“Yell Delivery” Crowdfunding Support Sends Supplies and Encouragement to Young People Leaving Social Care

This project aims to prevent isolation and stabilize the lives of young people with experience in social care by delivering material support together with the message that “there are people cheering you on.” Hironobu Kubota, representative of the NPO Smiley Flowers, expressed gratitude for the warm support received for the organization’s crowdfunding campaign, “Yell Delivery.” Donations and words of encouragement are a major source of strength for the organization and will become meaningful support delivered to young people. “Yell Delivery” is an initiative that sends food, daily necessities, and the warm message that “someone cares about you” to young people who grew up under social care and have left care facilities. After entering society, many of these young people continue to move forward with their lives while facing anxiety and loneliness. Support from donors becomes an important connection that helps them feel they are not alone. The organization says it will responsibly deliver the support it has received to young people and continue to accompany them with care, helping them believe in their own potential and eventually grow into people who can support others in turn. Many young people raised in children’s homes, foster families, and similar environments are expected to become independent at the age of 18. According to a survey by Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, people with experience in social care have lower rates of higher education compared with those from general households and are more likely to face financial hardship and isolation. For young people with no family home to return to, rising prices and sudden expenses are serious challenges. An environment without trusted adults nearby can amplify anxiety and loneliness and make it harder to feel connected to society. In response to these issues, the project goes beyond simply providing supplies and seeks to create opportunities for young people to feel connected to society. “Yell Delivery” provides support packages worth about 5,000 yen, including shipping, to young people who have left children’s homes and related facilities in Fukuoka Prefecture. The packages include rice, ready-to-eat foods, daily necessities, and messages of encouragement. The project aims to achieve four effects: daily life support by providing food and necessities to young people affected by rising prices; psychological support by giving them the opportunity to feel they are not alone through encouraging messages; situation assessment by learning about their living conditions during the application process; and connection to ongoing support, including additional assistance and consultation when needed. Smiley Flowers says it has met many young people who were forced to give up on their dreams because of their circumstances. Sending supplies is not merely about goods; it is a clear expression of support. Through this project, the organization hopes to build a foundation that allows young people to live each day with peace of mind and expand their opportunities to take on future challenges. It aims to create a social cycle in which one person’s change spreads to those around them. The society the organization seeks is one where everyone can live as themselves while supporting one another. It envisions a society where opportunities are not limited by the environment in which someone was born or raised, where anyone can take on challenges with confidence, where people can say “help me” when they are in trouble and receive the response “it’s okay,” and where support is provided by society as a whole, regardless of blood ties or family background.