DAA Artists: Brian & Yuko
Brian Scott Peterson and Yuko Yoshikawa are the dynamic duo behind “Photohoku” the photo-giving volunteer project. With a passion for people and a commitment to community service, they use the power of photography to foster healing and hope. Their initiative, Photohoku, was born in response to Japan's devastating 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. By providing family photo albums to disaster survivors, Brian and Yuko aim to help rebuild lives and preserve precious memories.
Brian, an American photographer with a keen eye for capturing the human spirit, teamed up with Yuko, a Japanese visual artist with a talent for organizing impactful community projects. Together with teams of volunteers and supporters, they have traveled extensively throughout the affected regions, volunteering their time and skills to bring joy and resilience through photography. Their work documents the recovery process and empowers individuals by giving them a tangible connection to their past and a sense of continuity for the future.
Through Photohoku, Brian and Yuko demonstrate that photography is more than just an art form; it is a powerful tool for good, capable of bridging cultural gaps and inspiring positive change in communities worldwide.
DAA Artists: Beyza Dinler
My name is Beyza Dinler, I'm 19 years old. I’ve been in Japan 8 years, high school graduate from Horizon Japan international school, can speak three language; Turkish, English and Japanese. I’m currently working at Shinagawa international school as pre school assistant teacher (as a part time job) but from next year I will be attending a design vocational school in Japan to pursue graphic design.
DAA Artists: Kissen & Daiki
Kissen and Daiki will instruct a relaxation class utilizing the soothing sounds of crystal bowls, a percussive instrument crafted from crystal.
DAA Artists: Shiho
Model and wellness advocate, Shiro, will be leading a yoga class for children. The class will focus on fun and interactive poses that are designed to improve flexibility, strength, and mindfulness.
DAA ARTISTS: Hana Himura
A half-Japanese, half-Korean 23-year-old who grew up in Mexico.
Waseda University Graduate (Sept. 2023)
"If I have something I want to do, I got to try it, at least once."
So started a company in 2022 as a student.
Currently, a founder of OTO, bridging Japanese traditional businesses to international businesses.
DAA ARTIST: Ratko Backo
An artist, designer and businessman based in Tokyo and London. A graduate of London's Saints Martins School of Art and Design (UAL), he has been a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts London for many years. He has worked with many prestigious international fashion brands and is a long-term resident of Shinjuku, the heart of Tokyo.
iDonate Assessment score
We recently put YouMeWeNPO through the rigors of how efficient we are with the donations received since our founding. We are pleased with the results
As a donor and a founder of a non-profit organization, I am very well aware that there is a finite amount of funds and time when doing philanthropic work.
I was always under the perhaps false impression that donors wanted us to deploy all donations to the community. In a recent board meeting, we discussed the need to keep reserves for years when the donations are not as robust but at the same time consider why we are doing what we do.
No non-profit organization should be hoarding cash to the point where they have more than one year's operating budget covered without any inflows of donations.
If there are excess funds on the balance sheet, they should be deployed to the community. Otherwise, it is a FOR profit organization when year in and year out the balance sheet grows and grows.
33,000 children are living in 600 homes in Japan. If we gave each child a laptop, that would be $16,500,000 or 2.6 Billion yen. I have always known that.
Yet as a donor, I am reminded that when I have a finite amount of funds to donate personally or on behalf of a group’s funds I represent, we need to look at the most impact we can have by making that donation. If it remains in the coffers of the groups, then perhaps we need to look elsewhere.
Your operating expenses AND the funds you save are a combined total of the ratio used for Administrative costs and the remainder is for the "cause". We look to look at the 20:80 rule. 20 percent for administration costs and 80 percent for the cause.
When I was in Hong Kong and the CSR team of the investment bank, I met a colleague who was previously a stock analyst. Bonita Wang. She applied the same skills and methodology for reviewing a company stock to non-profits and their efficiency.
Though Bonita has moved on to other endeavors, we asked her to use the iDonate methodology for our NPO and were pleasantly surprised to find that we scored high in efficiency but not surprised that we are in constant need of additional funding since we deploy all donations to the community.
-Michael Clemons
Below are YouMeWeNPO scores over the first five years of operations:
iDonate Methodology
DAA ARTISTS: Lars Matsumiya
“Salute! My name is Lars. I am a Keio University student specializing in algorithms, programming, and computer-related. One of my hobbies is music. I started playing the piano a few years ago and have spent much time studying music theory and production. At first, I taught myself the basics of chords, harmonies, and scales, and now I mainly focus on creating jazz music. I mainly use Musescore 4 for music production, but GarageBand is also an effective alternative and easy to learn for beginners. I don't have much teaching experience - the only time I've taught was when I was a math tutor, mainly in high school - but I'm excited about this opportunity to collaborate with others and help spread the word about composition! "
Thank you Amazon Japan for the donation!
We thank Amazon for their generous donation towards our DAA Summer Camp. This contribution is invaluable, and we deeply value our longstanding partnership. The support provided will help us make this camp possible for the kids.
Learn more about Amazon Japan here: https://www.aboutamazon.jp/
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/
