【Dream】From Ishinomaki, a disaster-affected area of the Great East Japan Earthquake. Towards a town where the entire community supports young people's challenges

Our foundation endorses "April Dream," a PR TIMES project that aims to make April 1st a day for announcing dreams. This press release is the dream of the "General Incorporated Foundation Machi to Hito."

The General Incorporated Foundation Machi to Hito will provide opportunities for all high school students in the Ishinomaki region of Miyagi Prefecture by 2035 to meet diverse others within the community and challenge themselves in their own way, regardless of their economic or family circumstances. We will support young people's "I want to try!" across the entire community, creating a virtuous cycle where "the town nurtures people, and people enrich the town."

15 years since the Great East Japan Earthquake. The future of "towns and youth" beyond recovery 15 years have passed since the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011, and Ishinomaki, which was the most severely affected area, is now at a turning point where the phase of support is changing. The origin of our activities lies in a remark made by high school students we met after the earthquake: "I want to do something too, but I don't know how."

In regions facing population decline and economic stagnation, "opportunity gaps" and "experience gaps" due to family and economic circumstances are prominent. Many young people suffer from low self-esteem due to limited engagement with local society and are forced to make future choices without knowing what they want to do, having had little contact with the real world. While everyone possesses the raw potential, there are still few opportunities in this town to unleash it.

A continuous series of moments where young people's "I want to try!" takes shape We have been working for over 10 years to eliminate opportunity gaps for young people, guided by the principle of "believing in their potential more than they do themselves." Through activities like 'Maki Bora,' a volunteer program to discover one's passions, and 'Mumumu!', a mentoring program that helps them realize their own "I want to try!" ideas, young people transform remarkably.

For example, one high school student planned a fashion show utilizing an empty store, completing everything from clothing production to modeling themselves. Another high school student, aspiring to be a childcare worker, decorated the town with the world of picture books, bringing smiles to children's faces. We have also seen students from academically focused schools who worried, "If I can't shine in academics, I have nothing," participate in local programs and realize, with sparkling eyes, "I learned that my worth isn't just about my scores."

Our Dream: Building an Ecosystem where the Entire Community Becomes a "Companion" for Youth Expanding our current activities, our goal is to build an ecosystem where "the entire community nurtures young people." Local businesses and adults take ownership, autonomously accept and mentor young people. High school students who once participated in programs grow up and return to the community as university students or young professionals, becoming mentors who support the challenges of their juniors. We earnestly wish to create a sustainable support model where such a cycle of "the town nurtures people, and people enrich the town" becomes commonplace.

All staff are seriously committed to realizing this vision "A town where all young people in the Ishinomaki region can achieve 'super!' self-realization." The "super" in "super!" embodies two meanings: young people challenging themselves to "surpass" their own limits in their own way, and the region having an "abundance" of people and places that support them.

This vision is by no means a pipe dream. From the representative to each staff member, everyone is committed to realizing this vision as a team. We are confident that picking up and supporting young people's "I want to try!" voices will be the reason why the town is chosen by young people and will also create the future of the town. Won't you join us in supporting young people and creating the future of our town?

Previous year's achievements

Logic model for achieving the vision

"April Dream" is a project by PR TIMES where companies announce their dreams that they wish to realize on April 1st. We are seriously committed to achieving this dream.

About General Incorporated Foundation Machi to Hito

With the vision of "Towards a town where all young people in the Ishinomaki region can achieve super! self-realization," we work in collaboration with schools, local government, and the community to support various challenges and growth of young people, primarily high school students.

Official website: https://machihito.jp/

Past PR TIMES releases: https://prtimes.jp/main/html/searchrlp/company_id/164749