Advance Wellbeing for Mothers in Japan

World in You hosted the first in-person reunion of its flagship Board Fellow Program* (BFP) in April in Tokyo, Japan. Some 50 graduates and staff members convened to connect with each other, reflect on personal and professional changes since attending BFP, and ideate for further collaboration to make a difference. 

*About BFP ------------------

Board Fellow Program aims to foster enduring collaborative relationships across organizations and sectors, through which the participants learn about governance of nonprofit organizations addressing social issues" and actively contribute in a pseudo outside board of director capacity to address real management and societal challenges faced by the organizations. 

Mio, Co-Founder/Executive Director of World in You, reflects on why World in You created BFP – “I've encountered many passionate social entrepreneurs who are dedicated to their activities. However, especially during the initial stages of establishment, I've seen that a significant majority of organizations operate with only one representative or a few core members making decisions and executing tasks. This often leads to burnout and various problems.

I thought it would be beneficial if there were more 'decision-making partners' who could bring diverse perspectives to the organization's mission after gaining a good understanding of the organization and its representatives, thus enabling better decision-making for the organization's leaders."

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During the reunion, the nine nonprofit organizations updated their activities and reflected on the positive changes since the program. Prof. Aya Okada and Prof. Yu Ishida, who collaborated on program evaluation, presented the value of BFP based on the analysis of the program participant interviews and surveys. 
 

Key findings from their presentation include: 

• The nonprofits have benefited from having someone they can consult with regarding management and board matters, as well as collaborate. They expressed a sense of relief in not having to take it all on themselves.
• By bringing in external individuals as quasi-board members, the nonprofits became aware of their own ingrained values and perceptions, which were often taken for granted. This process facilitated articulating and communicating about them with various stakeholders.
• This program offers diverse angles for interdisciplinary research, including management, NGOs, social innovation, leadership development, governance, and more.

We also shared examples of cross-sector collaborations among the participating corporations, individuals, and nonprofits. Such initiatives include a career empowerment event for women by J.P. Morgan and Chiba Bank, Chiba University, corporate philanthropy projects to empower youth in Japan by Suntory, and a project to encourage diversity in workplaces by Replus and ArrowArrow.  

 

We are excited to keep nurturing communities of change-makers!

For more details, please visit this article in Japanese.

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Dear Our Generous Supporters,

Happy New Year! As we step into 2024, we hope this message finds you in good health and high spirits.

The news of the earthquake in the Noto Peninsula in Japan reached us on the morning of New Year's Day here in the US. Our thoughts and prayers go out to those affected by this unfortunate event. We extend our deepest condolences to the victims, and we stand in solidarity with the communities facing the aftermath of this disaster.

In times of crisis, understanding the options and mechanisms for donation is crucial. We are grateful to Ms. Eri Mizutani from Kaze to Tsubasa, who has provided a clear explanation in her article titled "Noto Peninsula Earthquake - Understanding the Types of Donations and Expressing Your Sympathy Better." The article is in Japanese, but please take a moment to read it if you are interested. World in You, born in the aftermath of the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, appreciates the importance of communication regarding the flow of funds. We are thankful for Ms. Mizutani's insights, and we encourage you to refer to her article.

The past year has been a rewarding journey for World in You, and we owe much of our success to your support. Through various initiatives with a growing team, we've had the privilege of meeting individuals from diverse backgrounds and organizations across different sectors and combining efforts to envision a better society.

Our activities, driven by the vision of bringing people together from all walks of life to make a better world, focus on nurturing leaders, organizations, and communities that collaborate across boundaries.

Here are some highlights from our recent activities:

1. Governance for Impact

• Launch of the 3rd year of the Board Fellow Program
• Presentations at national and international academic conferences on the outcomes and insights from the Board Fellow Program
• Pilot launch of online courses on nonprofit board and governance
• Consultancy on management, governance, and board operations for mission-driven organizations

2. Cross-Boundary Leadership

• Dialogue events on one's cross-border experiences through the "Let's World in You!" events
• Interviews of social entrepreneurs in Japan and abroad through the World in You x Org Dialogue Series
• Cross-border leadership training for corporations at Recruitment Management School
• Japan-U.S. leadership training in collaboration with the TOMODACHI Initiative of the U.S.-Japan Council

3. Global Mindset

• Promotion of digital social innovation through the World Summit Award
• Support for overseas expansion and fundraising for mission-driven organizations in Japan

Please also visit here to see our blog articles relating to the gender equality issue.

In 2024, we aspire to create more opportunities for you to make a difference in society through encounters, learning, and collaborative innovation. Moreover, Mio Yamamoto, Executive Director of World in You, will be moving to Japan from the United States.

Our first public event of 2024 is the World in You × Org #13 on January 17th during lunchtime. We will have the pleasure of hearing from Musubie, a nonprofit Nationwide Children's Cafeteria Support Center. Children's cafeterias have become a big social movement in Japan over the past decade to address child poverty and nurture a community-based safety net. (See this article in English for more about the Children's cafeteria.) 

Please join us to learn how they support "children's cafeterias" nationwide through their business planning. (The event will be in Japanese.)

Thank you for your continuous support, and let's make 2024 a year of positive impact together!

With gratitude,

Mio Yamamoto and World in You Team

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