JOEE

Our volunteer teachers at JOEE come from many different countries – Australia, USA, India, Latvia, Jamaica, Norway, along with bi-lingual volunteers from Japan. They serve little kids that have been abused by their parents and are sheltering in care homes.

JOEEのボランティア教師は、オーストラリア、アメリカ、インド、ラトビア、ジャマイカ, ノルウェーなど、さまざまな国から集まっています。日本のバイリンガルボランティアと一緒に活動しています。親から虐待を受け、養護施設に保護されている小さな子どもたちを支援対象にしています。

We go to the homes with lively, music and puppet-enhanced English lessons that bring these children Joy, along with an educational boost in a world that is already stacked against them. Statistically, children who have grown up in care homes have higher rates of joblessness and suicide that youth with the advantage of supportive homes. JOEE is working to change that by giving these very important children a brighter future.

私たちは、音楽と人形を使った生き生きとした英語の授業で、子どもたちに喜びを与え、不利な状況に置かれている子どもたちの教育を後押ししています。統計的に、養護施設で育った子どもたちは、家庭的な環境の中で育った子どもたちよりも、失業や自殺の割合が高いと言われています。JOEEは、このような大切な子どもたちにより明るい未来を与えることで、この状況を変えようと努力しています。

One of the most important lessons that these kids learn during JOEE lessons is that kind, trusted adults can come from a wide variety of nationalities and ethnic groups. Learning to embrace folks from other countries is a lesson best learned when young and then your world view is being formed. This world-embracing mindset can be a big advantage for them when they launch out into our multi-cultural world in search of jobs and healthy connections.

JOEEのレッスンで子どもたちが学ぶ最も重要なことのひとつは、親切で信頼できる大人には、さまざまな国籍や民族の人がいるということです。他の国の人たちを受け入れることは、世界観が形成される若いうちに学ぶべきことです。このような大らかな世界観を持つことは、仕事や人とのつながりを求めて多文化社会に飛び出したときに、大きなアドバンテージとなるはずです。

JOEE is always looking for generous donors — those who can contribute financially to support our programs and those who can give of their time and teaching skills. Our volunteers are vetted and must agree to a thorough background check in order to enter the care homes as a JOEE teacher. If you are interested in helping out, please contact the Founding Director at the following email address: ruth(at)joee.jp

JOEEでは、プログラムを支援するために資金を提供してくださる方、時間や指導スキルを提供してくださる方など、寛大な寄付者を常に募集しています。JOEEのボランティアは、JOEEの教師として養護施設に出向く前に審査を受け、徹底的な身元調査を受けることに同意しなければなりません。ご興味のある方は、以下のメールアドレスまでご連絡ください： ruth(at)joee.jp

Many of you have heard about my unfortunate accident towards the end of the second day of the 500 km KIWL fundraising ride across Japan. Up until the accident, I was having a grand time, getting lots of exercise and taking in amazing sights.

After the hardest bit of climbing, we rolled into a small town and I stopped at a light, unclipped my right foot, put it down on the ground… then inexplicably fell towards the left where my other foot was still clipped in. Apparently, President Joe Biden had a similar tumble recently but was able to roll with it and brush it off. I was not as fortunate or as graceful. I broke the radius and ulna in my left arm.

My Apple Watch detected a fall and promptly called emergency services in Japan.

“Daijoubu desu ka?” said my wrist with concern. “Nope; not okay. Please send an ambulance!” was the reply from my cycling buddies. My wrist was sporting a new and strange looking angle. Breakage was obvious. Off to the hospital we went in my third ambulance ride ever. (Ambulance rides are free in Japan… in the States they cost about a thousand dollars — talk about adding insult to injury!)

I was in too much pain to cry so I yelled instead. I used my outdoor voice. No one told me to settle down and be quiet. They knew there was more pain to come. Bone-setting is no walk the park. The nurse had to pull on my arm in one direction while the doctor pulled in the other direction. They wore lead aprons and viewed the bone through an x-ray machine while they set it. My job was to yell and hang onto the nurse’s arm. I think I might have bruised her. “You’re a strong woman,” she said afterwards.

Apologies to the nurse. I did entertain her afterwards with a short puppet show featuring a concerned Mehhhgumi. She recorded the skit with her phone. Maybe it will show up on the internet later. Here’s a recording from today, getting ready for surgery:

Sunday, June 19th: Now I’m in the hospital awaiting surgery. A hand specialist will put in a couple of titanium plates to stabilize the bones and speed the healing process. In the meantime, I have continued to work thanks to effective pain pills. Here’s a CT scan of the bone – they’re very thorough here:

After the Break, Work Continued: On Sunday, June 12, I joined the KIWL cycling team for the final ceremony where we met some of the children for whom we were cycling and raising money. They were happy to meet a friendly pig and a sweet sheep. The children and their care home received a pile of new outdoor sports equipment. Then they cycled away on their own bikes as we waved goodbye.

On Thursday, June 16, I was able to teach three classes at Green Hills School with the help of my son, Alec, who is visiting us from the States. He held each grade level in rapt attention as he described the different kinds of “bugs,” a generalized term for insects, spiders, arthropods and even gastropods.

Friday night, we collaborated during the 7pm online class for the children at Harukaen in Chiba. Alec was my “left-hand-man.” By using a wide variety of puppets, we had the kids identify which ones had bones and which ones did not. (They learned that sharks do not have bones, but instead have cartilage.) My most recent classes have incorporated information about bones helped by photos of my ride and my x-rays. Misfortune had might as well be instructive!

On Saturday, I met with the three students that I tutor and we had more lessons about biking and bones. This coming week, I may have to take a few days off to heal.

Thank you, everyone for your prayers and good wishes for a successful surgery and fast healing. If you still want to donate to a good cause, scroll down, use the link below and mention JOEE in the memo. Detailed instructions can be found in the previous JOEE post.

What are some ways to “Get Fit and Give Back?” The upcoming KIWL Palace Walk is one way that you and a group of your friends or colleagues can get some fresh air and exercise while raising money for a worthy cause. Sign up for the Imperial Palace Walk/Jog that takes place on April 22nd and 23rd near the Sakuradamon Station exit. More details provided when you complete the registration. ¥5,000 (or $50 donation for adults) gets you an exclusive T-shirt. The minimum for students is less.

KIWL Palace Walk Sign-Up Process:

1. Go to the KIWL page on the website relating to the Walk. https://www.kiwl.net/events/imperial-palace-walk–jog 

2. Click on “register here.” (Note: Begin at the link above in order to get your t-shirt.)

3. At the bottom of the registration page, there is a link to make the donation. https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/kiwl-2022-events/

4. When that page opens up, click on “DONATE NOW” button.

5. After entering “full name” and “email,” there is a button underneath and to the right — ‘Donate in honor’ which should be clicked on.

The following screen will appear:

6. Click on ‘no card’ and there you can add “JOEE” under the words, “In Honor Of” when donating. (See example below.)

That’s it! You’re done. Have a lovely walk or run around the palace grounds on a beautiful day in late April. May your steps lead you to many more paths of caring and compassion as you “Get Fit & Give Back.” Blessings on your journey.

Note: If you would like to make a direct donation to JOEE with no running around involved, you can click on the DONATE button to the left on this JOEE webpage.

Ever wonder what goes on inside a JOEE online lesson? Here’s one sample of a lesson that landed on the Japanese festival of Setsubun which is celebrated before the start of spring. This year, Setsubun landed on Feb. 3, the same day as the weekly online Thursday lesson at St. Francisco Children’s Home. “The children want to chase away an oni” said the JOEE helper at the orphanage. “But we don’t have any soybeans.”

JOEEのオンラインレッスンの中身が気になったことはありませんか？今回は、日本の節分にちなんだレッスンの一例をご紹介します。今年の節分は2月3日で、毎週木曜日に開催している聖フランシスコ子供寮のオンラインレッスンと同じ日でした。「子どもたちは鬼払いがしたいんです。でも、こちらには豆がありません。」と、児童養護施設のJOEEのヘルパーさんは言いました。

The JOEE lesson was set to begin in a few minutes, so it was time to brainstorm. First of all, I had to locate a monster…. an “oni.” I found an old costume headband from Halloween that had horns on it. Most “oni” have horns. But what about the face or the head? In homes with a mom and a dad, usually the dad will put on a mask and play the part of the “oni.” The children shriek with delight as the monster enters the house and then “drive out the evil” by throwing dried soybeans at the “oni.”

JOEEのレッスンは数分後に始まろうとしていたので、どうするかすぐに決めなければなりませんでした。まず、モンスター…… “オニ “を探さなければなりません。ハロウィンで使っていた、角のついた古いカチューシャを見つけました。鬼は角があるのが普通です。でも、顔や頭はどうなんでしょう？お父さんとお母さんのいる家庭では、お父さんがお面をかぶって鬼の役をすることが多いですね。子供たちは、鬼が家に入ってくると歓声を上げ、鬼に豆を投げつけて「鬼退治」をします。

“Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi!” they yell, which roughly translates as: “Evil spirits get out! Good fortune stay in!” The pretend monster goes running away much to the delight of the children, who are feeling quite powerful at being able to drive off a monster with a handful of magic beans.

子どもたちは「鬼は外! 福は内！」と叫び、鬼がそそくさと逃げていきます。一握りの魔法の豆で鬼を追い払うことができたことに、子どもたちは強くなったような感覚を覚え、大喜びします。

So, I had to find a monster mask. Then I remembered the dinosaur head, sitting off to one side of my cluttered teaching studio. Yes, I have a tyrannosaurus head — a gift from an excellent teacher, Mr. Richards, with whom I had previously taught a summer school class… all about dinosaurs. My “oni” would have to be a T-rex with bright red horns.

そこで、鬼のお面を探すことになりました。思い出したのが、雑然としたスタジオの片隅に置かれていたティラノサウルスの頭でした。以前、サマースクールで恐竜の授業を一緒に担当したリチャーズ先生からもらったものです。私の「鬼」は、真っ赤な角の生えたティラノサウルスにするしかありませんでした。

I grabbed a pair of red gloves and a green jacket for the finishing touches to my costume. Now we needed something for the children to throw at the monster. Instead of soybeans, the children would throw tiny rubber ducks… but not at the screen (where the horned dino would soon appear). Instead, we would direct the children to throw the yellow ducks into the air! Yes, we just happened to have lots of little squeaky yellow ducks at the children’s home. We have used them for counting games and for teaching other vocabulary words.

赤い手袋と緑のジャケットで衣装を仕上げました。さて、次は子どもたちがモンスターに投げつけるものが必要です。大豆の代わりに小さなゴム製のアヒルを投げてもらいましたが、（このあと角のある恐竜が姿を現す）スクリーンには投げつけず、空中に投げてもらうよう指示しました。そう、たまたま子供寮には、キュッキュと音の出る小さな黄色いアヒルのおもちゃがたくさんあったのです。このアヒルは、数を数えるゲームをしたり、単語を教えたりするのに使っています。

Why would a dinosaur-oni be afraid of yellow ducks? Well, you’ll just have to watch the video and find out. And while you are at the YouTube channel that posts JOEE videos, why not subscribe and get notified when new videos are posted there? Click here to view part of the Setsubun JOEE Lesson:

なぜ恐竜オニは黄色いアヒルを恐れるのでしょうか？それは、ビデオを見てのお楽しみです。JOEEの動画を投稿しているYouTubeのチャンネルを登録すると、新しい動画が投稿されたときにお知らせが届きますので、登録してみてはいかがでしょうか？節分JOEEレッスンの一部を見るには、こちらをクリックしてください。

Another way to help the JOEE foundation, which brings free, lively English lessons to kids growing up in institutionalized care in Japan, is to send a donation in through the Global Giving link added below. Thank you for caring and sharing!

また、施設に入所している子どもたちに、無料で生き生きとした英語のレッスンをお届けしているJOEEの活動を支援するために、以下のGlobal Givingのリンクから寄付をすることもできます。ご協力ありがとうございます。

JOEE Global Giving Link

The Christmas season was lively in the children’s homes that are receiving JOEE lessons. This year, with a well-organized gift drive carried out in coordination with Christian Academy in Japan, JOEE was able to bring personalized gifts to all 44 children in residence at the St. Francisco Children’s Home in Ota-ku and to the 5 children in the JOEE program at Chofu Gakuen Home. This year, the children (especially the teen individuals) were given an opportunity to request specific gifts so that we could meet their needs. Gift donors did their best to find the perfect gifts for all of the youth. The gifts were presented at Christmas parties – one held on Dec. 19 and the other on Dec. 23.

JOEEのレッスンを受けている児童養護施設では、賑やかなクリスマスシーズンとなりました。今年は、クリスチャン・アカデミー・イン・ジャパンの協力を得て、大田区の聖フランシスコ子供寮に入居している44人の子どもたち全員と、調布学園のJOEEプログラムに参加している5人の子どもたちに、JOEEから個別のプレゼントを届けることができました。今年は、子どもたち（特に10代の子どもたち）のニーズに応えられるよう、子供たちが具体的なプレゼントをリクエストできる機会を設けました。プレゼントを寄付してくださった方々は、子どもたち全員にぴったりのプレゼントを見つけるために最善を尽くしてくださいました。プレゼントは、12月19日と23日に開催されたクリスマスパーティーで贈られました。

Our two JOEE Christmas parties were aided by volunteers from Tokyo Union Church and its sister congregation, West Tokyo Union Church. Helpers played the piano, the violin, bells and a harp to bless the children with beautiful Christmas music. The JOEE students had learned a few simplified carols and exuberantly sang, “Joy to the World, sing joy, sing joy… sing joy, sing joy, sing joy! Sing JOY, JOY, JOY! Sing JOY, JOY, JOY!” It was a good reminder that the foundation of JOEE is JOY!

2回のJOEEクリスマスパーティーには、東京ユニオンチャーチとその姉妹教会である西東京ユニオンチャーチのボランティアが協力してくれました。ピアノ、バイオリン、ハンドベル、ハープなどを演奏していただき、子どもたちに美しいクリスマス音楽を届けていただきました。簡略化されたキャロルを覚えたJOEEの生徒たちは、「Joy to the World, sing joy, sing joy… sing joy, sing joy, sing joy！Sing JOY, JOY, JOY! Sing JOY, JOY, JOY!」と元気よく歌いました。JOEEの基本は喜び（JOY）だということを思い出させてくれました！

After the singing, the children heard the story of Christmas, the reason for this celebration and gift-giving — how God sent His Son, Jesus, as a gift to the world, to be born in a humble manger in Bethlehem. The story reminds us that God especially cares for and blesses the poor and the outcast; God honors those who are put down by society, like these children growing up in institutional care homes. These kids, often cruelly labeled “throw-away children” in Japan, are actually valuable gifts and should be treated as such.

歌の後、子どもたちはクリスマスの話を聞きました。クリスマスを祝い、プレゼントを贈る理由、つまり、神様が御子イエスを世界への贈り物として送り、ベツレヘムの質素な飼い葉桶で救い主がお生まれになったという話です。この物語は、神様が特に貧しい人や身寄りのない人を大切にし、祝福しておられることを思い出させてくれます。神様は、養護施設で育つ子供たちのように、社会から貶められている人々を尊ばれます。日本では「捨て子」という残酷なレッテルを貼られることが多いこれらの子供たちは、実際には貴重な贈り物であり、そのように扱われるべきなのです。

Every child at St. Francisco Children’s Home received a Christmas gift bag. Inside, they found pairs of new warm socks, books and school supplies and a gift chosen just for them. Our volunteers had great fun helping the children cut strings, open boxes and install batteries. The Christmas party ended in a joyful cacophony of thank-you’s and goodbyes. The children were even waving to us from the balconies as we drove away.

聖フランシスコ子供寮では、すべての子どもたちにクリスマスギフトバッグが配られました。その中には、新しい暖かい靴下、本や学用品、そして、その子のために選ばれたプレゼントが入っていました。プレゼントの紐を切ったり、箱を開けたり、電池を入れたりと、ボランティアが楽しくお手伝いしました。クリスマスパーティーは、最後に感謝と別れの歓声で大いに盛り上がりました。帰りの車の中から、子どもたちがバルコニーに出て手を振っているのが見えました。

While we wish that we could give every child a gentle and loving family to care for them, we do what we can in making sure that they are safe and have joyful and positive learning experiences as they grow up in a care home. Please help JOEE in any way that you can. Financial gifts can be made through Global Giving by going to this link:

Joyful Opportunity English Education – Global Giving

すべての子どもたちに優しくて愛情に満ちた家族の温もりが与えられることを願ってやみませんが、子どもたちが養護施設で育つ間、せめて安全で楽しく前向きな学習体験をしてもらえるよう、できる限りのことをしています。皆様もできる限りJOEEをご支援下さるようお願いいたします。上記のリンクからGlobal Givingを通じて寄付を行うことができます。

A week after the Christmas parties, I received a beautiful handmade thank you card from the children at St. Francisco Children’s home. Inside I found handwritten notes from 17 of the residents. It was so sweet and heartwarming and made my holidays very happy indeed. A Merry Christmas to all and a very Happy New Year. We have great plans and hopes for 2022! Thank you for your support.

クリスマスパーティーの1週間後、聖フランシスコ子供寮の子どもたちから、手作りの素敵なお礼のカードが届きました。その中には17人の子供たちからの手書きの手紙が入っていました。そのカードはとても優さに満ちて、心温まるもので、私の年末年始をとても幸せなものにしてくれました。皆さまにメリークリスマス。良いお年をお迎えください。2022年には大きな希望を抱いています！

Thanks to the generous volunteering talents of two of our teachers, Annie and Lilian, JOEE lessons have begun at a newly remodeled facility in Chofu in the western part of Tokyo. Hurray!

Annie is a veteran teacher of small, active children and she excels at using English to delight, engage and teach. She is joined by Lilian, who was a bit timid at first, but who is a hit with the children who love her furry puppet feline sidekick.

Listen in as Annie gives us a summary of the first full JOEE lesson taught at this lovely facility:

Introductions – First of all, we handed out colourful nametags to each child and introduced Lilian and Tabby the cat. Nametags are very helpful, especially when beginning lessons. Building connections begins with learning names.

Ice Breaker – We started by tickling our toes and head and wiggling our arms and bodies to get warmed up before singing the Hello Song. The children enjoyed tapping and clapping to the beat as we sang. The staff joined in singing with us and the kids seemed to enjoy having each of their names sung. Hopefully the kids will join in singing as they become more familiar with the song. 
Classroom Management – We established the signal “are you ready?” “oh yes!” rhythmic chant and practiced it sitting and standing. We used this signal throughout class and will use it throughout our lessons to make sure kids are ready to listen. They are familiar with this kind of activity in the care facility as they usually do this kind of greeting before meals etc. 

Colour Kuruta! – We elicited different colour responses by pointing out the colours on our clothes and things around the room. The kids said them in Japanese at first, but with a bit of encouragement they repeated them in English. They needed a lot of repetition to retain the vocabulary. With coloured cards we played a memory game, the older kids did very well but it was a bit challenging for the youngest. As they turned over the card the child had to say the colour in English. Seeing that this was difficult, we changed the game to a version of KURUTA (a traditional Japanese guessing game). To start, the children put their hands on their head and when I said a colour they had to touch the corresponding card on the floor. The aim next time will be for the kids to take turns being the leader and say the colour out loud. 

Colour Matching Game – I brought out my colourful parachute and the kids placed the corresponding colour card in the correct place on the parachute. Then we sang RED, YELLOW, GREEN and BLUE to the “William Tell Overture” melody while shaking the parachute to the beat. They loved this activity!

Goodbye – Our lesson concluded with the Goodbye Song. We will begin and end each lesson the same way as this is reassuring for young learners and helps to build their confidence as they demonstrate their ability to remember the words.

We look forward to continuing lessons with this dear group of young learners in the joyful JOEE program and we are so grateful to our teacher volunteers. Contact JOEE via email if you are interested in volunteering: ruth(at)joee.jp