[Dream] From Ishinomaki, affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake: A town that supports the challenges of young people as a whole community
The 'Machi to Hito to' General Incorporated Foundation announced its dream to build a community-wide educational ecosystem in Ishinomaki by 2035, supporting high school students' challenges.
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- 📰 Published: April 1, 2026 at 17:46
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Our organization supports 'April Dream,' a project by PR TIMES that aims to make April 1st a day to broadcast dreams. This press release is the dream of the 'Machi to Hito to' General Incorporated Foundation.
The Machi to Hito to General Incorporated Foundation will provide opportunities for all high school students in the Ishinomaki area of Miyagi Prefecture to meet diverse others in the community and challenge themselves in their own way by 2035, regardless of their financial or family circumstances. We will support young people's 'I want to try it!' as an entire community, creating a virtuous cycle where 'the town nurtures its people, and the people enrich the town.'
■ 15 Years Since the Great East Japan Earthquake: The Future of 'Town and Youth' Beyond Recovery
Fifteen years have passed since the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011, and Ishinomaki, which was the hardest-hit area, is now reaching a turning point where the phase of support is changing. At the origin of our activities is a single remark from high school students we met after the disaster: 'I want to do something too, but I don't know what to do.'
In regions where population decline and economic stagnation persist, the 'opportunity gap' and 'experience gap' caused by family environments and financial situations are pronounced. Due to poor engagement with the local community, self-esteem decreases, and many young people are forced to make choices about their future without any connection to the real world, saying 'I don't know what I want to do.' Even though everyone holds the rough diamond of potential, there are still few opportunities in this town to unleash it.
■ A Series of Moments When Young People's 'I Want to Try It!' Takes Shape
Believing in 'believing in a person's potential more than they do themselves' as our creed, we have been working to eliminate the opportunity gap for young people for over 10 years. Through volunteer work 'Maki-bora' where they can find what they like, and the accompanying program 'Mumumu!' that makes their own 'I want to try it' come true, young people change beyond recognition.
For example, one high school student planned a fashion show utilizing a vacant store, completing everything themselves from making clothes to modeling. Also, a high school student aiming to become a nursery school teacher decorated the town with the worldview of picture books, bringing smiles to children. We have also seen the sparkling eyes of a student attending an academic high school who worried 'If I can't shine in studying, I have nothing,' but realized 'My worth is not just my test scores' after participating in a regional program.
■ Our Dream: Building an Ecosystem Where the Whole Community Becomes a 'Companion' to Youth
Expanding our current activities, what we aim for is building an ecosystem to 'raise young people as a whole community.' Local companies and adults take ownership, autonomously accept young people, and support them. High school students who once participated in the program grow up and return to the community as university students or young professionals to support the challenges of their juniors as companions. We genuinely hope to create a sustainable support model where such a cycle of 'the town nurtures its people, and the people enrich the town' becomes the norm.
■ All Staff Seriously Take on the Challenge of Realizing This Vision
'A town where all young people in the Ishinomaki area can achieve 'Super!' self-realization.' The word 'Super' (Cho) has two meanings: young people taking on challenges that 'surpass' themselves in their own way, and the region having a 'superb' amount of people and places supporting them.
This vision is by no means just a pipe dream.
Starting with the representative, each and every staff member is prepared to seriously take on the challenge as a partner in realizing this vision. Young people's 'I want to try it!'
The Machi to Hito to General Incorporated Foundation will provide opportunities for all high school students in the Ishinomaki area of Miyagi Prefecture to meet diverse others in the community and challenge themselves in their own way by 2035, regardless of their financial or family circumstances. We will support young people's 'I want to try it!' as an entire community, creating a virtuous cycle where 'the town nurtures its people, and the people enrich the town.'
■ 15 Years Since the Great East Japan Earthquake: The Future of 'Town and Youth' Beyond Recovery
Fifteen years have passed since the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011, and Ishinomaki, which was the hardest-hit area, is now reaching a turning point where the phase of support is changing. At the origin of our activities is a single remark from high school students we met after the disaster: 'I want to do something too, but I don't know what to do.'
In regions where population decline and economic stagnation persist, the 'opportunity gap' and 'experience gap' caused by family environments and financial situations are pronounced. Due to poor engagement with the local community, self-esteem decreases, and many young people are forced to make choices about their future without any connection to the real world, saying 'I don't know what I want to do.' Even though everyone holds the rough diamond of potential, there are still few opportunities in this town to unleash it.
■ A Series of Moments When Young People's 'I Want to Try It!' Takes Shape
Believing in 'believing in a person's potential more than they do themselves' as our creed, we have been working to eliminate the opportunity gap for young people for over 10 years. Through volunteer work 'Maki-bora' where they can find what they like, and the accompanying program 'Mumumu!' that makes their own 'I want to try it' come true, young people change beyond recognition.
For example, one high school student planned a fashion show utilizing a vacant store, completing everything themselves from making clothes to modeling. Also, a high school student aiming to become a nursery school teacher decorated the town with the worldview of picture books, bringing smiles to children. We have also seen the sparkling eyes of a student attending an academic high school who worried 'If I can't shine in studying, I have nothing,' but realized 'My worth is not just my test scores' after participating in a regional program.
■ Our Dream: Building an Ecosystem Where the Whole Community Becomes a 'Companion' to Youth
Expanding our current activities, what we aim for is building an ecosystem to 'raise young people as a whole community.' Local companies and adults take ownership, autonomously accept young people, and support them. High school students who once participated in the program grow up and return to the community as university students or young professionals to support the challenges of their juniors as companions. We genuinely hope to create a sustainable support model where such a cycle of 'the town nurtures its people, and the people enrich the town' becomes the norm.
■ All Staff Seriously Take on the Challenge of Realizing This Vision
'A town where all young people in the Ishinomaki area can achieve 'Super!' self-realization.' The word 'Super' (Cho) has two meanings: young people taking on challenges that 'surpass' themselves in their own way, and the region having a 'superb' amount of people and places supporting them.
This vision is by no means just a pipe dream.
Starting with the representative, each and every staff member is prepared to seriously take on the challenge as a partner in realizing this vision. Young people's 'I want to try it!'