Protecting Children's Future Through Multi-Generational Connections: Report on Pioneering Free Tutoring Practices on June 13 (Sat) [Kanagawa]

The Kanagawa Yume Social Welfare Foundation (Headquarters: Shin-Yokohama, Kohoku-ku, Yokohama; Chairperson: Junko Fujita), established by the Pal System Kanagawa Consumers' Cooperative (Headquarters: Shin-Yokohama, Kohoku-ku, Yokohama; Chairperson: Junko Fujita), will hold a lecture on Saturday, June 13, from 14:15 to 16:45 at Space Alter (Shin-Yokohama, Kohoku-ku, Yokohama). Mr. Takayuki Komiya, who has operated a free tutoring school for 14 years, will discuss the essential approach of accompaniment in educational support for children facing difficult circumstances. The lecture fee is the children's smiles. In 2012, Mr. Komiya founded the free tutoring school 'Hachioji Tsubame Juku', staffed by volunteer instructors, to support children from families who, for various reasons, find it difficult to secure a learning environment. The school provides free individual lessons primarily for third-year junior high school students aiming for higher education, and supports families economically through food assistance and scholarship grants. In his lecture, Mr. Komiya will convey the importance of maintaining hope for higher education for the 350 children he has supported, and share the practices of the free tutoring school that has walked alongside them, believing in their potential and adapting to each family's circumstances. What children learn, in addition to studying for advancement, is the sight of volunteer instructors who, after finishing their own work or classes, travel to Hachioji at their own expense to teach them earnestly. He will report on 14 years of accompaniment support, hoping that children, who have few opportunities to meet adults other than their parents and teachers, will gain connections with people from diverse backgrounds who rejoice in seeing their smiles and learning, and come to think, 'Someday I want to help others too.' Following Mr. Komiya's lecture, a cross-talk session will feature university students who volunteer in the foundation's learning support program 'Manabirejji', discussing the significance, challenges, and current issues of their activities. 'What We Teach is Hope. The Power of Accompaniment Support: Walking Beside Children' Event Overview [Date and Time] Saturday, June 13, 2026, 14:15 - 16:45 (Doors open at 13:45) ■ Keynote Lecture (80 minutes) 　Speaker: Takayuki Komiya (Chairperson, Certified NPO Corporation Hachioji Tsubame Juku) Born in Tokyo in 1977. After graduating from the Faculty of Literature at Kokugakuin University and working as a part-time lecturer at a private high school, he established the free tutoring school 'Hachioji Tsubame Juku' in 2012. It became an NPO corporation in 2013, and has sent over 350 graduates to high schools and universities. He advises those aspiring to run free tutoring schools and has supported the establishment of over 50 such schools nationwide. He currently also serves as the chairperson of the NPO Corporation Tokyo Tsubame Free Tutoring School and works as a part-time lecturer at Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences and a private high school. ■ Cross-talk Session (40 minutes) 　Reporters: Current volunteers of the Kanagawa Yume Social Welfare Foundation [Venue] Space Alter (Alternative Living Hall B1, 2-8-4 Shin-Yokohama, Kohoku-ku, Yokohama) [Venue Map] https://maps.app.goo.gl/HsjAPKiKq7B3MzUR8 [Access] 6-minute walk from 'Shin-Yokohama Station' on JR, Yokohama Municipal Subway, Sotetsu/Tokyu Shin-Yokohama Line [Registration] https://kanayume-kouenkai2026.peatix.com/ [Admission] Free [Capacity] 80 people [Organizer] Kanagawa Yume Social Welfare Foundation [Supported by] Pal System Kanagawa Consumers' Cooperative, Kanagawa Shimbun, Yokohama City Board of Education, Kawasaki City Board of Education, Sagamihara City Board of Education, Kanagawa Prefectural Workers' Welfare Council Event Flyer d6976-1206-b4cfff61eaff3ee24e1dfed1e6142aa0.pdf Call for Participation in the Learning and Watching Support Group The Kanagawa Yume Social Welfare Foundation began operating a scholarship program primarily for high school students in 2018. By the end of fiscal year 2025, it had provided non-repayable scholarships to a total of 137 students, and this year it has welcomed 20 new recipients. In addition to monthly scholarships of 10,000 yen and preparation grants for enrollment and graduation, the foundation provides accompaniment-style support through learning assistance by university student volunteers, provision of cultural and social experiences, and the establishment of a consultation desk. These activities are funded by 4,049 'Kanagawa Yume Scholarship Student Supporters' who are users of Pal System Kanagawa, and donations through the foundation's 'Yume Tsunagu Support Group', where supporters can choose a monthly contribution amount ranging from 100 to 500 yen. The foundation's website also continuously calls for donations. https://kanagawa-s.or.jp/support-2/ Pal System Kanagawa will continue to collaborate with various organizations that watch over children's growth, aiming to create a society where everyone can thrive. Pal System Kanagawa Consumers' Cooperative Location: Shin-Yokohama Traffic Building, 3-18-16 Shin-Yokohama, Kohoku-ku, Yokohama; Chairperson: Junko Fujita Capital: 119.8 billion yen; Number of Members: 368,000; Total Business Volume: 57.02 billion yen (as of end of March 2025) HP: https://www.palsystem-kanagawa.coop/ Pal System Consumers' Cooperative Union Location: Lakuas Higashi-Shinjuku, 2-2-6 Okubo, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo; Chairperson: Atsushi Shibusawa Total Business Volume of 13 member cooperatives and unified system users: 260.42 billion yen; Total Number of Members: 1.762 million (as of end of March 2025) Member Cooperatives: Pal System Tokyo, Pal System Kanagawa, Pal System Chiba, Pal System Saitama, Pal System Ibaraki Tochigi, Pal System Yamanashi Nagano, Pal System Gunma, Pal System Fukushima, Pal System Shizuoka, Pal System Niigata Tokimeki, Pal System Mutual Aid Federation, Saitama Prefectural Workers' Cooperative, Ai Coop Miyagi HP: https://www.pal-system.co.jp/