Some mothers blame me for being disqualified as a mother...
NEWS reprint
August 8 Morning Edition
A fun summer vacation. However, there are children who cannot go on trips due to family economic conditions (photo is an image)
"It would be nice if there was no summer vacation" Children's experience gap spreading due to high prices
Mainichi Newspaper Getty
There are children who do not have opportunities to experience such as traveling and swimming because of their family's economic condition.Such "experience gap" stands out during summer vacation.
In a survey conducted by a private organization targeting households raising children in economic difficulties, 16% of respondents (about 1 in 6 households) answered that the experience budget during the summer vacation is "0 yen."
Have a memorable adventure ― ― We covered the scene that challenges to eliminate the experience gap.
The sand of the Sahara desert is also an experience
About 80% of the world s population lives in some 150 developing countries.
"Eh!"
On July 28, in Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo, more than 20 parents and children gathered at the Earth Plaza of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and raised their voices of surprise.
Yuki Kanemoto, a JICA Overseas Cooperation Volunteer who was assigned to Uganda in the eastern part of Africa, introduced an episode in which she struggled with whether to accept a beggar boy in front of her.
There was also an opportunity to touch Ugandan banknotes, and the participants experienced a foreign country from the feel and smell.
It is one of the "Children's Adventure Bank" that Tokyo's certified NPO "Florence" started in August 2024.
So far, 27 corporations that have agreed with the project have cooperated with the project. They offer opportunities such as airline factory tours, T-shirt making, and concerts free of charge. In August, they are also planning to watch soccer and J-League games and experience activities in the forest.
As of the end of June, the number of households that had registered as members for participation exceeded 1,500.
Many of the children who participated on July 28 were elementary school students. They enjoyed their own time by taking pictures wearing ethnic costumes from around the world and touching the sand of the Sahara Desert. Finally, they enjoyed ethnic food at the cafe in the facility.
To eliminate the gap of experience "opportunity"
There was a girl who eagerly took notes while listening to Kanemoto's experience.
He is a sixth grader from Saitama Prefecture who participated with his mother in her 40s. He touched on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), saying, "I learned it in school, but the stories I heard directly from the local people were more detailed and easier to understand."
My mother also says this.
"I appreciate the free experience, but it's hard to find it from scratch. Just picking up information about opportunities like this is helpful."
We asked Kohei Maeda, manager of Kodomo Adventure Bank, about the current situation of experience disparity.
"If only parents are responsible for whether or not children can respond when they want to do this, disparities will inevitably arise due to various circumstances. What needs to be solved is the gap in experience and opportunity."
Local community ties are fading, rising prices are hurting households, and the experience gap is widening.
"If you can't feel contact with society, isolation and loneliness will deepen. An environment where you can feel support and support from society is important, and I want to provide it as an adventure."
"Are you disqualified as a mother?"
The Share Cinema project is being developed by Charity Santa, a certified NPO based in Tokyo.
During the spring and summer when schools are closed for a long time, digital tickets that can be used at movie theaters will be provided free of charge to families in need.
Tickets were given to about 1,000 people in the summer of 2012, about 3,000 people between this spring break and the big holiday, and about 4,000 people this summer.
From the parents who applied, the following voice was received (in parentheses is the child's grade).
"Because I have work, I can't spend time together as much as I want, and I can't afford it financially, so I can't give you enjoyable experiences such as leisure and travel. I feel disqualified as a mother if I can't give you pleasant memories in such a situation, and I may be depressed." (4th grade)
"Children's films are released mainly during the summer vacation, but I have never been there yet. Recently, my children have started comforting me by saying that if I wait a little longer, I can watch them on TV." (5th grade)
70% are summer vacation "melancholy"
Charity Santa has been sending Santa Claus to families that request donations and providing gifts and experience opportunities for children in difficult situations such as poverty and disaster.
In order to understand the actual situation of summer vacation, an online questionnaire was conducted from the end of June to the beginning of July this year. 3,871 households with economic difficulties responded, and 16.6% (641 households) responded that their children s leisure and experience budget during the summer vacation period was 0 yen. In fact, it corresponds to about 1 in 6 households.
The painful heart of the guardian was also highlighted.
When asked whether summer vacation with children is "melancholy" or "fun," 72.5% chose "melancholy."
"I have to make a bento, rice is still expensive, and food costs are high. I don't have an air conditioner in my house, so I'm worried about heat stroke." "A wealthy house is good, but it's only painful when there's no money or vacation. I hope summer vacation disappears." (Junior High School 2)
Everyone around me is taking a day off from the nursery school for summer vacation, but it is sad that I only go to the nursery school without taking a day off at all. Since I am an elementary school student from this year, summer vacation when school meals are gone is more fear than depression (1st grade)
Representative Director Kiyosuke Natsuteru is calling for donations with the following comment.
"Against the backdrop of soaring prices, the 'experience gap' of summer vacation is isolating children. Some children end up talking about memories they have not really experienced because of conversations with friends. Memories that remain in the heart of childhood will be a great power to support their lives afterwards." [Kohei Chiwaki] (Reprint / End)
私は子どもが夏休みを迎えるたびに、家庭の経済状況からどんな体験をさせてあげられるか悩みます。周囲の友達が旅行やイベントに行く中、自分の子どもがそれらを経験できないことに、時には自分を責めてしまうこともありました。この記事で紹介されている「こども冒険バンク」や「チャリティーサンタ」のように、無料で体験機会を提供してくれる団体の存在を知り、心から救われた気持ちになりました。 私も実際に利用したことがありますが、子どもが普段触れることのない世界の文化や自然に触れる機会は、学びだけでなく自信や好奇心を育む貴重な時間となりました。特に、民族衣装を着て写真を撮ったり、サハラ砂漠の砂に触れたりする体験は、教科書だけでは得られないリアルな異文化体験として鮮明に記憶に残っています。 また、子どもと過ごす夏休みが「憂鬱」と感じる保護者の声には共感します。私も仕事と家事の両立で時間がなく、どうしてもレジャーを楽しませてあげられずに落ち込む時がありました。しかし、こうした体験支援の情報を得ることで、自分だけで背負い込まず社会の支えを活用できることに気づきました。 体験格差の背景には、物価高騰やひとり親家庭、障害者家庭などさまざまな事情があります。社会全体で支援の輪を広げることで、どんな環境にあっても子どもたちが夏休みの思い出を持てるようになってほしいと思います。経済的な理由で制限されることなく、子どもが自由に「冒険」できる環境をつくることは、その後の人生における自信や人間関係の土 台を築く大切な一歩だと感じます。
