By Ruth Ingulsrud | Founding Director of JOEE
Imagine not being safe in your own home… not being safe with your own parents… not getting the care and nourishment that you need as a growing youngster. This is the reality for many children in Japan, a developed country perceived as being rich but with many children who need protection and care.
About 40,000 children in Japan have been placed in approximately 680 orphanages or group homes, along with a very few foster families. Most of these children do have parents, but they have endured abuse or neglect. So they have been taken from their original homes to protect them and to allow them to grow up in a safe place. Unless their parents successfully complete rehabilitation programs, the children will stay in the care homes until the age of 18, and then they must launch out on their own without family support. Having a basic knowledge of the English language helps these at-risk youth find good jobs.
During our joyful English education lessons full of songs and games and puppets, we teach the children four phrases: “I am important. I am strong. I am kind. I am loved.” Our volunteers give these children positive attention, encouragement and love. They reaffirm the worth of these important kids. JOEE is attracting volunteers from all over the globe. They currently come from: Australia, Brazil, Denmark, France, India, Israel, Netherlands, Norway, USA, Latvia, New Zealand, Serbia, Japan, and Zimbabwe! The lives of the children are enriched by the diverse cultures that are represented by our volunteers… and the worldview of these precious world citizens expands.
Our lessons are expanding too. JOEE will soon start lessons in Osaka. And we have volunteers in Japan and in the USA teaching one-on-one English lessons with youth who are in care homes or who have graduated from the care homes and are working to improve their marketability with improved English skills. We will continue to provide lively and engaging lessons to these children as long as we can. Thank you for your help in lifting up the next generation here in Japan.
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