We envision a society in which
every foster child can live in happiness.

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Bridge for Smile (B4S) supports foster children who cannot depend on their parents to overcome disparities in “hope” and “security” and gain the courage to face the future.

B4S helps foster children who cannot depend on their parents due to reasons such as abuse and neglect acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to live independently after they leave their foster placements at the age of 18.
B4S achieves this through various support programs made possible by countless volunteers and corporate/organization partners.

The Children

In Japan today, the child guidance offices cannot keep up with the continuing increase in child abuse. There are not enough group homes and foster families to take in the abused children. While some children go unnoticed in their homes and are not even put under temporary protection, 45,000 others who cannot live with their parents due to reasons such as abuse, parental illness, and/or parental imprisonment live in group homes or with foster families. When these children turn 18 years old, they must leave their foster placements (“nests”) and stand on their own two feet.

In most families, the parents (“parent birds”) teach their children (“chicks”) how to “fly” and “feed themselves” before sending them off on their own. However, foster children who cannot depend on their parents must leave their “nests” when they turn 18 without proper preparation or practice. In addition, they are no longer eligible to receive governmental assistance. Financial problems, small stumbles at work, loneliness, anxiety… When faced with these issues, many children struggle alone, keeping their thoughts bottled up inside. Unable to confide in anyone, they often find themselves in deeper trouble. Once these children leave their foster placements, they lose their “nests” to return to for temporary comfort when they become ill or lose their jobs.

The Issues

Bridge for Smile helps children in foster care overcome disparities in “hope” and “security” and gain the courage to face the future.

DISPARITY IN
SECURITY

Children who leave their foster placements and become independent have no social safety net or in other words, no “security.” They have no family to support them financially or to give them advice or encouragement when they most need it.

DISPARITY IN
HOPE

Children in foster care find it difficult to find hope in their future and maintain motivation to keep moving forward due to their past traumas.

Our Programs

In order for youths to maintain their motivation and feel secure facing the world on their own, it is critical that they are prepared. Bridge for Smile programs teach junior high and high school students living in foster care the skills necessary to live on their own. We also aim to boost their interest in, and motivation towards working. Below are two of our representative programs:

“Sudachi” (leaving the nest) Project

A program that teaches high school seniors basic skills for living independently

This is Bridge for Smile’s flagship program for high school seniors facing independence in the immediate future. It is a series of 6 seminars, 1 seminar every month for 6 months. Bridge for Smile has been running this program ever since its establishment. Same-aged youths from various group homes gather for this seminar together with almost an equal number of adult volunteers to support them. They gain knowledge and skills necessary to live on their own including how to move houses, keep track of finances, and protect themselves from danger. The youths also learn how to build relationships with people they meet for the first time. These seminars serve as a place for the youths to find fellow peers with whom they can confide in after “leaving their nests.”

Internship

A multiple day internship experience to learn about interests and strengths

This is a program where youths go “into the field” for a few days as interns and learn about a job firsthand. Together with Bridge for Smile’s contact at the internship company, the youths’ group home staff, and Bridge for Smile staff, the youths set their goals before the internship and review their experiences afterwards. This program not only nurtures perspectives on working but also gives the youths confidence that they have been “trusted” and “recognized,” leading to growth.

VISION

We envision a society in which
every foster child can live in happiness.

MISSION

Bridging to the Future

Bridge for Smile supports foster children who cannot depend on their parents to overcome disparities in “hope” and “security” and gain the courage to face the future.

Message from the
Chief Executive Officer

“You can live the life you want if you work hard – ganbatte!”
This is what I used to say to the children when I first founded Bridge for Smile with the intent of encouraging them.
The children struggling with poverty and abuse, however, were thinking “There are many things in life I can’t do anything about even if I work hard” and “Trying doesn’t help anything.” At that time, I did not understand the fears and despairs these children who had no parents to depend on faced.

“I will be okay even if I can’t count on my parents.”
It is the adults’ responsibility, not the children’s, to create a society where children in foster care can say this and smile from the bottom of their hearts. Please lend us your hand in creating a society where children who cannot depend on their parents can envision and create a future that excites them.

Bridge for Smile
Chief Executive Officer
Keiko Hayashi

Ways to help

  • 5,000 yen

    This donation will pay for a starter kit (hair dryer, electric kettle, etc.) for a youth starting to live on his/her own.

  • 10,000 yen

    This donation will pay for in-depth one-on-one support for a youth starting to live on his/her own.

  • 30,000 yen

    This donation will pay for a paid internship opportunity for a youth looking for a new job. The youth is paid in cash according to the number of days worked.

About us

Name of Organization
NPO Bridge for Smile
Date of Foundation
December 4, 2004
Chief Executive Officer
Keiko Hayashi

Bridge for Smile

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