Yesterday we had a call with the cofounder of L.E.A.D. and I'm still thinking about it.
We talked about the 'app quest' happening right now in Shibuya and the questions people are asking are exactly the kind that remind me why this work matters. Real questions, real curiosity, real people trying to build something that helps youth move forward.
Link in bio to see the conversation: https://www.skool.com/.../questions-asked-about-lead...
It connects back to what our volunteers do every week, sitting with young people, helping them prep for exams, plan their futures, one session at a time. Digital tools, in-person support, it's all part of the same thing.
What stays with you when you see a community come together to build tech for good?
#YouMeWeNPO #YouthEmpowerment #DigitalInclusion #SocialImpact #fortheyouth
What if your weekend work session also helped a young person figure out their future?
We're inviting professionals to join our weekend volunteer sessions and treat them like a co-working space for good.
Bring your laptop. Bring your skills. Sit alongside our youth in a casual, no-pressure environment and share a bit of what you know - whether that's career advice, digital skills, English practice, or just what your workday actually looks like.
For 17 years we've been showing up for children in institutional homes to help them prepare for life after age 18. That work happens one conversation, one session, one volunteer at a time.
You don't need to be a teacher. You just need to show up.
Sign up for an upcoming session here: https://peatix.com/event/4575117
Questions? DM us or reach out at [email protected] - we're happy to chat.
Spot the emoji face? That's intentional.
Protecting the digital footprint, dignity, and privacy of every child in our care is something we take seriously at YouMeWe. Before any volunteer steps into a classroom or logs on for an online session, they go through training on our child safeguarding guidelines - including how we handle photos, data, and online interactions.
It's a small detail that means a lot.
Want to be part of a community that shows up with both heart and responsibility? Our next volunteer orientation is open - link in bio to sign up via Skool. We'll walk you through everything, including these important safeguarding practices.
#YouMeWeNPO #YouthEmpowerment #DigitalInclusion #SocialImpact #fortheyouth
90% of youth aging out of care drop out of higher education in their first year.
Only 2% ever finish their degree.
The reason is not ability. It is the absence of one adult who shows up, stays in their corner, and helps them navigate what comes next.
We are training people to be that adult.
Our mentor training courses through the Skool Empower Village are designed to close that gap - one young person at a time.
How would you like to help change those numbers?
Link in bio to join the training.
#YouMeWeNPO #YouthEmpowerment #DigitalInclusion #SocialImpact #fortheyouth
There's something that happens when a volunteer pulls up a chair right next to a student instead of standing at the front of the room.
It stops being a lesson and starts being two people working through something together.
That's what I saw today - our volunteers shoulder-to-shoulder with the kids, pointing at the same page, thinking out loud, figuring it out side by side. That's the kind of support that actually sticks.
If you've been looking for a way to show up for young people who need it, we'd love to have you with us. Join us at our next volunteer event - link in bio
#YouMeWeNPO #YouthEmpowerment #DigitalInclusion #SocialImpact #fortheyouth
Expo 2026 Osaka opens its doors today. The official theme is 'Designing Future Society for Our Lives.'
It's a big idea. And we believe it.
But future society doesn't only get designed in pavilions and keynote halls. It gets designed in the small moments too - a volunteer sitting with a teenager to prep for an English exam, a donated tablet opening up a world of learning, a weekly online class connecting Japan to Manila for the 17th year running.
That's the work we do at YouMeWe. One young person at a time, we're helping children in institutional homes build the skills and confidence they need to step into independent life after age 18.
If you've been thinking about volunteering, this is your sign. We have upcoming shifts and we'd love to have you join us.
Drop us a message or visit youmewenpo.org to learn more. Let's design this future together.
#YouMeWeNPO #Expo2025Osaka #YouthEmpowerment #DigitalInclusion #SocialImpact #fortheyouth #alternativecare
Your desk is already your volunteer station.
No commute. No schedule reshuffling. Just 2 hours a week from your home office in Tokyo - directly supporting students in Manila preparing for exams that can change their futures.
For 17 years, YouMeWe has been connecting volunteers in Japan with youth in institutional care in the Philippines through weekly online sessions. The distance is nothing. The impact is real.
Ready to join? DM us or visit the link in our bio to sign up for the next session.
---
あなたのデスクが、そのままボランティアの場所になります。
通勤ゼロ。スケジュール調整も最小限。東京のホームオフィスから週2時間、マニラで試験準備に取り組む子どもたちを直接サポートできます。
参加希望はDMまたはプロフィールのリンクから。
#YouMeWeNPO #YouthEmpowerment #DigitalInclusion #SocialImpact #fortheyouth
We recently had a meaningful call with WannaGonna and the International Foster Care Alliance about taking the Transition Toolkit from a paper-based workbook to an app.
The Transition Toolkit is a guide for young people leaving foster care or institutions as they prepare for independent life. That transition can bring hope, but also real uncertainty, so planning and preparation matter.
This toolkit brings together what we’ve learned through experience, along with messages we want young people to carry with them as they move forward. We’re excited about the possibility of making it more accessible and practical through digital development.
#YouMeWeNPO #YouthEmpowerment #DigitalInclusion #FosterCare #SocialImpact
Something I keep coming back to lately.
Staff change. Principals move on. The adults these kids counted on yesterday are sometimes gone tomorrow. For children growing up in institutional homes, that kind of instability is just... normal. And it shouldn't be.
For 17 years, YouMeWe has tried to be the one constant - the face that shows up week after week on the screen, the voice that remembers their name, the organization that doesn't disappear when budgets shift or contracts end.
But we wanted to make that promise more concrete.
We recently learned about The Permanency Pact from IFCA - a framework for formalizing kin-like, lifelong bonds with young people who've aged out of institutional care. Paired with The Transition Toolkit, we now have real structure to back up what we've always believed: that turning 18 doesn't mean you're suddenly on your own.
Right now we're offering this to 6 of our Ambassadors - young adults who grew up in the homes we support. The commitment looks different for each person. Career counseling for one. An emergency place to stay for another. Or sometimes just - someone to call when things get hard.
This work doesn't happen without volunteers. If you want to be part of this long-term safety net, it starts with showing up for a class. Teach English. Help with exam prep. Connect with a young person who needs to know that someone is still there.
Join one of our volunteer events and become part of the consistency these kids deserve. Link in our bio or message us directly.
What does it mean to truly not leave someone behind?
#YouMeWeNPO #YouthEmpowerment #SocialImpact #AlternativeCare #fortheyouth
We are very honored to be accepted as an Independent Award Centre for the Duke of Edinburgh Award.
This milestone means a lot to us and even more to the young people we support. The Duke of Edinburgh Award is one of the most respected youth achievement programs in the world, and now the youth in our care have a real pathway to take part in it.
Through the Award, they will set personal goals, contribute to their communities, develop practical skills, and push themselves in ways they may never have had the opportunity to before. For young people growing up in institutional homes, that kind of structured growth and global recognition can be genuinely life-changing.
We have been walking alongside youth in care for 17 years. This is one more way we are making sure they have access to the same opportunities as everyone else.
私たちはデューク・オブ・エジンバラ賞の独立アワードセンターとして認定されたことを大変光栄に思います。この賞を通じて、施設で育つ若者たちが生活に必要なスキルを磨き、地域社会に貢献し、世界的に認められる資格を取得できるようになります。彼らの挑戦を一緒に支えてくれるボランティアを募集しています。
Now we need volunteers to help mentor these students as they begin their journeys. You do not need a special background - just a willingness to show up and support young people who are working hard to build their futures.
If you are interested in volunteering, visit us at youmewenpo.org or reach out directly at [email protected]. We would love to hear from you.
#YouMeWeNPO #DukeOfEdinburgh #YouthEmpowerment #DigitalInclusion #SocialImpact #fortheyouth #alternativecare
Save the Date October 14th
The Hokkaido to Nagasaki Gala is coming, and we want you there.
Here is something that makes this event extra special: Gala winners have the option to donate their prizes directly to the staff at the children's homes we support.
Think about that for a moment. These are the people who show up every single day for the kids - the houseparents, the caregivers, the ones who tuck children in at night and cheer them on in the morning. They rarely get recognized. This is one small way to change that.
Mark your calendars and stay tuned for more details.
#YouMeWeNPO #YouthEmpowerment #SocialImpact #DigitalInclusion #fortheyouth
This week, the children at St. Francis explored their future career options with a personality compatibility test!
The results varied; some wanted to be a game designer, carpenter, an engineer, and a counselor! The options are truly endless for our students! We are so excited for their bright future!
Thank you to our volunteers who helped out!
If you are interested in being a volunteer, contact us at: [email protected]
Join us at APPQUEST!
It’s a one-day kids’ idea hackathon where kids turn real-world problems into functional app prototypes using the L.E.A.D. framework.We are happy to be supporting LEAD for this event as Community Partners!
Saturday, April 18, 2026
9:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Shibuya Chamber of Commerce (Shoko Kaikan), Training Room
Dear Friends, Please see our Annual Report for 2025-2026. We walked into an orphanage in 2007, and now those children have their own children. We wanted everyone to have a place to come home to. That is why we place YouMeWe seals on every device, and we created Empower Village. So that even when the students age out, they have a place to come home to. Much like the 100 who gathered in Fukushima at year's end. 90% of children who age out usually drop out of higher education, with only 2% completing their degrees. We offer laptops, mentorship, scholarships, and the dedication to them and their lives from the time they are toddlers until graduation and even employment. We continue to coach into adulthood as well. We are all here to walk each other home. Wherever that may be. We walk together on their journey of being the best version of themselves. With the help of You....Me and We. Michael Perry-Clemons Chair and founder of YouMeWe
Stand on the 11th floor of Shibuya Hikarie and look out over Tokyo. The city goes on forever. It's hard not to feel something when you see it - like the world is wide open.
The children we support in institutional homes in Japan rarely get that feeling. But that's where our volunteers come in.
Every week, our volunteer-led online classes connect youth in care with tutors and mentors from Japan. Through English exam prep, career guidance, and just showing up consistently, volunteers help these kids see past their current circumstances and start imagining what comes next.
We've been doing this for 17 years. And it works - because people like you decide to give a few hours of their time.
We have volunteer events coming up and we'd love to have you join us. Whether you want to tutor, support classes, or just learn more about what we do - there's a place for you.
Sign up here: youmewenpo.org
Or reach us at [email protected]
Let's give more kids that view.
Your laptop is a portal.
Sitting near Shibuya Hikarie on your lunch break? At your favorite local cafe? Wherever you are, you're two hours away from making a real difference for students at PHINMA Metrotowne in Manila.
Our online volunteer sessions are flexible, easy to join, and genuinely impactful. You don't need to travel anywhere. You just need to show up - and the children we support need people who will.
Give 2 hours. Help us deliver classes to the kids in the homes we support.
Sign up here: https://peatix.com/event/4575117
We'd love to have you with us.
That's why we're opening a temporary care facility!
Translation:[That’s exactly why we’re opening a dedicated temporary shelter!]
This spring, yet another student was accepted into college straight out of high school!
H-kun, you really worked hard! (Everyone, please give him a big round of applause!)
(Background)
When he was in middle school, he was placed in temporary foster care by the Child Guidance Center due to family circumstances.
From that day on, he suddenly began living in a group home with children he didn’t know—ranging from very young kids to high school students—all with completely different backgrounds and circumstances.
He couldn’t go to school. No club activities or cram school. And of course, he couldn’t see his friends.
He entered the facility with only the clothes on his back.
While everyone else was going to school as usual, he couldn’t attend classes, and he felt left behind—it was heartbreaking.
He says those days went on for several months.
He became despondent,
thinking, “My life is over!”
Even though he hadn’t done anything wrong…
At the time, the Child Guidance Center’s temporary shelters were reportedly overflowing with kids like him.
H-kun, who had once despaired of life and given up on himself,
came to his foster family’s home and gradually regained his confidence. Although he entered a low-ranking private high school, he didn’t give up and worked hard step by step. This spring, he successfully passed the entrance exam for a prestigious private university in Nagoya on his first try! ＼(^o^)／
Yesterday, as he walked toward his entrance ceremony in his suit, his back looked so radiant to me, and he seemed full of confidence.
(It’s rare to experience such joy. That’s exactly why being a foster parent is the best!)
I want to help these adolescents carve out a “path in life” for themselves.
With that in mind, this spring, we’re opening “Perch” (meaning “perch”), a facility dedicated to temporary care.
Please come visit us.
Join us May 14th
Quiz night is coming! 🍺🎉
YouMeWe and KIWL are teaming up for a charity pub quiz at Hobgoblin Pub on May 14 (Thursday) at 7:30PM.
Prizes for winners and runners-up, plus raffle prizes on the night. All in support of the kids we work with every day.
Come for the trivia, stay for the good vibes - and know your entry helps make a real difference. 💙
Save the date and bring your team!
Sign up with he link below:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1ueKCuQkkj7d2Oa0MKigsBRaorRHMMy7aRVL2ZBxg35Y/edit?usp=drive-dynamite&ts=69c9f1f6