#Japan #Tokyo #Learning Support #3keys #Children in Care

Empowering Children in Care Facilities through Learning Support

On December 12, 2024, starting at 8:00 PM, 3keys, a certified non-profit organization based in Shinjuku, Tokyo, will hold a live streaming event focused on delivering 'learning power' and 'confidence' to children living in care facilities. This event is free to attend, but registration is required.

During this 30-minute live session, Takashi Moriya, the representative director of 3keys, will discuss the learning challenges faced by children who have been placed in children's welfare facilities due to abuse, poverty, or other harsh circumstances. Furthermore, the session will delve into the support programs that 3keys provides and outline future challenges and goals for their initiatives. Your participation could help spread awareness about the pressing social issues affecting these children.

Background: Learning Challenges from Early Experiences

Children who grow up in environments marked by adversity, such as abuse or poverty, often face substantial disadvantages in their educational journeys. These challenges can manifest as:

• - Lack of Adult Interaction: Many children lack meaningful relationships with adults during critical developmental stages.
• - Insufficient Foundational Experiences: They may miss out on essential experiences related to language and numerical skills.
• - Low Self-Esteem: A prevalent feeling of “I can’t do it” often arises, leading to a sense of helplessness that can hinder their learning and growth.

Many children go into care without having developed age-appropriate academic abilities or learning habits. For over 16 years, 3keys has been committed to aiding these children through comprehensive educational support.

3keys' Approach: Child-Centric Educational Materials and Support

To address the unique needs of these children, 3keys has developed tailored educational materials that incorporate the 'small-step' approach, allowing children who struggle with conventional commercial materials to learn at their own pace. This structure is designed to foster independent learning, and the materials are continuously updated and revised based on the evolving needs of the children.

Staff members in children's welfare facilities juggle multiple responsibilities—Iike cooking, cleaning, and providing emotional support—filled with the weight of being, in effect, 'six parents' for the children in their care. With around 70% of facility staff leaving their positions within ten years, finding time to engage deeply with each child’s learning can be a daunting challenge.

3keys aims to alleviate this burden on staff while simultaneously enhancing the children's capacity for learning through its innovative educational resources and support initiatives.

Expanding Support via Crowdfunded Initiatives

Currently, 3keys provides learning support to eight facilities nationwide, including locations in Yamaguchi and Hyogo Prefectures. With the backing received through the 2023 crowdfunding campaign, they established an online platform that allows them to extend support to more distant facilities that are hard to reach physically. As they aspire to scale their impact, further enhancements of this online system are planned, alongside the ongoing creation and updating of original teaching materials and sharing best practices with facility staff.

To support 3keys in expanding these vital services, they are launching a crowdfunding campaign aimed at achieving the following goals:

1. Widening Support Reach: Improve the online system to accommodate more facilities needing assistance.
2. Updating Teaching Materials: Continuously create and revise original educational resources tailored for the children.
3. Training Facility Staff: Share effective support strategies and best practices with staff working at children's welfare facilities.

You can find more details about their crowdfunding campaign and how to contribute here.

This event is not only an opportunity to learn about the challenges these children face but also to understand the critical role that 3keys plays in addressing their educational needs. Together, we can foster a supportive community for these children.

Live Streaming Event Details

• - Speaker: Takashi Moriya, Representative Director of 3keys
• - Date: December 12, 2024
• - Time: 8:00 PM to 8:30 PM (Registration closes at 7:00 PM on the same day)
• - Platform: Webinar Live Stream
• - Participation: Free but requires advance registration

A Chance to Learn and Support

This live stream will cover:

• - The journey and unique features of 3keys' learning support over the years.
• - What the organization genuinely aims to deliver to children.
• - The current crowdfunding challenges and ambitions.

Don't miss this vital opportunity to get informed about the social issues facing children in care and learn how you can contribute.

Archive Video Access

For those who wish to catch up, the archive of a previous live session held on November 26 will also be available. This session provided insights from staff on the realities of children's lives and the ongoing support facilitated by 3keys. Together, these sessions present an invaluable window into the impactful work being carried out.

Get further details and register here.