CaSA-NPO

It is common knowledge that the number of foreigners living in Japan has been increasing recently. In Hokkaido University alone, there are currently about 1000 foreign students. Other colleges or Universities also have many foreign students. In addition many foreigners also come to work in Japan. Many of them bring their families. Perhaps this is your situation. In Japan you can have many rich and meaningful experiences. But some of you may have a few problems. The most obvious difficulty is trying to understand the language. It goes without saying that you feel uncomfortable, and perhaps stressed about it. If your child goes to a Japanese school you may have trouble communicating with the teachers. We are CaSA, and we support foreign children (and parents) who study in Japanese schools and kindergartens.

Join us, and increase your circle of friends in Japan!

Our purpose

1. We offer support to schoolchildren who have come from abroad; we help them cope with any difficulties, and we try to enhance their experience of studying in Japan.
2. We want to encourage the child to become a bridge between the two countries (mother country and Japan)
3. We hold events for children and teachers to study cross-cultural international understanding

Who benefits?

1. Foreign children and parents
2. Japanese students and teachers
3. Japanese children and parents who have an interest in cross-cultural understanding

What we do

1. When a child enters the schoo or kindergartenl, we interpret or translate the documents from Japanese to his/her mother tongue.
2. We translate any important information from the school or kindergarten.
3. We can translate when the child has a medical check-up in school.
4. In emergencies, we can visit the school and interpret if a teacher requires our support.
5. We can explain about the child's country's customs, culture and religion, if there is a misunderstanding.
6. We can support teachers who have to make minor alterations in the school curriculum.
7. We organize events which are open to the public, in order to encourage cross-cultural education and communication.

Membership

1. The membership fee is 2000 Yen per year.
2. Members can attend our events and receive our news letters.
3. Volunteer members will help us support children as interpreters or doing some translation when a school or parent have a specific request.

In the future, we would like to be able to pay volunteers for interpreting or translating. But the most important thing is your willingness to cooperate, using your language proficiency. If you want to join us, please apply using this form, or call this number: 011-753-26708 (Sakaehigashi Elementary School, ask for Mrs. Tanase).

If you want to become a Volunteer interpreter or translator, we will conduct a brief interview with you.