Photo: (Smile Kids Japan)
Five years ago, then 23-year-old Michael Maher King moved from England to Japan to teach English through JET, the Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme. Two years in, looking for a deeper connection to his community, he began visiting a local orphanage to spend time with the kids there and soon discovered that by serving area youth, he was also enriching his own experience abroad.
"It was just a question of stumbling across something, loving it and then trying to get everyone else aware of what they could do to make a difference," Mike, now 27, says of his decision to start Smile Kids Japan, a network that provides other volunteers with the tools and resources they need to start making regular visits to area orphanages.
Just a little bit of time spent nurturing social and emotional development goes a long way. Warning that potential volunteers should be prepared to double as jungle gyms, Mike says that after only a few visits, it isn't unusual for a formerly shy kid to greet him with excitement and hugs.
One of the organization's volunteer coordinators, California native Anna Ho (who now lives in Fukui City), agrees that the real joy is in connecting with the kids, pointing out that they aren't the only ones to benefit. "Seeing the way the volunteers liven up and say that they had fun and want to come back is also extremely rewarding," Anna says. "It's great to be able to connect people to these opportunities."
Now, in the aftermath of Japan's devastating earthquake and tsunami, the country's orphans and orphanages are in particular need of financial and emotional support. During the month of April, Smile Kids Japan will be raising money for Smiles and Dreams: Tohoku Kids' Support Project, an initiative designed to support these initiatives. Follow the link below to see how you can help.
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During the month of April, your contribution to Tohoku Kids' Support Project will help fund support of disaster-struck orphanages in Japan.
