DAA ARTISTS: KEN TANAKA
Here is the profile of our first confirmed artist for DAA, who will be instructing painting classes.
" My name is Ken. I grew up in Fukuoka with four sisters and two brothers. I loved drawing from a young age, but being inept with sketching and figure drawing, I'd settle instead for drawing funny-looking aliens in their martian habitats.
At 18, I moved to Tokyo where I was an English tutor, machinery salesman, cooking instructor, and customer service manager in industries ranging from online travel agency, to airline, to cryptocurrency. After hours were spent scribbling my floral drawings on the backs of coasters in bars. In the summer of 2021, I decided to quit my job and focus primarily on my art.
Each of my artworks is created a small, self-contained, living world where it is beautiful and safe, and it is my sincere hope to share these little worlds with you.
Sincerely,
Ken Tanaka "
Thank you Blue Compass for the donation!
We extend our sincere thanks to Blue Compass for their generous donation and unwavering support.
Blue Compass strives to rejuvenate Japanese regional communities through social, business, and sporting events.
For further insights into their remarkable initiatives, please visit the website provided below.
Join DAA from 7/31 to 8/3 in Yokohama
We are excited to announce that the 16th annual Designing Artists Academy will take place from July 31 to August 3 at Horizon Japan International School in Yokohama. Students will have the opportunity to take classes from experts in creative fields of their interest. The goal of this program is to teach children a variety of art forms, including: yoga, origami, drawing, and film making. By taking part in this initiative our youth champions will expand their horizons and develop hobbies, skills, and interests which can last them a lifetime.
If you want to join this initiative as a volunteer, please click this link and fill out the sign-up form: https://forms.gle/VCP67G7ydXchMzNY8
Your donations are what allow us to organize these events for children’s homes. To Donate to DAA follow this link: https://goto.gg/64293
A Call to Donors: Global Giving July Bonus Day
Mark your calendars! This is an opportunity for you to magnify the impact of your donations. Help YouMeWe raise the funds we need to organize initiatives like Designing Artists Academy, our weekly classes at children's homes/orphanages, and the many donations we make ranging from laptops to college scholarships. The link to donate is attached below:
https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/designing-art-academy-for-orphans/
Record Breaking Volunteer Turnout
Thank you to everyone who came to volunteer at St Francis on Monday. In the Month of June we have broken our record for volunteer attendance every week!
YouMeWe is Officially Registered in the Philippines
It is our pleasure to announce that YouMeWe is officially registered in the Philippines. Now that we have taken this step, YouMeWe will be able to do even more for children’s homes across the country. As a Japan based NPO, this is a major step towards strengthening our our work in the Philippines. We have set up a board of professionals, which includes members of the banking and business sectors. Our relationships with some of these individuals go back 20 years, and we look forward to continuing our growth together.
As a member of the American Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines, we are seeking the support of member companies in providing laptops, scholarship funds, and employment opportunities for the youth we work with. As the Philippines’ population continues to grow and its GDP continues to expand, its youth can become key members of the global information economy. We believe that the youth champions who we support have the potential to fill the critical roles of tomorrow.
Click the link below to donate to our “Language in the Cloud-Philippines” project and join us in ensuring that children can reach their full potential:
https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/youmewe-language-in-the-cloud-philippines/
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/
