Working with children who will create the future

“Hibi no kate o… (Give us our daily bread…)” The children’s energetic praise and prayers can be heard. This is the “Waiwai Children’s Club” at the Ibaraki YMCA Higashi Arai Center in Tsukuba City, Ibaraki Prefecture. Right now, the children gathered at the afterschool care center are having afternoon snacks. This year marks the 30th anniversary of this work by the YMCA.

Responding to the needs of families with Biblical values

The Ibaraki YMCA currently runs four centers in Tsukuba City and Ushiku City. Its work is with early childhood education, including kindergartens and nursery schools, the “Wai Wai Children’s Club” afterschool care center, an afterschool day service for children with disabilities, summer and winter camps, and sports classes. All of these opportunities work with children who will create the future. We interviewed Yasuo Miyata, general manager, and Nobuhiko Itō, deputy general manager.

How many children are there?

Itō: The number of children enrolled in the children’s clubs is 150 here in Higashi Arai, 40 in Ushiku, 100 in Midori, and about 120 in Ōsone. The fact that we can take care of children until 9:00 pm seems to be attractive, since many parents are essential workers or single parents.

Miyata: When we started in 2004, there were not that many kids and activities were held only three days a week. But many people thought it would be good if they could leave their children with us until the evening. The following year, we expanded to five days a week. When we went to talk to the Tsukuba City Board of Education, at first they said, “Just do what you want.” But as the number of children increased, they began to notice us more, and in 2010 we were certified as the “Wai Wai Children’s Club.” We started taking business fees and became financially stable.

I heard a prayer of thanksgiving before the meal earlier.

Itō: We do it not only at children’s clubs but also at nursery schools. This isn’t just about whether we pray or not. It is important for the YMCA to stand on biblical values and pass them on, no matter what program we do. If all you want to do is let them play without injuring themselves until their parents come to pick them up, there is no need for the YMCA to do it.

Not “teachers” but other human beings?

Miyata: At the YMCA, children call all staff members by their nicknames. I want the children to see me not as a teacher, but as an adult who is a good example.

What is your nickname?

Miyata: It’s “Sōri.” Not “Prime Minister,” but from “I’m sorry.” The kids say that I say “I’m sorry” a lot. A boy named Satō-kun gave me that name about 20 years ago, shortly after I arrived here. They watch us very closely.

It must be difficult to have everyone share the same philosophy.

Itō: We have 50 full-time staff and 100 part-time staff. In total, 40% are Christians, which is the highest percentage among the 34 YMCAs in Japan.

It is certainly difficult to share our philosophy. The professional staff in particular have formed much of their views from experience. That is not enough. But the volunteer leaders, many of whom are university students, are passing on the YMCA’s unique characteristics, as the senior staff mentor the younger ones.

Miyata: I would like to see more Christian staff members. That is why we signed a comprehensive cooperation agreement with Tokyo Christian University (TCU) in 2021. So far, two graduates have come to work for us as staff members.

Has there been any cooperation with churches in the past?

Miyata: The history of the Ibaraki YMCA goes back to 1975, when the Tsukuba Christian Activities Committee (TCAC) of the United Church of Christ in Japan was established. The Ibaraki YMCA was established in 1994, and 101 churchgoers registered as members, whose help continues to support our work today.

I guess you need the cooperation of the church even more.

Miyata: There are still people we don’t reach, and there are probably many people in need whom we don’t know about. Two years ago, we started a Mongolian language supplementary school on Saturdays. The impetus for this came from a Mongolian woman who came to our Japanese language class and told us that there were many Mongolians in Tsukuba. I had probably seen Mongolian children before, but I wasn’t aware of the need.

We must be more attentive. Then our work will expand. We also need more cooperation from the church. Most of our ministry is to people who do not know God. I think the church can also have more contact with society through the YMCA.

From Christian Shimbun, September 11, 2024
Translated by David McIntyre with DeepL