Free The Children Japan to Offer Two Philippines Study Tour Courses in Summer 2026

Certified NPO Free The Children Japan, based in Setagaya, Tokyo and represented by Sanae Nakajima, will hold two study tour courses in July and September 2026 to visit its support areas in the Philippines. The July course is open to junior high school students and above, while the September course is designed mainly for university students. The organization has provided continuous support in the Philippines for more than 25 years since 1999. Through its local network, participants will visit a village of the Indigenous Aeta people, who are fair trade producers; urban slum areas where people face especially severe living conditions; and care facilities for children rescued from the sex industry, abuse, the streets, or prison-related environments. Through interaction with local children, participants will learn and reflect on how the world is structured, the roots of poverty in developing countries, and what meaningful support should look like. The July 30 departure course, titled “A Journey to Interact with Children and Think About International Cooperation,” runs from July 30 to August 5, 2026, for seven days and six nights, departing from and returning to Narita Airport. It is open to junior high school students, high school students, university students, and adults. The cost is 280,000 yen for junior high school students and 260,000 yen for high school students and above. Additional costs not included in the tour price include Narita Airport fees, Manila airport tax, fuel surcharges, aviation insurance, and international tourist tax, totaling around 50,000 yen, plus overseas travel insurance and WEG fees for participants under 15. Applications submitted by May 25 are eligible for a 5,000 yen early-bird discount. A sibling/family discount of 5,000 yen per person is also available for two or more family members living at the same address, but discounts cannot be combined. The September 3 departure course, titled “A Journey to Meet People Working in the Field of International Cooperation and Around the World,” runs from September 3 to September 10, 2026, for eight days and seven nights, departing from and returning to Narita Airport. It is aimed at university students, with participation possible from age 16. In addition to visits to the Aeta village, child protection facilities, and urban slum areas, the course includes visits to JICA, international organizations, and companies, giving participants the opportunity to consider the connection between social issues, work, business, and global careers. The fee is 258,000 yen. Additional costs not included in the tour price include airport fees, fuel surcharges, aviation insurance, and international tourist tax totaling around 50,000 yen, plus overseas travel insurance. Applications submitted by June 12 are eligible for a 5,000 yen early-bird discount. The same family discount applies, but discounts cannot be combined. Free online briefing sessions will be held via Zoom on May 19 from 19:00 to 19:50 and June 5 from 20:00 to 20:50 for both courses. The sessions will explain the destinations, the organization’s activities, and details of past tours. Details, applications, and document requests are available at https://ftcj.org/takeaction/studytour/ . Briefing session registration is available at https://ws.formzu.net/fgen/S91531782/ . The planned July itinerary includes departure from Japan to Manila and arrival in Olongapo; a visit to an Indigenous community and homestay; interaction with children rescued from prison-related environments or the streets; visits and exchange at facilities for children rescued from the sex industry or abuse; travel to Manila and sightseeing in historical areas; a visit to a slum community; and return from Manila to Japan. The planned September itinerary includes departure from Japan to Manila and arrival in Olongapo; a visit to an Indigenous community and homestay; interaction with children rescued from prison-related environments or the streets; visits and exchange at child protection facilities; a visit to a Japanese company based in Olongapo; travel to Manila and sightseeing in historical areas; visits to international organizations based in Manila; a visit to a slum community; and return from Manila to Japan. For the July course, the early-bird deadline is May 25, 2026 at 23:59, and the final deadline is June 12, 2026 at 17:00. For the September course, the early-bird deadline is June 12, 2026 at 23:59, and the final deadline is July 16, 2026 at 17:00. Applications may close earlier if capacity is reached, and waitlists will be accepted if the tours are full. The program is planned by Free The Children Japan, and travel arrangements are handled by Alternative Tour Co., Ltd. Staff include tour producer Sanae Nakajima and facilitators Taichi Hirose, Yujiko Suzuki, and Ikue Nakatani. The application process includes an optional online briefing, document request, formal application, payment and document submission, a pre-departure learning session, and the departure-day meeting. Free The Children Japan began operating in Japan in 1999 as a partner organization of Free The Children, founded in Canada in 1995 to free children from poverty and exploitation. Alongside international cooperation in developing countries, the organization supports children and young people in Japan to become changemakers who address domestic and global issues. Program inquiries: info@ftcj.org / 03-6321-8948. Travel inquiries: Alternative Tour Co., Ltd., kanaya@alternative-tour.jp / 06-6409-4333.