When My Mom passed away, I wanted to do something to honor her memory. My Mom never had much money. But she was always rich in love & gave anything she had away freely, never expecting anything in return. I thought that helping the kids supported by YouMeWe their future would be the perfect way!
Created in 2008, Designing Artists Academy (DAA) is an annual summer arts camp in Tokyo that offers kids living in children's homes (orphanages) a unique opportunity to experience different forms of art taught by professional artists from all over the world. Since the first camp back in 2009, our goals for the annual arts program have remained the same: encourage kids to think freely, discover new interests, and foster potential through mentoring.
My Mom was born in 1932 to a Japanese woman & British soldier in Kobe Japan. Her birth mother worked with an older Japanese couple who couldn't have children and legally adopted her. Her parents were very loving & modern for the times & wanted her to learn English. They embraced her mix roots. The children in the homes in Japan, many of whom are multi cultural, need this loving support.she could have easily become one of these children, but was extremely fortunate to be adopted.
Children are fast learners, who absorb information quickly and are profoundly shaped by their experiences at a young age. We have been fortunate to run this camp for 10 years; every year we can see the impacts we've made. With gentle guidance and attention, the children have grown immensely, and most importantly, feel a sense of belonging and empowerment. Having a positive outlook on oneself and one's potential is perhaps the most important element of being successful.
