Legacy Foundation Juneteenth Gala
On Friday, June 14th, members of the YouMeWe team attended the Juneteenth Gala hosted by Legacy Foundation Japan. YouMeWe was chosen to be the recognized NPO of the night. Michael Clemons gave a speech recognizing the significance of Juneteenth and highlighted the importance of empowering institutionalized youth in Japan. He emphasized that we must not look at these children simply as victims of their circumstances; rather it is necessary to highlight the immense potential each of them possesses: “No one asked to be born, but when they are, they deserve everything life has to offer.”
Other members of the YouMeWe team supported Legacy Foundation with setup on the day of the event. Gio Cannegieter, Love Lee, and Muhammad Waraich each had the opportunity to engage with the African American and African diaspora community on issues of race, development, and the responsibility we have towards supporting orphans across the world.
More About Designing Artists Academy (DAA)
Here’s some more information on this years Designing Artists Academy (DAA), which will be held in August! Over the course of 5 days, children from different institutions will attend workshops held by artists with various skills and backgrounds. Under their guidance, each and every child will have the opportunity to express their creativity, learn new artistic techniques, and expose themselves to new possible interests.
If you would be interested in joining this program as a donor or a volunteer, please contact us on any social media platform or send an email to [email protected].
Additional information and images can be accessed here: https://youmewenpo.org/daa-update-october
A Thank You to Amazon Japan!
We would like to thank Amazon Japan for their generous donation to YouMeWe!
Please check their website here: https://www.amazon.co.jp
A Thank You to Robert Walters!
We would like to thank Robert Walters for their generous donation to YouMeWe!
Please check their website here: https://www.robertwalters.co.jp/en/
A Thank You to Youth For Future!
We extend our gratitude to Youth For Future for their generous donation of laptops and tablets to YouMeWe!
Check their website here: https://www.yfforg.com/
Pizza Party at St. Francis
On May 13th, YouMeWe, 7 dedicated volunteers, and the staff at St. Francis worked together to hold a pizza party for institutionalized children. The international group of volunteers each presented about a foreign country's landmarks, greetings, and culture. Then, we offered a series of fun activities such as puzzles, bracelet making, and face paint, that the kids were free to wander between. Finally, we ended the night with an all you can eat pizza buffet! Thank you to everyone who helped us bring this event to reality!
New Intern Muhammad!
Hello everyone! My name is Muhammad Ibraheem Waraich and I am an International Studies Major at Rhodes College in Memphis, USA. My academic focus is on the Middle East and East Asia. In the past I have worked to promote youth involvement in climate change and disarmament affairs. As a Pakistani American I believe in the importance of cultural exchange and am eager to support this mission at YouMeWe. This will be my first time in Tokyo, so I am looking forward to immersing myself in the culture. I am excited to begin my internship at YouMeWe this summer!
New Intern Love!
“Hi all! My name is Love Lee, and I am super happy to be joining YouMeWe as an intern this summer. Born in Ukraine, my mom immigrated both of us to the U.S. when I was young, and I've lived everywhere from L.A. to Chicago to Denver, and now I'm in Indianapolis. Currently a junior at Butler University, I'm majoring in International Studies with a minor in Philosophy.
I am very appreciative of YouMeWe because their mission recognizes that the children of today are our future, and we need to come together as a community to care for them. I look forward to being a part of this community and the team in Japan!”
New Intern Gabriel!
“Hello everyone, my name is Gabriel Martinez and I am extremely excited to be a part of YouMeWe in Tokyo Japan. I was born and raised in Los Angeles California, and am a rising senior at the University of Southern California. I am majoring in international relations and pursuing a minor in East Asian language and culture. In the future, I wish to pursue public and traditional diplomacy to help strengthen relationships between countries and facilitate peace. During my free time, I love to go out with friends, watch movies and sports, and try new food!
I look forward to working with the amazing YouMeWe team and helping foster children around Japan build their critical skills. I hope that my contributions can help the children succeed in their future endeavors.”
DAA / Designing Artists Academy 2024
Designing Artists Academy (DAA) is an annual summer camp in Tokyo that offers children living in orphanages the chance to experience different forms of art taught by professional artists from all over the world. Learn more, donate, and get involved here: https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/designing-art-academy-for-orphans/
Upcoming Fundraiser: Colt Charity Bike Ride
One of our earliest supporters, Colt, will be holding a bike-riding fundraiser event later this year! The following is taken from Colt’s website, which you can access here: https://www.colt.net/go/coltbikeride2024/
Date
6-9th September 2024
Route
Brussels in Belgium to Düsseldorf in Germany
(The ride is 450km long with an elevation of 3,950km)
Charities we are supporting
We're fundraising for charities supporting educational initiatives focusing mainly on digital inclusion, digital skills, technologies for good and promoting STEM education, with a special focus on disadvantaged and vulnerable groups.
175 riders
45 support crew
450 km
22 charities
A Thank You to OSF Digital!
We extend our gratitude to OSF Digital for their generous donation of laptops and water bottles to YouMeWe!
Check their website here: https://osf.digital/
A Thank You to Sentree!
We would like to thank Sentree for their generous donation of computers, monitors, and more to YouMeWe!
Check their website here: https://www.sentree.jp/
Little by Little campaign
🌟 Donation Match Alert! 🌟
Exciting news! From April 8-12, when you donate up to $50 to support the incredible community YouMeWe serves, @GlobalGiving will match your generosity at 50% for the Little By Little campaign.
Help us spread the word: share this post with your family and friends to let them know that BIG change can come from little acts of kindness! 💖
YouMeWe empowers local students from institutionalized homes in Tokyo. Our goal? To help them achieve full independence by age 18, equipping them with essential life skills like financial literacy.
Let's unite in our efforts to make a difference, one small act at a time. Together, we can show the world the profound impact of compassion and generosity! 💪 #LittleByLittle
Annual Report 2023-2024
The past fiscal year has been quite eventful for YouMeWe. Check our annual report below to see exactly what we have been up to. Alternatively, you can view, download, and share it in PDF format by clicking this link. Thank you to everyone who has supported us, and lets make this next year even more successful than the last!
Monthly YouMeWe Newsletter and Annual Report - March 2024
The blog has been quiet for a while now, but YouMeWe has been hard at work! This newsletter summarizes all of the things we accomplished in March of this year. The annual report for the 2023-2024 fiscal year has also been included for your convenience. Make sure to follow us on all of our other socials at the bottom of this page (if you do not already) to make sure you are up to date with our projects.
Monthly YouMeWe Newsletter - February 2024
The blog has been quiet for a while now, but YouMeWe has been hard at work! This newsletter summarizes all of the things we accomplished in February of this year. Make sure to follow us on all of our other socials at the bottom of this page (if you do not already) to make sure you are up to date with our projects.
Monthly YouMeWe Newsletter - January 2024
The blog has been quiet for a while now, but YouMeWe has been hard at work! This newsletter summarizes all of the things we accomplished in January of this year. Make sure to follow us on all of our other socials at the bottom of this page (if you do not already) to make sure you are up to date with our projects.
New intern Juri!
Hi everyone! My name is Jurie Matsumoto, and I grew up in Fukuoka, Japan. However, I
studied abroad in Korea for seven years and in the US for two and a half years. I am
currently a senior at Temple University on the Japan campus, majoring in International
Affairs. I am passionate about various cultures and international relations worldwide. I am
eager to contribute my skills to support YouMeWe's mission, particularly in fostering
positive outcomes for children leaving foster care and promoting international
understanding. I look forward to working as a team member at YouMeWe.
New intern Julissa!
Hello Everyone! My name is Julissa Uriostegui, and I am thrilled to be joining YouMeWe in Tokyo as an intern. Growing up in Mexico's vibrant culture has deeply ingrained an appreciation for diverse perspectives and community involvement in me. Currently, as a Senior at Temple University Japan majoring in International Business, I am captivated by the field's potential to bridge global economic dynamics with cultural diversity.
I am grateful for the opportunity to be a part of YouMeWe's dedicated team. My passion for making a difference in the lives of children, especially those in foster care, drives my commitment to this role. I look forward to contributing to YouMeWe's mission of supporting and empowering children in care towards a positive future through education.
