The members of Non-Profit Organization Little Creators recognized and stood up to support the needy children (under 18 years old), especially those who have to live in foster homes, in Japan in 2006. There are over 30,000 children are living in the homes all over Japan because of neglect, domestic violence, poverty, parents' divorce and other reasons. Moreover, about 70,000 children are in unsatisfactory situation to grow up even if they live at their own home. To become even a small help for them, NPO Little Creators was founded in 2009.
We believe that arts can be one of the most important tools for them. Through arts, they learn how to express themselves, gain confidence and overcome any difficulties of their life in the future. We, therefore, have held many art workshops, organized concerts, provided chances for them to enjoy musicals and theaters.
Another element we think important is international relationship. Although Japan is an island country, nowadays we cannot live without knowing about oversea countries, cultures and people. So we have organized camps or concert tours into Asian countries, and international cultural exchange events in Japan.
All the children, despite disadvantaged backgrounds, should have the opportunity to learn arts and to obtain the wider view of their world. NPO Little Creators is a small and not so powerful organization, yet at least we can be on their side all their life.
OUR WORK
NPO Little Creators operates art workshops through the year at some foster homes regularly: visual art workshops, music workshops, dance workshops and theater workshops. For some very talented yet needy children and young people, we offer a special experience such as an oversea home stay with art lessons.
Once a year, NPO Little Creators organizes a charity concert as a platform to showcase their talents. Young talents from all over Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines and other Asian countries, not only children in need, get together, collaborate and share the stage. Without discrimination and language barrier, they realize that they are not alone in the world and that there are full of possibilities for them outside the world they are now. The proceeds of the concert are used to support needy children through art workshops and international cultural events. In addition, those who appeared the above-mentioned concert have a chance to perform at similar concerts in other Asian countries.
In the occasion of the Tokyo Olympic games, in 2020, we planned to invite children from 5 continents. This is certainly a chance for the Japanese children to learn how big the world is and how big they have to think of the world for the future. Unfortunately, we had to cancel it due to COVID-19; however, we launched a virtual concert in which musically talented children from Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Korea, Sri Lanka, Mexico and South Africa participated and raise the fund for the needy children in Asia.
The current aim of NPO Little Creators is to create the system to make the needy children and young people to be self-sustainable. In 2014, we opened the branch office in Singapore to run a café, Happy Pancakes Café, together with the RICE Limited, Singapore. As of 2019, the café is called Café One O, which is introducing Asian entrepreneurs in the food and beverage field. The proceeds of this café is, however, still go to the needy children in both Japan and Singapore for them to participate in exchange programs in both countries.
Eventually, we would like to have such a base in Tokyo, where all the beneficiaries can spend time when they want, and were they can rely on. We have been struggling for that for long, and this is a reason that we keep organizing the above-mentioned concert. Many beneficiaries come back to the concert as backstage hands and as audience, and they share with us their struggle, their needs and their dreams.
The only thing NPO Little Creators do and can do is to stand by needy children.
DATA (as of September 2020)
Number of Children
Reached out through art workshops: 1,916
Reached out through concerts: Performance 658 Visual art 98
Reached out through virtual concerts: Performance 100 Visual art 93
Invited from abroad*: 208
Invited to abroad*: 83+12(virtual)
*Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, Korea, Sri Lanka, Mexico, South Africa
Related foster homes
Tokyo Metropolitan Shakuji Gakuen
Misono Kodomo-no-Ie
Futaba-en