Educate YouMeWe's Mark Bell Scholarship

When we started in this space of helping children living in orphanages or foster care 17 years ago, only 9% of the children aging out went on to some form of higher education. This is compared to the national average in Japan of 60-70%. 

The figure has gone up to about 30-40% when the government realized that there were fewer children under 15 years old per capita in Japan and more people over 65 years old per capita, and the government made funding more available.

These numbers, we now realize, do not tell the whole story. In America, 90% of children leaving Foster Care drop out of the first year of higher education, and only 2% complete their degree. Why? They lack an adult mentor to help them with the uncharted path of seeking higher education.

In Japan, the numbers are more difficult to tabulate, but we know that only 2% are completing their degrees.

Naturally, we would love to help with the 90% who drop out in their first year, but the truth is, with your help, we have been able to focus on the 2%. All the scholars we have helped have completed their degrees and are gainfully employed.

We have also joined and been trained on the Fostering Higher Education Program developed by Dr.Amy Salazar from the University of Washington. Read here

In this program, we start in the final year of high school and follow the youth into the first year of higher education.

Divided into three modules, 1) relationship building and goal setting 2) Navigating the 6 pitfalls of higher education (Sleep, Finances, Relationship, Time, Mental Health, Drugs/Alcohol) giving them toolkits to handle these issues on their own. 3) Individual and group coaching.

At the end of two years, if both parties want to continue (and most do) the mentoring continues.

With the Mark Bell Scholarship, as we mature, we realize we may not be able to help the 90% who drop out, but the more we focus on the 2% who complete their degree, the higher the impact. Some of whom want to continue to their Master's program, and PhD funding is allowed.

While we funded the entire education of some scholars who fell through the cracks of government funding, and they completed their degrees, we will be focusing on our collaboration with the Chubu Children's Fund of the American Chamber of Commerce, which gives 250,000 JPY ($1,666) per year for the scholars. 

We meet with the scholars every quarter to check in on their progress, part-time jobs, savings, and grades.

YouMeWe gives laptops to all students joining the program yearly and replaces any that need replacing while in school.

We are featuring Rina, whose profile was masked to the public as she was still a minor at the time, as Yumi. She has one more year before she graduates. Overall, she is doing well in her studies, part-time job, and life.

We are seeking commitment from several CEOs for at least 4 years at 250,000JPY per year so that we have 2,500,000 JPY annually for the scholarship fund.

Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions.

Links:

• Fostering Higher Education: Preliminary findings from a small ra
• Mark Bell Scholarship link
• American Chamber of Commerce Chubu Children's Fund