Tag: education

500 Km Across Japan – Cycling with KIWL

KIWL Sponsor Jersey

FUNDRAISING RIDE: Tomorrow at 7am sharp, off I go — SHUPPATSU — on a 500 kilometer fundraising ride with the Knights in White Lycra. Will I survive? I hope so… after over 1,600 kilometers of training rides and having climbed over 24,000 meters of mountains, I think I’m ready. I am part of a group of 38 cyclists pedaling from Tokyo to a children’s care facility in Kanazawa from June 9 to 12. Please consider sponsoring me! Here is the link to the fundraiser with instructions below for making sure that your sponsorship is attributed to JOEE:

KIWL 2022 Fundraising Ride

Step 1: Click on link above (https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/kiwl-2022-events/ ) and find the following screen shown below.

Enter your donation amount and click on “Donate in honor”
Choose “KIWL 2022 Events”

Step 2: Choose “No Card.” (This will allow you to dedicate your donation to JOEE.)

Choose “No Card”

Step 3: Fill in the details: “From,” “In Honor Of,” and “Message.” (Screenshot sample below….)

Fill in your details!

Step 4: Complete your donation and then share the information with a friend!

TRAINING: I have been training for this event for a couple of months while continuing to teach JOEE classes online and communicating with our JOEE teachers in Tokyo, Kobe and Nagoya. Hopefully, the ride will help to raise awareness of the struggles that many children face while raising funds to continue programs to educate and empower these youth. Here are some photos showing the training process which took place in the hilly terrain of Nagano where I currently live and work teaching and farming.

KIWL Sponsor Jersey
Many kilometers in training
Uphill
Downhill
Water break by the lake
Never give up!

Motivation: Why am I doing this? To raise funds for two organizations that help valuable but neglected children reach their full potential and be able to lead happy and fulfilling lives. JOEE and YouMeWe are committed to helping kids who are growing up in orphanages and care homes in Japan where about 60,000 children are in need of protection and help. Many have been removed from their homes for their own health and protection. A few are in foster care programs but the vast majority are in larger institutions and group homes. Adoption rates in Japan are abysmally low and most of the children that enter the care system remain there for the rest of their childhood. These children deserve a bright future. Japan needs healthy and happy children and youth to thrive and live in this beautiful country.

Please Help: I hope that you will consider donating to JOEE, sharing our vision and even volunteering as a teacher or helper to make a positive difference in the lives of children in Japan. Email me for more details: Ruth@joee.jp . In Japanese email: Hiroko@joee.jp . Thank you for caring!

JOEE to Ukraine

On Mondays, at 8pm Japan time, which is 2pm Ukraine time, children in Ukraine can tune in to a JOEE lesson crafted especially for them. Care is taken not to include any mention of planes, buildings or dangerous situations as the children are often tuning in from locations that are in or near to war zones during this time.

毎週月曜日の日本時間午後8時（現地時間午後2時）からウクライナの子どもたちは、特別に工夫されたJOEEのレッスンを視聴することができるようになりました。 この時期、子どもたちは戦地やその近くから視聴している場合も多いので、飛行機や建物、危険な情況に言及しないよう注意しています。

These lessons are organized by a non-profit in Eastern Europe, Smart Osvita, that seeks to bring educational moments to children who might need a joyful distraction from the stressful events that are happening in their lives right now. The website is here: nus.org.ua Daily lessons are listed in Ukrainian with information about the age group and subject matter of each lesson. The listing for Monday, April 18, is shown below. “A Hog Needs a Hug,” was one of the lesson offerings.

このレッスンは東欧の非営利団体「Smart Osvita」が主催するもので、今生活で起きているストレスの多い出来事からの楽しい気晴らしを必要としている子どもたちに教育の時間を提供しようとするものです。 ウェブサイトはこちらです: nus.org.ua 毎日のレッスンと、その対象年齢層とテーマがウクライナ語で掲載されています。 4月18日の掲載情報は、次の通りです。 「ハグを欲しがるホグ（ブタ）さん」というレッスンが提供されました。

During the hour-long JOEE lesson, Hamlet the Pig, along with some of his friends, taught the children English words. About 63 children logged in to the lesson. The moderator was able to unmute children who had a question or a comment, or just felt like talking to a friendly pig. In the process, my pugnacious pig made friends with stuffed animals on the other side of the world. Here is a reflection that I wrote after meeting these dear children, many of whom spoke English quite well!

JOEEの一時間のレッスンでブタのハムレットとその仲間たちが子どもたちに英単語を教えました。 約63人の子どもたちがレッスンにログインしました。 司会者は、質問や意見のある子ども、人懐っこいブタと話したくなった子どものミュートを解除できました。 そうしているうちに、ぶっきらぼうなブタさんは世界の反対側のぬいぐるみたちと仲良しになりました。 この愛らしい子どもたちに会った時の観想を書きました。英語の上手な子も多かったです！

— Ruth Gilmore Ingulsrud

If you feel led to donate in time or money, please remember the children of Ukraine. May they be protected from harm and may the war cease and the residents of Ukraine be able to return to their homes. Please pray and do what you can to help!

寄付や奉仕へと心動かされた方は、どうかウクライナの子どもたちを思い起こして下さい。 この子どもたちが危害から守られ、一日も早く戦争が終わり、ウクライナの住民が自宅に戻ることができるよう、 どうか、祈って下さい。そして可能な範囲でご支援をお願いします。

New JOEE Teachers Meet Their New Helpers!

A few weeks ago, thanks to a donation by the Wesley Center and an additional donation by Folkmanis Puppets, a big box arrived from the States filled with eager, furry new teaching assistants for Joyful Opportunity English Education! Our new puppet friends couldn’t wait to meet their partners.

数週間前のウェズリーセンターからの寄付に加えてフォークマニス・パペットからの寄付のおかげで、大きな箱が米国から届きました！　その中にぎっしり詰め込んであったのは、JOEE (Joyful Opportunity English Education) のためにこれから働きたいと願っている、フサフサの毛がある、教師の新しいアシスタント達でした。沢山の新しいパペット人形達は、これから働くことになるパートナーに会うのを楽しみにしていました。

Folkmanis Puppets Travel to Japan

For the past couple of months, JOEE has been training new teachers. We are gearing up for the reopening of Japan in anticipation of more widespread vaccine availability. As of this writing, TEN new teachers are learning how to present JOEE lessons and how to use puppets to engage and delight young English learners in orphanages and care facilities. Hopefully by the end of summer or early autumn, we will be able to start new lessons in many new places.

この過去２ヶ月間、JOEEは新しい教師の訓練を行って来ました。コロナ・ワクチンがさらに広く普及するのを見越して、日本は国の再開に向けて準備を進めています。私がこの記事を書いている時点で、10人の新しい教師が、JOEEのレッスン方法と孤児院や児童養護施設で幼い英語学習者の興味を引き、喜ばせるために、人形の使い方を学んでいます。夏の終わりか初秋までに、多くの新しい場所で新しいレッスンを開始できるようになることを願っています。

Lilian and Shyama meet their new partners

JOEE teacher training shows participants the origins and philosophy of Joyful Opportunity English Education. Besides bringing joy into the lives of young children with weekly lessons, JOEE is also focused on their future. Learning English at a young age gives these kids the advantage of acquiring excellent pronunciation skills and builds the mental and emotional facility for learning language as their education progresses.

JOEE教師トレーニングでは、参加者にJOEE (Joyful Opportunity English Education) がどの様に始まったのか、またその哲学について学びます。 JOEEは毎週のレッスンを行い、児童の生活に喜びをもたらすだけでなく、彼らの将来にも焦点を当てています。幼い頃に英語を学ぶことは、子供たちに英語の母語話者に近い発音のスキルを習得するという利点を与え、彼らの言語教育が進むにつれて役立つだろうと考えられる、言語を学ぶための精神的および感情的な心構えを構築するというメリットをもたらします。

Anneliese and Silvia find voices for their teaching assistants

By meeting and interacting with English speakers of many different ethnicities, the children learn to be accepting of a wide variety of world inhabitants. Because personalities and attitudes form at a young age, this open-mindedness will work to their advantage when launching out into the greater world of work after they turn eighteen years old and exit the care institutions.

英語を話す様々な民族の人々と出会い、交流することで、子供たちは様々な背景を持つ人々を受け入れることを学びます。性格や態度は若い年齢で形成されるため、この様にオープン・マインドの態度を培うことは、18歳になって介護施設を出た後により大きな仕事の世界に飛び出すときに有利に働きます。

Yushi and his new buddy practice their roars!

Our JOEE lessons dovetail nicely with the programs in computer and life skills and continuing English studies for older children that the nonprofit, YouMeWe offers. Our two organizations sometimes work in the same care facility. In these instances, a child can be studying English from the age of two all the way to the age of eighteen.

私たちのJOEEレッスンは、非営利団体YouMeWeが提供している年長の子供向けのコンピューターとライフ・スキルのプログラムや継続的な英語学習に丁度良く繋いでいくことができます。私たちの2つの組織は、時々同じ児童養護施設で働くことがあります。このような場合、子供達は2歳から18歳までの期間に英語を継続して習得することができます。

JOEE Teacher, the famous “Miss Raku,” gets to know her new sidekick! What shall we name him?

Thank you to the Wesley Center, Folkmanis and our generous JOEE donors. You are helping us to continue our work and expand to more orphanages.

ウェズリー・センター、フォークマニス、そして寛大にJOEEに寄付をしてくださった皆様に感謝します。皆様は私たちがこの活動を続けることを可能にしてくださり、さらに多くの孤児院にこの働きを広げるのを助けてくださっています！

If you would like to help support JOEE financially, please click on the secure GlobalGiving link below to donate with a credit card:

これからJOEEを経済的に支援してくださる方は下の安全な「GlobalGiving」のリンクをクリックして、クレジットカードで寄付をして下さるようにお願いします。

JOEE Global Giving Donation Link

Or you can donate directly to the JOEE Japan Postal Account:

またJOEEの日本郵便の口座に直接寄付することもできます。

Name: ジョーイー　（JOEE)
JP Branch Kanji: 〇一八
JP Branch: #018
JP Account: #10100-89960791
Account Type: Ordinary (Fustuu)

寄付を希望される場合は、以下の情報をご覧ください。
寄附金の振込口座
ゆうちょ銀行からの場合
［店名］〇一八(読みゼロイチハチ)
［口座番号］10100-89960791
他金融機関からの場合
［店名］〇一八（読み ゼロイチハチ］
［店番］018
［預金項目］普通預金
［口座番号］8996079

JOEE Global Giving Donation Link

“Little by Little” Funds Matching Drive

How do you magically turn $50 into $75, or ¥5,000 into ¥7,500? Through the GlobalGiving “Little by Little” matching funds drive!

50ドルが７５ドルに、５千円が７５００円に。魔法のようで魔法ではない。GlobalGiving “Little by Little” があなたの寄付をマッチングファンドで金額を増やしてくれます。

Jump with JOEE Bringing English Lessons to Orphans

GlobalGiving’s 2020 September Little by Little Matching Campaign runs from 09:00:00 ET on Monday, September 14, 2020, to 23:59:59 ET on Friday, September 18, 2020.

• During the Little by Little campaign, all eligible donations up to $50 per unique donor per organization will be matched at 50% for as long as the campaign is live. Matching funds will be available throughout the entire five-day campaign

• GlobalGivingの2020年9月のLittle by littleのマッチングキャンペーンは、2020年9月14日月曜日の09:00:00 ETから2020年9月18日金曜日の23:59:59 ETまで実施されます。

• Little by Littleキャンペーン中、キャンペーンが実施されている限り、組織ごとのユニークドナーごとに最大$ 50の対象寄付はすべて50％でマッチングされます。 マッチング資金は、5日間のキャンペーン全体で利用できます。

Hot Dog! Youthful Donors!

Our summer fundraising efforts were given a delightful boost by an unexpected donation from a couple of youthful philanthropists. Oliver and Jun spent part of their summer hawking hot dogs at a small lakeside stand. As hot doggers, they are not paid for their time, but they are allowed to keep any “tips” that end up in the tip jar on the counter. When the clink of coin is heard in the jar, a cheer goes up from the busy staff inside the hot dog stand. “Yay! Thank you! Domo arigatou gozaimasu!”

This year, JOEE would like to give a rousing cheer right back at them, because instead of keeping their tips and buying some cold “ramune” soda or other delicious summer treats, these two young gentlemen decided to donate ALL of their tips to JOEE, to help support educational programs for kids without parents in institutional homes. Needless to say, the parents of these two kind souls are cheering for them as well.

Thank you very much, Jun and Oliver! Your generous bag of change will help create positive change for many kids this year. JOEE welcomes any donation, large or small, and we are so encouraged by seeing generous hearts and habits develop at such a young age. Hot diggity dog!

If you would still like to donate to JOEE, the Global Giving Fundraiser is still up and running and can be accessed by clicking on the following link:

https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/youmewe-collaboration-with-joee/
Thank you for your generous donation!

Lights! Camera! Action!

Making a JOEE Promotional Video

Artwork by
Satoshi Kitamura
Used with permission

On June 13th in Higashi Kurume, we were able to hold a sample JOEE lesson and shoot footage for a promotional video for JOEE.  Ruth Ingulsrud recruited children from Christian Academy in Japan, Honeybee English School, and local kindergartens to participate in the video.  Also, myself, Raku Dishner, was recruited as a fellow teacher for the JOEE organization, and (as I later discovered), a volunteer assistant for the video.


Shin Theodore Lewis, a recent graduate of Christian Academy in Japan, and talented cinematographer, volunteered his talent and camera to be director and also to film the lesson.

It was a sweltering start-of-summer day, but the children were excited and eager to dance, laugh and play with Ruth and Mehh-gumi the Lamb puppet!  Moms were also there and had a great time assisting and participating with their children. Each family signed a waiver allowing us to use their faces in the video.

“Pass the ball! Pass the ball!”

The theme of the lesson was “ball.”  Ruth read the story “A Ball for Daisy” by Chris Raschka, followed by Mo Willems’ well-loved “Elephant and Piggy” book, “Can I Play Too?”  I was surprised and nervous as Ruth called me up to manage a large snake puppet and participate in the story! She also passed around various sized balls and played the game “pass the ball”.  The children counted and passed and tossed and caught the ball while saying “Throw!” and “Catch!” 

 Many picture books were available at the lesson’s end for the children to read with a helpful grown-up.  They were all rather sad when the lesson ended. Ruth, the kind moms, Hiroko, Shin and I were sweaty, but satisfied with our hard work and the resulting happy, happy kids!

Having video footage of a JOEE lesson will help us to raise funds, introduce our program to prospective orphanages, as well as recruit volunteers and teachers.  We are grateful to all who participated in the sample lesson and to Shin Theodore Lewis for his grace and talent to help us with this project.

Blessings everyone!

Raku