Connecting as a “trustworthy friend”
In Japan, over 40,000 children live in social care, including those living with foster families.1 These children are forced to stand on their own once they reach the age of 18, and many of them struggle to adjust to their new lives and become financially independent. Maki Ōyabu founded Hakobune in 2012 to reach out to and support these youths.
Last November, an oden2 party was held at Tomo Café, a meeting place operated by Hakobune in Chiba. Six girls who had just left their foster facilities attended. While one of them explodes in laughter and another chatters continuously, one sits away from the group and stares into her smartphone. “Each one of them carries different burdens,” shares Ōyabu. “Foster children are provided with food, clothing, and shelter at their homes, but not spiritual nurturing. These youths grow up not knowing what it is to be loved and have a hard time trusting other people. To suddenly make these children live on their own in this society is like forcing them to fly without a running start. Those who grew up in a warm and loving family have their parents as role models and are able to fly. But these children, who may look like adults on the outside, are easily shaken when they face challenges because they lack that foundation. That is exactly why we are here to support them.”
Prior to starting Hakobune, Ōyabu had visited a foster care facility every month for five years. One day, a girl confessed to Ōyabu her fear of being forced to leave the facility in the future. Realizing that other children shared the same fear, Ōyabu decided to become a “trustworthy friend” who would continue to keep in touch with these children after they left their foster facilities. The name “Hakobune” means Noah’s ark in Japanese and was chosen with hopes that the service would be a “safe space” for the children. This decade was full of ups and downs, but five of Hakobune’s fostered youths were baptized and one of them now works on staff at Tomo Café. “Because God loves us with patience, we also continue to be actively involved with patience,” smiles Ōyabu.
From Christian Shimbun, January 29, 2023
Translated by Hiromi Terukina
1. Hakobune, “はこぶねとは About Us,” https://hakobune201705.net (accessed July 20, 2023).
2. Oden is a popular winter hotpot dish.