Aiming to Reduce the Children's Experience Gap and Continue Experiential Activities: Applications Open for the 2026 'Sumisei After School Program' Implementing Organizations
After-School NPO and Sumitomo Life Insurance have begun accepting applications for the 2026 'Sumisei After School Program.' The initiative provides 50 after-school facilities nationwide with free experience programs and study sessions to help bridge the educational 'experience gap' among children.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 6, 2026 at 19:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 6, 2026 at 10:30
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 21, 2026 at 01:22 (350h 51m after Collected)
After-School NPO (hereafter 'After-School NPO'), a specified non-profit organization operating with the mission of 'Making after-school time across Japan a golden time,' is recruiting implementing organizations for the 2026 'Sumisei After School Program (supported by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology)', which is conducted in collaboration with Sumitomo Life Insurance Company (hereafter 'Sumitomo Life').
■ Background of the 'Sumisei After School Project'
In recent years, the 'experience gap'—where differences arise in the learning and experience opportunities children gain outside of school depending on their family's economic situation or the region they live in—has been pointed out as a social issue in Japan. In addition, the importance of adults listening to the voices of each individual child and supporting their growth while staying close to their wishes and thoughts is increasing.
Considering this situation, the Sumisei After School Project provides a 'Program selectable from 13 types' that targets after-school spaces for elementary school students, allowing children to encounter diverse experiences. At the same time, for operators of after-school businesses, we conduct study sessions to share knowledge on the significance of experiential activities and how to create spaces where children can spend time proactively, aiming to enrich after-school experience opportunities and improve the quality of these spaces.
Since the start in 2014, we have delivered the program to over 18,200 children at more than 550 locations nationwide (as of the end of March 2026). This fiscal year as well, the program is scheduled to be implemented at 50 locations nationwide, and a new program, 'Let's Play with Pantomime!', will be launched! Participants can experience the joy of expressing everything through body movements without using words.
■ 2026 Application Guidelines
(Providing a set of experiential programs themed on 'Life,' 'Health,' and 'Future,' alongside the 'After-School Study Session')
[Application Deadline] Sunday, May 24, 2026
[Target Organizations] Organizations conducting after-school activities for elementary school students, such as After-School Children's Clubs (Gakudo childcare), After-School Children's Classrooms, and after-school activity groups.
[Number of Organizations to be Recruited] 50 organizations
[Cost] Free
[How to Apply] Please apply via the application form on the following project website.
Sumisei After School Project: https://sumiseiafterschool.jp/
[Notification of Results] Selected implementing organizations will be contacted within approximately 2 months after the deadline.
■ Overview of the 'Sumisei After School Project'
Aiming to make after-school time for elementary school students richer, we will provide the following three contents free of charge.
■ Background of the 'Sumisei After School Project'
In recent years, the 'experience gap'—where differences arise in the learning and experience opportunities children gain outside of school depending on their family's economic situation or the region they live in—has been pointed out as a social issue in Japan. In addition, the importance of adults listening to the voices of each individual child and supporting their growth while staying close to their wishes and thoughts is increasing.
Considering this situation, the Sumisei After School Project provides a 'Program selectable from 13 types' that targets after-school spaces for elementary school students, allowing children to encounter diverse experiences. At the same time, for operators of after-school businesses, we conduct study sessions to share knowledge on the significance of experiential activities and how to create spaces where children can spend time proactively, aiming to enrich after-school experience opportunities and improve the quality of these spaces.
Since the start in 2014, we have delivered the program to over 18,200 children at more than 550 locations nationwide (as of the end of March 2026). This fiscal year as well, the program is scheduled to be implemented at 50 locations nationwide, and a new program, 'Let's Play with Pantomime!', will be launched! Participants can experience the joy of expressing everything through body movements without using words.
■ 2026 Application Guidelines
(Providing a set of experiential programs themed on 'Life,' 'Health,' and 'Future,' alongside the 'After-School Study Session')
[Application Deadline] Sunday, May 24, 2026
[Target Organizations] Organizations conducting after-school activities for elementary school students, such as After-School Children's Clubs (Gakudo childcare), After-School Children's Classrooms, and after-school activity groups.
[Number of Organizations to be Recruited] 50 organizations
[Cost] Free
[How to Apply] Please apply via the application form on the following project website.
Sumisei After School Project: https://sumiseiafterschool.jp/
[Notification of Results] Selected implementing organizations will be contacted within approximately 2 months after the deadline.
■ Overview of the 'Sumisei After School Project'
Aiming to make after-school time for elementary school students richer, we will provide the following three contents free of charge.