Report on Spring Program 2024
What can we do to make a society that is open to challenges for the young generation?
Overview
BEYOND Tomorrow brings together young people who have experienced difficulties in their upbringing, but who aspire to create their own future. During programs held throughout the year, we provide opportunities for students to learn and grow by sharing values with their peers, learning different perspectives and ways of thinking, and discovering new possibilities for themselves.
Spring Program 2024, a face-to-face program was held for BEYOND Tomorrow scholarship students (both high school and college-level students, in total 51 students) on March 24th to 26th 2024.
This program was held as a closing program for students in the class of 2023, and as an orientation program for those in the class of 2024.
The students did a presentation on a topic “What can we do to make a society that is open to challenges for the young generation?”
Organizer
Global Fund for Education Assistance
Support
Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group
Green Core, Ltd
GA CREOUS
Be-3 Co., Ltd.
Participants
12 high school students from Endeavor Program 2023, BEYOND Tomorrow
13 high school students from Endeavor Program 2024, BEYOND Tomorrow
11 college-level students from Japan Future Scholarship Program 2023, BEYOND Tomorrow
8 college-level students from Japan Future Scholarship Program 2024, BEYOND Tomorrow
1 college-level student from Japan Future Fellowship Program 2023, BEYOND Tomorrow
6 college-level students from Internship Program 2023, BEYOND Tomorrow
Venue
Yoyogi and Takao in Tokyo
Schedule
Day 1
Orientation, Ice breaking activities, Sharing Experiences (BEYOND Night), Discussion activity
Day 2
Mt. Takao walking session, Speaker session, Exchange with alumni, Discussion activity
Day 3
Presentation and closing ceremony, Internship activity report, Reflection and goal setting session
Highlights
Sharing Experiences (“BEYOND Night”)
We conduct an experience-sharing session (BEYOND Night) at each face-to-face program where we talk about each other to develop empathetic leaders. We share each person’s background, future aspirations, and experiences and struggles that they have yet to fully accept by themselves, while accepting the other person and building a relationship.
Speaker Session
We had Ms. Kiyoko OJIMA, a director of NPO Know School. She talked about her work at Know School to connect homeless and shut-in people with agriculture which is in short of human resources. Additionally, she spoke about how to face challenges from various points of view.
Exchanges with alumni
We try to regularly engage our alumni in our programs in order our current students to have a role model for their future. In this program, we had three alumni and did a small interview about how their experiences in BEYOND Tomorrow have influenced their lives.
Presentation
The students did a presentation on a topic “What can we do to make a society that is open to challenges for young generation?”
We had 6 guests to have some comments for each group to make the students’ ideas more realistic. This was a great opportunity for people of all generations to think about the topic.
Speaker Session 2
We had Mr. Koichiro YOSHIDA, a president and CEO of Crowd Works, Inc. He talked about the history and current changes of economy and human movement. It was inspiring for the students who thought about challenges during this program.
The Comments of the Students
Student H from Endeavor program 2023
Thinking about a society where young people can easily take on challenges, I realized that many Japanese are still hesitant to take on challenges because they are still rooted in the idea that failure is a waste of time, which can still be felt in their daily lives. Instead of avoiding failure out of fear of what others may think, I will continue to challenge myself with a strong will to do what I want to achieve and what I love.
Student K from Japan future scholarship program 2023
I felt that people who help me grow up are next to me right now. In my future life, I may encounter people who I feel are difficult to relate. At that time, I would like to think “This person is the one who makes me grow up,” and be thankful for them.
Student S from Endeavor program 2024
In this program, I experienced thinking about how we should create the right environment and mindset to take on challenges. I believe that life is a series of challenges, no matter how big or small, so there are many areas that can be applied to myself and society.
Student K from Japan future scholarship program 2024
Through “Sharing experiences” activity, I have gradually become able to convey my thoughts and feelings to others. I have been able to accept my past a little more because there were moments when my past was not only negative but also positive because I felt my experience could be helpful for others.
Student N from Endeavor program 2024
Until now, I had been so concerned about others, whether it was myself, my mother, or my siblings, that I could not act honestly with my own feelings or express my thoughts openly and honestly. However, after this program, I have become less concerned about what others think of me and have become more proactive and mindful not to suppress my own thoughts and feelings.
