From Intern to COO: Meet Gio

Volunteer Spotlight | YouMeWe NPO

At 23, Gio is YouMeWe's Chief Operating Officer. He was born and raised in Japan, and he got here by starting as an intern who wanted to try something different.

An Unexpected First Step

Gio found YouMeWe through his school's internship program. Most of his classmates went to regular companies. He chose a nonprofit instead. "I got the impression that it would be interesting to work for an NPO as opposed to a regular company," he says. He has been with YouMeWe ever since.

Before that, Gio had almost no volunteering experience. That didn't hold him back. "The environment at YouMeWe was very beginner friendly, and I was quickly able to join the fold," he recalls. In a short time, he went from a newcomer learning the ropes to a leader running the team's day-to-day work.

The Summer That Shaped Him

Gio has helped run many YouMeWe events. The one he remembers most is Designing Artists Academy (DAA) 2024. DAA is a summer program that runs over several days. Each year, 30 to 40 children from children's homes take part in digital and creative workshops: photography, painting, illustration, dance, programming, craftwork and more.

"The management team and I were all quite inexperienced at the time, and there were many challenging moments," Gio says. "The responsibility for the safety and enjoyment of not only the kids, but also the staff and volunteers, was very daunting." The program was a success. For Gio, it was a turning point. "I will remember it as one of the first and most influential successes in my early life."

Looking Ahead: Digital Literacy For Every Child

Gio's next goal is to grow YouMeWe's digital literacy curriculum. He wants it to help children in institutional care think deeply about their relationship with technology, in classrooms all around Japan. "It would be hard but rewarding work," he says, "and very much a team effort."

A Message To Future Volunteers

Gio's own story shows you don't need experience to make a difference. All you need is to be willing to show up. "There are many ways you can help us in our mission of providing opportunities to children in care," he says. "If you are interested, please don't hesitate to reach out and get involved."

Want to join Gio and the YouMeWe team? Visit youmewenpo.org to learn how you can volunteer, partner with us, or support programs like Designing Artists Academy.

Gio taking a break with a four-legged friend. Off the clock, he brings the same warmth he shows at every YouMeWe event.