Realizing a Society with "Kodomo Shokudo" (Children's Cafeterias) Everywhere! Aiming for a Community Hub in Every Town.

We at Musubie are participating in April Dream, a project to share dreams on April 1st. This press release outlines the dream of the Certified NPO National Children's Cafeteria Support Center Musubie.

Musubie's Vision: A Future with Children's Cafeterias "Here and There"

The Certified NPO National Children's Cafeteria Support Center Musubie (located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; Chairperson: Rie Mishima), which aims to realize a society where no one is left behind through support for children's cafeterias, has a mission to "create an environment where children's cafeterias are everywhere in the country and are places where everyone can go with peace of mind."

Currently, there are 12,602 children's cafeterias nationwide. Approximately 70% of them do not have participation restrictions based on age or attributes, spreading as "multi-generational exchange hubs" open to various people including children, parents, and local elderly residents.

We want to create a world where children's cafeterias exist naturally as local community places within walking distance for everyone, especially children. We at Musubie have been continuing our activities together with children's cafeteria operators across the country with this hope.

For more details: https://musubie.org/everywhere

Join Us in Realizing the Society Musubie Aims For

Musubie supports regional network organizations (intermediary support organizations) that sustain children's cafeterias in various areas, making it easier for them to operate. In addition to connecting children's cafeterias with companies and organizations that want to help, we also conduct research to convey the significance and actual situation of these cafeterias and broaden understanding.

Children's cafeterias provide warm meals and a place to belong for children. However, their operation is mostly handled by volunteers. Some cafeterias are facing financial difficulties. To expand children's cafeterias further and ensure all children have access to them (and other community spaces), more understanding and support from many people are needed.

Support Methods:

Children's cafeterias provide warm meals and a place for children. However, their operation is almost entirely volunteer-based. Among them, not a few cafeterias are in a difficult situation financially. To spread children's cafeterias more than now and make it a state where every child can access children's cafeterias (including belonging places), the understanding and support of more people are necessary.

About Certified NPO National Children's Cafeteria Support Center Musubie

Representative: Chairperson Rie Mishima. Established: December 2018 (Acquired Certified NPO status in May 2021). Website: https://musubie.org/

Musubie operates under the vision: "Creating a society where no one is left behind through support for children's cafeterias." We work to create an environment where children's cafeterias are everywhere across the country and anyone can go with peace of mind, allowing many people to participate in social activities that build the future through children's cafeterias. Specifically, we support regional network organizations that sustain cafeterias in each area, connect companies and organizations wishing to contribute to society with cafeterias to deliver support, and conduct research and advocacy necessary for children's cafeterias to become a "normal" part of society accessible to more children. In FY2024, we provided approximately 690 million yen in grants to a total of 3,914 organizations and mediated support of goods from companies to a total of 10,532 organizations (worth approximately 470 million yen at market value).