The program aims to support the development of human resources and the strengthening of business management capabilities of NPOs that are focused on social issues related to reducing disparities for children, youths, and women.
ETIC (Shibuya, Tokyo), which has been supporting the establishment and growth of NGOs and other organizations that strive to resolve social issues (“social sector”) for over 20 years, announced the launch of its new support program that targets management candidates in the social sector in collaboration with the Apollo Opportunity Foundation and Common Light LLC. The parties hereby announce the selection of ten organizations as recipients of such support program during its second term (September to November 2024).
The Background
According to a survey conducted by the Japan Cabinet Office, approximately 66% of certified NPOs has described “securing and educating personnel” as the top challenge in achieving stable management. This trend has not changed over the past decade.
The structural factor giving rise to this issue is that NPOs and social sectors tend to have only a few people with experience training others within the organization and there is no appropriate training system in place, especially during the expansion and growth phase of such organizations. In addition, because managers at such organizations tend to have very limited opportunities to form horizontal connections outside their own organizations, they are often forced to train themselves without any external resources.
This program aims to address the opportunity gap for children, young people and women by supporting the development of managerial talent in the social sector and creating social impact by facilitating more stable business operations at relevant NPOs.
Program Overview
The biggest feature of this program is that it does not just involve providing a framework, but also accompanies participants through the entire cycle from articulating the outcomes they want to achieve, taking action and learning from failures.
■Program GoalsThe program will support participants in learning the following four basic skills and gaining practical experience in managerial tasks on-the-job, so that participants can enjoy being managers in their own way:
・Articulating intended accomplishments and specifying the actions necessary to achieve such accomplishments
・Developing personal criteria for clear decision-making
・Designing the team that needs to be created
・Creating an organizational environment that facilitates the implementation of the relevant management style
■Program Contents
First Group Training Session: September 5, 2024 (Thursday) 13:00-20:00
・Overview of the situation in which new managers find themselves.
・Articulating intended accomplishments and methods.
・Setting personal standards for making good decisions.
Second Group Training Session: October 3, 2024 (Thursday) 13:00-18:00
・Creating a clear image of a team.
・Articulating the desired team image.
・Setting the environment and conditions for achieving managerial success.
Third Group Training Session: November 21, 2024 (Thursday) 13:00-20:00
・Organizing the challenges within the organization, business and environment.
・Articulating target accomplishments as a manager.
・Listening to other participants’ presentations and providing feedback.
In addition, the program offers one-on-one support necessary for implementing the skills learned through these training sessions within the participants’ organizations and offers a community for inter-organizational consultation.
Second Term Participating Organizations
After a rigorous selection process, we selected 17 managers from ten organizations to participate in the program.
ADDS
・Location：Suginami, Tokyo
・Business Description：Provides specialized support for children with developmental disabilities or tendencies, and their families, based on knowledge from developmental psychology and applied behavior analysis. The organization engages in the research and development of parent training programs, training for support staff, and building a network to promote effective developmental support.
Education A³
・Location：Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture
・Business Description：With the mission “Creating a society where children can thrive as themselves,” they operate the alternative school “Study Place,” which serves as a substitute for traditional schools. The organization feature a curriculum offering individualized learning through ICT, combined with necessary social learning and experiences. It also provides a scholarship system for households facing financial difficulties.
Kamonohashi Project
・Location：Shibuya, Tokyo
・Business Description：With the mission “Creating a world where everyone’s dignity is respected and nurtured,” the organization tackles human trafficking in India and addresses child abuse in Japan. In Matsudo City, Chiba Prefecture, they support isolated pregnant women, and through a national network, they assist young people leaving children’s homes or foster families without financial support.
Parenting Mutual Support Network Man
・Location：Kawasaki, Kanagawa
・Business Description：With the vision of “Creating communities where we raise not just our own children, but everyone’s children together,” the organization runs regional childcare support centers in Kawasaki City, Kanagawa. They offer a wide range of childcare support services, including the “Mom’s Helper Concierge” and children’s developmental support centers.
Silent Voice
・Location：Osaka, Osaka Prefecture
・Business Description：Provides educational services specializing in deaf and hard-of-hearing children. The organization operates the after-school daycare service “Deaf Academy” designed for the Osaka city and the nationwide online education program “Circle O” for children. It provides a place of belonging and growth for children who lack sufficient support and are isolated.
Switch
・Official Website：https://switch-sendai.org
・Location：Sendai, Miyagi
・Business Description：Their vision is “Creating a well-being society where young people with a future can hold hope and respect diverse values.” In Miyagi Prefecture, they provide work preparation support, school re-entry support, and a place for young people who face anxiety or difficulties with working or learning, based on mental care.
D×P
・Official Website：https://www.dreampossibility.com
・Location：Osaka, Osaka Prefecture
・Business Description：They are working to resolve the isolation of youth who face various challenges such as school refusal, dropping out, or economic difficulties. The “Yukisaki Chat” LINE consultation service, with over 14,000 registered users, provides nationwide online consultations. The organization also offers food and cash support to economically struggling youth.
Futerasu
・Location：Niigata, Niigata Prefecture
・Business Description：They provide life and legal counseling, , as well as awareness-raising content, to isolated and impoverished women working in the commercial sex work industry across Japan. Since starting consultation sessions in Ueno, Tokyo, in 2015, they have handled consultations from over 10,000 individuals.
Code for Everyone
・Official Website：https://code.or.jp
・Location：Yokohama, Kanagawa
・Business Description：With the vision of “Creating a nation where everyone can creatively enjoy technology,” the organization is working to advance information and technology education in elementary, junior high, and high schools. They operate creative hubs where children can access free technology education, regardless of their environment, and actively engage in teacher training, material development, and policy proposals for revisions to educational guidelines in the 2030s.
Learning for All
・Location：Shinjuku, Tokyo
・Business Description： With the mission of “Providing a Fundamental Solution to Child Poverty”, providing learning support and places for children in difficulty. Aiming to provide seamless support from early age to independence, creating “connection,” “learning environments” and “nurturing” environments” in cooperation with various local stakeholders, and practicing “comprehensive community-based child support” that provides all necessary support and opportunities for children from ages 6 to 18.
About The Project Team
Apollo Global Management and Apollo Opportunity Foundation
ETIC
Commonlight LLC
