Digital Citizens Mentorship

YOUMEWE Digital Citizenship for a new generation.

One of YOUMEWE’s main goals has been to bring technology and the internet to orphans around Japan. Everyone at YOUMEWE wants to empower the orphans of Japan to develop a healthy relationship with technology and benefit from the opportunities that technical literacy can bring. Early on we found that many of the orphans in Japan had very limited access to computers. Many of these kids had never seen a keyboard and mouse. So, our early attempts at teaching computer literacy became basic introduction lessons to using a mouse and keyboard. If it was not for organizations like YOUMEWE it is entirely possible that many of these kids would age out of the orphanages without knowing anything about computers or modern technology. This is the type of disadvantage that can set someone back for a lifetime. 

As part of our digital citizenship program and computer literacy initiative, we have started offering computer programming lessons in a number of orphanages across the country. Our approach to teaching programming is very unique. It's not just about teaching the basic principles of computer programming. It’s also about empowering the kids to make what they want to make and to think about the holistic concept of software development. When these kids were separated from their families they lost a lot of their freedom and autonomy. We want them to gain some of that back by being empowered in digital spaces. We want our kids to see technology and the digital world as a set of tools that enables them to create amazing things.

We started small with just one orphanage in Nagoya, teaching a couple of young kids some introductory lessons. Now we are teaching kids in homes across Japan. We have students from ages 7 to 14 learning about programming and software development. YOUMEWE regularly teaches four programming lessons in Wakamatsu Ryo, Okuura, Onchoen, and Taiyo Gakuen. We hope to expand on that number in the coming months and years. In our recent lessons in Okuura Nagasaki, we found that not only did the children benefit from the lessons but the younger staff in the home were also eager to develop their programming skills and improve their understanding of computer technology. 

A digital realm is a place where no one is forgotten and everyone has a voice. YOUMEWE is dedicated to bringing the wonders of digital citizenship to the most disadvantaged and forgotten children of the coming generation.

Thank you for your support,

YouMeWe NPO