In January 2024, HelloWorld Inc. (Headquarters: Okinawa City, Okinawa Prefecture; Co-CEO: Hikari Nonaka & Keisuke Tomida) offered participation to its cultural exchange programs free of charge for high school students receiving educational support from Ashinaga Foundation (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President: Yoshiomi Tamai).
The event marks the second iteration of the partnership between HelloWorld and the NPO, which has grown thanks to the sponsorship of Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc. and the support of Odakyu Electric Railway Co., Ltd., and was held for the first time in both Kansai and Kanto regions.
About the Project
In pursuit of its long-term vision to “create a society where it is normal to have a friend from every country in the world”, HelloWorld offers HelloWorld Cultural Exchange, a program where Japanese individuals can stay at the homes of international residents of Japan and experience studying abroad without having to leave the country. HelloWorld also offers “HelloWorld Rogaining”, a scavenger-hunt activity in which participants walk around the city with people from all over the world and communicate in English to solve missions.
HelloWorld’s goal is to help children broaden their perspectives and cultivate an open mind to diversity by providing high-quality English learning and exchange opportunities to a wide range of people.
In recent years, inequality in children’s experiences has risen steeply as it is difficult for many kids to access opportunities for active participation in cultural exchange, especially for those with a family background of economic struggle: for this reason HelloWorld has established the Machinaka Fund, providing exchange experiences to students who wish to engage in international exchange but are not able to afford it.
This time, HelloWorld has offered pro-bono experiences of international exchange in two different areas: in the Kanto region, through its “HelloWorld Cultural Exchange” program to 23 high school students receiving educational support from Ashinaga Foundation; and in the Kansai region, through its “HelloWorld Rogaining” program to 63 individuals between high school students and supporting university students
International exchange and study abroad experiences are great chances for children to think more deeply about themselves, and further develop their dreams and goals for the future while at the same time expanding their horizons. “Exchange opportunities to every child”: such is HelloWorld’s commitment to its social responsibility as it provides pro-bono international exchange opportunities to children who would otherwise be unable to participate in such programs at their own expense due to economic and personal struggles.
About the Exchange Programs
■ January 6, 2024: HelloWorld Rogaining in the Kanto region
23 children joined English Speakers to form 6 teams, communicating through the English language to work together and solve missions such as recording videos and taking pictures of memorable places at Shinjuku Chuo Park. The venue was kindly provided by Odakyu Electric Railway Co., Ltd.
■ January 7-8, 2024: HelloWorld Cultural Exchange Program in the Kanto region
On Day 2 and 3, the students participated in a home stay experience at the homes of 10 Host Families with roots from more than 10 different countries, including the U.K., France, Spain, the Philippines, Mexico, the U.S., Turkey, India, Ghana and Pakistan.
While communicating in English, they had the chance to learn about new cultures and lifestyles by spending time with their hosts and engaging in various activities, like cooking together.
■ January 28, 2024: HelloWorld Rogaining in the Kansai region
At the Expo’70 Commemorative Park in Osaka, 63 children were divided in 17 groups and participated in the HelloWorld Rogaining program.
Comment from Mr. Yu Yasukawa, Ashinaga Foundation Project Manager
At first, many of the children were very anxious about whether or not they could actually be able to speak English, but after being warmly welcomed by the Host Families and started focusing on communication, I think they were able to have fun regardless of their English skills. Seeing their faces once at the end of the program, it was clear they acquired the confidence to connect to others across language and culture.
This year, it was possible to expand opportunities for international exchange to Osaka too. Being a one-day event, HelloWorld Rogaining is a program that can be easily joined even by students struggling with English or international encounter. “I’m not good at speaking English, but this time I had lots of fun so I’d like to do my best to improve!”: among others, this comment stood out to me.
Sometimes, even just one day can be enough to change one’s entire life. The households Ashinaga Foundation supports are often deprived of such experiences for economic reasons; this time, I believe the programs gifted the children with a confidence that will pave the way to courageous first steps towards new worlds.
Comments from the Participants
– Through this experience, I found the courage to challenge myself with difficult things without shying away. I want to use it in my life from now on;
– Although I was in my head over not being able to express myself clearly in English, I learned that what’s important is the intention to communicate, and it doesn’t matter if that takes gestures or body language;
– Until today, a part of me was content with not being able to speak English, but I found the motivation to keep improving my English and to discover new things about the world;
– It was so much fun: I realized it’s okay to make mistakes as long as I am talking and because of that I really enjoyed my time. I’d love to participate again if there’s the chance in the future.
Comment from Keisuke Tomita, Co-CEO of HelloWorld Inc.
Following last year’s project, this was the second time we were able to provide pro-bono Ashinaga Foundation students with our “HelloWorld Cultural Exchange” and “HelloWorld Rogaining” programs: thanks to the generous support of Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc. even more children could receive this opportunity.
Not only in Kanto, but also in the Kansai region and beyond, we brought opportunities for international exchange to more children, that found themselves willing to know the world to try out new challenges.
In times where profound inequalities in children’s experiences have emerged, we will continue to work with our partners to provide high-quality experiences to all children, everywhere.
More details on the HelloWorld Machinaka Fund initiative can be found here.
