About Free The Children Japan
Free The Children Japan has been working since 1999 to ensure that all children’s rights are protected and to empower them to take action toward solving social issues.
Free The Children Japan is a nonprofit organization established in 1999 to support the mission of Free The Children, originally founded in 1995 by a 12-year-old Canadian boy determined to end child poverty.Alongside international development projects in countries including the Philippines, India, Kenya, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, we empower children and youth in Japan to become changemakers capable of tackling social challenges. Today, over 1,500 members are actively engaged in initiatives both at home and abroad.
In 2023, we were commissioned by the Children and Families Agency to lead research and create educational materials for a “Children’s Voice Facilitator Training Program.” This initiative brings together government agencies, local authorities, schools, NGOs, and businesses to help build a society that listens to and respects the views of children.
It all started with a 12-year-old boy.
Free The Children was founded in Canada by Craig Kielburger when he was just 12 years old. Here’s how Craig’s inspiring journey began.
That morning, Craig flipped through the Toronto Star in search of the comics, but he was struck by a story—a raw yet courageous account of a boy his age named Iqbal. Iqbal Masih was born in South Asia and sold into slavery at the age of four. In his short life, he had spent six years chained to a carpet-weaving loom. Iqbal captured the world’s attention by speaking out for children’s rights.
Eventually, Iqbal’s wide media coverage caught the attention of those who wished to silence him. At 12, Iqbal lost his life defending the rights of children. What Craig learned from Iqbal’s story was that the bravest voice can live in the smallest body. Craig had to do something. Craig gathered together a small group of his Grade 7 classmates from his Thornhill, Ontario, school and Free The Children was born.
In 1997, while in the United States, Sanae Nakajima—now Chairperson of the Board—came across a magazine article about Free The Children. Deeply moved by Craig’s actions and resonating with the organization’s mission, she felt compelled to introduce its vision to young people in Japan. In 1999, she founded the Japanese chapter. Since then, FTC-Japan has continued to grow, with over 1,500 youth members actively engaged today.
VISION
Empowering every child to believe:
the world can change.
MISSION
Free The Children Japan stands alongside children—members of society whose voices are too often unheard—respecting their perspectives and advocating for the protection of their rights. Guided by two core principles of Free (freedom), we strive to build a global society where children’s well-being is fully realized.
To Free Children from the Notion That They Are Powerless to Create Positive Change in the World.
Free Children from Poverty and Discrimination
Children’s well-being is fully realized.
Activities
We are working toward building an international society where children’s well-being is fully realized. Our activities include school-based lessons on children’s rights and social issues, overseas study tours for junior and senior high school students, and educational support for children living in impoverished communities around the world. Our work is carried out through five key pillars, all aimed at promoting a world where children’s well-being can truly thrive.
Our Five Core Programs To achieve our mission rooted in the two pillars of Free (freedom), we implement five core programs.
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Global Citizenship Education
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International Cooperation and Domestic Child Support
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Youth Leadership Development
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Empowering Youth-Led Social Action
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Advocacy and Partnership Building
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Global Citizenship Education
Cultivating awareness, empathy, and action through workshops and classroom programs focused on social issues and global interconnectedness.
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International Cooperation and Domestic Child Support
Promoting self-reliance and empowerment through educational initiatives in poverty-affected communities across India, the Philippines, Kenya, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Supporting children in Japan facing economic hardship through programs that build confidence and expand access to learning opportunities.
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Youth Leadership Development
Empowering young people with the skills and confidence to become changemakers in their communities and beyond.
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Empowering Youth-Led Social Action
Encouraging children to actively engage in solving social issues and contributing to their communities. Providing guidance, resources, and opportunities that nurture autonomy and amplify children’s voices, fostering their growth as compassionate and proactive changemakers.
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Advocacy and Partnership Building
Strengthening alliances with external organizations and networks to amplify public awareness of social issues. Expanding the circle of youth-led action by fostering collaboration and shared advocacy, creating a platform where children’s voices inspire collective change.
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Global Citizenship Education
Cultivating awareness, empathy, and action through workshops and classroom programs focused on social issues and global interconnectedness.
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International Cooperation and Domestic Child Support
Promoting self-reliance and empowerment through educational initiatives in poverty-affected communities across India, the Philippines, Kenya, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Supporting children in Japan facing economic hardship through programs that build confidence and expand access to learning opportunities.
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Youth Leadership Development
Empowering young people with the skills and confidence to become changemakers in their communities and beyond.
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Empowering Youth-Led Social Action
Encouraging children to actively engage in solving social issues and contributing to their communities. Providing guidance, resources, and opportunities that nurture autonomy and amplify children’s voices, fostering their growth as compassionate and proactive changemakers.
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Advocacy and Partnership Building
Strengthening alliances with external organizations and networks to amplify public awareness of social issues. Expanding the circle of youth-led action by fostering collaboration and shared advocacy, creating a platform where children’s voices inspire collective change.
Our Impact in Numbers
Over 10,000 people have become members and taken action across Japan.
213 young ambassadors have represented children and youth across the country.
17,379 children and youth under the age of 25 have submitted Social Action Reports based on the SDGs. (Since 2020 )
We have trained 1,500 facilitators who help empower children and bring out their voices and ideas.
We have delivered 1,307 on-site lessons, engaging 135,217 participants in learning about social issues and taking action.
Our 44 “Take Action” camps have welcomed 922 participants to learn about social issues and explore ways to take action.
Through 22 study tours, 453 participants have experienced firsthand the challenges faced in developing countries.
We have implemented 69 empowerment projects in 19 countries around the world.
Donation / Support
Thanks to your generous donations and heartfelt support, we are able to provide learning and social contribution opportunities to children in Japan, and deliver support and connection to children around the world.
Thanks to your generous donations and heartfelt support,
we are able to provide learning and social contribution opportunities to children in Japan,
and deliver support and connection to children around the world.
Here are some of the initiatives made possible through your support:
Provided lessons on children’s rights and more to over 1,300 elementary, junior high, high schools, and universities across Japan
Helped build over 1,500 schools and classrooms in more than 45 countries in partnership with WE Charity
Provided educational opportunities to over 200,000 children in Africa and Asia through our partnership with WE Charity
In partnership with the Preda Foundation in the Philippines, rescued and protected more than 5,000 children from human trafficking and unjust detention, and provided them with education and vocational training
Award
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2002
Craig Kielburger, founder of Free The Children, received the Ozaki Yukio Memorial Foundation’s Gakudo Award
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Since 2000
Free The Children and founder Craig Kielburger have been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize three times
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2007
Sanae Nakajima, founder and chair of the board, received the ‘Youth Leadership Award’ from Soroptimist International.
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2013
Nozomi Haramato, Deputy Executive Director, received the Ayus Award for Emerging NGO Leaders
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2016
Yukari Ishida,a staff member of our organization, received the 14th Saffron Award
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2017
Our crowdfunding project to support a school for the blind in the Philippines won the Readyfor Award
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2018
Received the JANIC NGO Organizational Strengthening Award (Women’s Leadership Category)
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2018
Chinatsu Kawamoto (now Kimura),a staff member of our organization, received the Ayus Award for Emerging NGO Leaders
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2023
The “Scare Hunger” Action Kit (food drive program) received the 2023 Consumer Education Teaching Material Award – Excellence Award
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2024
Received the Hakuhodo Foundation’s Hakuhō Award for educational innovation
A Message from the Representative Director
Hello everyone! I’m Sanae Nakajima, the representative director of Free The Children Japan. I was deeply inspired by the philosophy of Free The Children (now WE), which originated in Canada, and in 1999, I founded Free The Children Japan with the hope of introducing this vision to people in Japan, especially children and young people.
“Children are not just beings to be helped—they are the drivers of change.”
Through our ongoing activities, we have become more and more convinced of this truth. Children are not only the leaders of the future but also leaders today. At Free The Children Japan, we sincerely wish to create a world where no one is left behind by connecting and walking alongside many people.
Representative Director, Sanae Nakajima
Profile
Sanae Nakajima is the Representative Director of Free The Children Japan, a certified NPO. After working in the apparel industry, she became acquainted with Free The Children during an internship at a U.S. NGO and was inspired by its philosophy. In 1999, she established the organization in Japan and has since been actively involved in its activities. In 2007, she received the Youth Leadership Award from Soroptimist International. She is the author of Pia, a Girl from the Philippines (published by Otsuki Shoten) and co-author of the Children’s Basic Law Guidebook (published August 2024 by Kodomo no Mirai-sha). Since July 2022, she has served as a member of the Niigata City Children’s Rights Promotion Committee.