan, while people continue to work from home and take daily measures to protect ourselves from COVID-19. This year, people’s physical and mental health has been impacted all over the world more than ever due to the many stressors and challenges that seem to have become the new “normal” overnight. In Japan the stigma surrounding mental health is greater than most countries leading to so many people struggling to manage on their own in shame and silence. The WHO is calling on people all over the world to take action this year, starting this month, and make mental health a priority. 

We have worked hard and expanded our team to meet the increasing needs for support and resources nationally. This Fall there were over 60 applicants for our Lifeline Volunteer training program, and 40 applicants were accepted. The first day of training, done for the first time 100% virtually via Zoom, was a great success and we look forward to a new group of volunteers joining the Line after training is completed. We are extremely excited to share that with so much interest in the Lifeline Volunteer training program, TELL has brought on another team member to assist the longtime trainer.  

While we would normally be climbing Tokyo Tower this month for World Suicide Prevention Day, to maintain the safety of our community, we are holding the “Step Up for Mental Health Challenge”, a Japan-wide event challenging teams and individuals to walk 20,169 steps in honor of the 20,169 lives lost to suicide last year in Japan. The event has gotten off to a great start and we are so grateful to all of our supporters who are stepping up for mental health and suicide prevention. 

We continue to receive donations toward “Girls Matter: Stop Sexual Violence in Japan” and appreciate the recognition by our community here in Japan and in around the world of how important it is to stop the violence, especially at a time when additional stressors are causing young people to be affected in unexpected and challenging ways. Let’s keep up the support for those among us who are very much in need of it.  

Your donations make a real difference in the lives of girls in Japan, and that is how, together, we can bring about significant change and build a healthy and vibrant community. Won’t you be a part of the fight to end the violence? 

Dear Friend, 

Summer is right around the corner, and for Japan, today marked what would have been the official lifting of the “State of Emergency,” had it not been lifted earlier than expected, last week. COVID-19 has thrown Japan and the world into uncertain and challenging situations, from kids and parents no longer being at school and in their workplaces, public gatherings and playgrounds being prohibited, and the new norm of mask-wearing and social-distancing that came swiftly. Through these changes, it has been our top priority to provide the support and resources for our community across Japan, through the Lifeline, virtual workshops, and continuing to train the volunteers who have been doing a commendable job in maintaining their shifts on the Line and the Chat service.

So many have been impacted in a multitude of ways and yet, through it, our community recognizes how necessary the services we provide are, and we have continued to receive donations toward “Girls Matter: Stop Sexual Violence in Japan.” Your support is so critical, and so appreciated - thank you!     

Our Spring 2020 support training had 29 volunteers who were accepted into the program, and we are proud to report that 25 are expected to successfully complete it. The TELL training coordinator has been working diligently to provide all of the training online, to comply with recommendations on social distancing during this time. In a time when the international community is seeing people leave Japan to return to their home countries, we greatly appreciate all of the individuals who are committed to being the voice on the Line and the text response on the Chat in a time when the world is experiencing increased rates of anxiety and depression. 

With such extreme circumstances, the team at TELL believes it is more important than ever to help protect girls from sexual violence, whether that is occuring right now because of the need to “stay-at-home,” or a safe environment, like school, is no longer available, or a variety of other unforeseen scenarios.   

Your donations make a real difference in the lives of girls in Japan, and that is how, together, we can build a healthy and vibrant community. Won’t you be a part of the fight to end the violence?