[Certified NPO Kodomo ∞ Kanpany (Kodopany)] Crowdfunding to continue learning opportunities for children who do not attend school in Ishinomaki City
*Certified NPO Kodomo∞Kanpany (Kodopany)*
Press release: September 15, 2024
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Crowdfunding to continue learning opportunities for children who do not attend school in Ishinomaki City
*Kodomo ∞ Kanpany, a certified NPO that prevents the isolation of children who do not attend school and supports their social
independence through free schools, is collecting funds to continue the free schools*
Commemorative photo with current students at the entrance of Free School Pohaku in Ishinomaki Shikazuma
In Ishinomaki City, there are over 400 children who are not attending school, including elementary and junior high schools. We have been operating a free school that is a place for these children to belong and learn, but it is becoming increasingly difficult to survive. We must continue to operate the school in order to protect the right of children in Ishinomaki to learn. We are asking for your support for one year’s operating expenses.
* Crowdfunding page: * * https://camp-fire.jp/projects/774354/view*
* Implementation ends: September 19th (Thursday) *
nice to meet you
My name is Masako Tanaka, and I am the representative director of Mugen Kanpani, a certified NPO in Ishinomaki City, Miyagi Prefecture, which is creating a place for children who are not attending school and local children. He is called “Kero” by local people and children.
Up until now, I have worked at children’s homes and free boarding schools to support children who are refusing to attend school or have committed juvenile crimes to become independent in society.
In the wake of the Great East Japan Earthquake, we began creating a place for children in Ishinomaki City.
Utilizing my past experience, I continue to create a place where children who don’t have anyone to talk to or don’t know who to talk to can find someone they can rely on, by telling them that it’s okay because they’re not alone. Masu.
Representative Director Masako Tanaka
Goals for this project
Eliminate the isolation of children who do not attend school and provide equal learning opportunities to those who do not attend school!
To that end, we are currently holding a free school.
* ・Increase the number of accepted people (capacity) *
* ・Increase the number of days to 4 days a week*
By accomplishing this project, we will protect children’s right to learn and help more children find a place to belong.
We held the event with the above two objectives in mind, but due to staff vacancies, it became difficult to hold the event four days a week. For this reason, we recalculated the cost of increasing the number of participants and set the target amount at 1,650,000 yen, which is the shortfall to continue our activities until September next year. On the crowdfunding site, the original target amount is listed as is.
What is the free school “Pohaku”?
Place Of Happy As a
“POHAC” is an acronym for Clam. For Kai, high tide means time and space where he can spend time safely and with peace of mind, and we named the name with the hope that the free school will also be a place like that for children.
In addition, just as each shell has a different color, pattern, and luster, the message is “It’s okay for each child to be different!” We are creating a place for children in Ishinomaki City who are worried and isolated due to “not going to school” to feel safe and have a place to stay and learn.
・Every Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday 10:00-16:00 *Open except for Obon and New Year holidays
・Target: 6 to 18 years old *Children who need support for social independence can use this service even if they are over the target age.
・Number of registered people: 53 (Breakdown: 16 current students, 37 continuing to watch)
*Children who go on to high school or return to high school will not be deregistered, and we have a system in place that allows them to use the system at any time as a safety net.
・Number of elementary and junior high schools that handle attendance: 13 schools ・Location: First floor space of a detached house in the Kanazuma district of Ishinomaki City
What Pohaku values
At Pohaku, we place importance on children making plans and taking action on things they are interested in and want to try.
This is because many children who do not attend school have lost confidence in themselves, so they can regain their sense of
self-confidence through the small successes of “I want to try.” Characteristics of Pohaku
* 1.Children’s meeting*
At the twice-monthly children’s meetings, the children take center stage, deciding on rules for how to spend time at Pohaku, and planning hands-on activities and special things they would like to try that they cannot do on a daily basis.
This summer, it was decided that an herb sausage shop would open at a major festival in Ishinomaki City with the goal of making 250,000 yen in sales.The “Gappori Team”, consisting of five members, was born with the slogan “Make a lot of money!”.
The profits will be used to purchase board games for everyone and to cover training camp expenses.
* 2. Relationship with local people *
At Pohaku, we value the opportunity to interact not only with our staff but also with many local people.
When attending school, children have the opportunity to interact with many adults through teachers, club coaches, children’s groups, and community events.
However, because children who do not attend school often spend their time at home, the number of adults involved is small.
Through the experience of coming into contact with the diverse values of local people, children feel that there is another way to live their lives and have the opportunity to think about their own futures.
* 3. Daily life *
Most children leave the nest to pursue a path they have chosen for themselves. Laughing a lot, trying many things, and meeting wonderful people will help you think that “living is fun” and “I’m okay with who I am now.”
Children are the ones who are most concerned about their own future. When they are able to decide on the path they want to take, they will go back to school of their own volition, move on to high school, or get a job without having to be told what to do.
So far, all the children who have applied to go on to high school have been accepted and are now starting on their own path.
・Number of students who went on to higher education or returned to school of their own will: 30
To help children reach their full potential
Until a long time ago, refusing to attend school had negative impressions such as “not trying hard enough” or “being spoiled”, but now there are many changes in the educational system, the learning methods of children with developmental issues, and the learning methods of children with problems at home. There are various reasons for this, including the child’s mental instability.
Over the past 25 years, I have met and spent time with many children, including children who are not attending school, children who are being abused, and children from poverty-stricken families.
What we discovered was that in many cases, the background of “refusal from school” is related not only to “education,” but also to “child welfare.” That understanding is very important.
Every day, we listen to children’s unspoken messages, sometimes listen to children’s true feelings, and work with specialized organizations as necessary to respond with the child at the center.
I feel that this type of response that is tailored to each individual child will foster the ability to think about the child’s own future. Also, everyone has the right to learn.
Even if your child learns differently than other children, that is his or her own pace and way of learning.
By becoming a society that recognizes this, children will be able to maximize their potential and find learning fun.
We will continue to work to create a society where all children can be themselves, so please lend us your support.
Thank you for reading to the end.
* Crowdfunding page: * * https://camp-fire.jp/projects/774354/view*
* Implementation ends: September 19th (Thursday) *
About the certified NPO “Kodomo ∞ Kanpany”
* Certified NPO Kodomo ∞ Kanpany (Kodopany) is an NPO that supports children in difficult situations by creating places to hang out and play. *
We are an organization that creates a safe place for children to spend time in Ishinomaki City, Miyagi Prefecture, with a focus on play park business and free school business.
We will continue to work with local people to watch over children, support their growth, and ensure the individuality and emotional safety of all children.
Kodopany website: https://codopany.org/
About donations: https://codopany.org/support/
*Kodomo ∞ Kanpany is a “certified NPO” certified by Miyagi Prefecture as of June 4, 2021. A certified NPO is an organization that has been certified by a local government as having appropriate activities, and donations to a certified NPO are eligible for tax deductions.