A prefectural charity is very easy and enjoyable to set up, can offer JETs a positive focus for their many talents, and is also a valuable source of cultural information for Japanese students and the wider Japanese community as a whole. All Everest of Apples took was two people, a little time, and the goodwill of the Aomori JET community. There really is everything to gain!
Below are a few pointers on how to go about doing this:
Someone to get the ball rolling
A prefectural charity can easily be set up by one person alone. All it takes is a bit of time, initiative and confidence. If, however, you are concerned about starting a new venture on your own, working in a pair, or with three friends, is great fun too. It also spreads the workload, often proves that many heads are better than one, and offers those involved mutual support. As word of the charity spreads, the number of people keen to lend a hand also increases, and the project will take on a momentum of its own.
Finding a suitable project
This can be quite a challenge, especially if you have no experience in this field. EofA however is happy to help. Thanks to our close links with NEST in Nepal, we can help you find a project both relevant and appealing to the specific group whose support you will be seeking (eg JETs in your prefecture). The volunteer section on the jetsetjapan website also offers a wealth of relevant information. A local project is also a possibility that might encourage Japanese participation.
Taking your time and being confident
Many people interested in setting up a prefectural charity think that finding out people's response to the idea of a charity before they go about setting it up is a good starting point. On the whole, this will not prove to be the case. Rather, it is better to focus on setting up the framework of a charity that is clearly defined, appealing, and worthy of confidence before asking for support. This will take some time, and requires patience, commitment and confidence. But, the up-side is that this way, a solid, tangible project is presented to people from the word go, rather than a fluffy, charitable proposal which lacks substance. Furthermore, if plans for the charity are kept quiet initially and only unveiled when fully completed, the forward momentum this can provide is quite substantial.
Keeping your target audience in mind
The beauty of a prefectural charity is the freedom it affords the people setting it up. They are free to make the most of their local knowledge, and tailor their plans to appeal to the specific group whose support they are seeking. If you feel humour is the way to sell your ideas, do something funny. If you think a project which advocates female education, for example, would be a hit, try that.
If done successfully, when presenting your target audience with a well thought out plan for a charity, it should be a case of them thinking 'Why on earth would I not support this?' rather than 'Why should I support this?' A little time spent thinking about how to appeal directly to your target audience is a valuable investment. It's also great fun using your imagination, and experiencing the thrill of successfully marketing your own idea.
Pinning down the workings of the charity
The day to day running of the charity should be decided, once again being tailored to the specific group you are targeting. You should decide how much you hope people will donate, and how often. In deciding this, bear in mind such things as: what time of year do people finish their jobs and leave Japan and new people come, what date do they get paid, what is the best way to collect money from people living in different areas, is a direct debit from the bank an option, etc. Focus on how to make it as fuss-free as possible for the person giving money - and make sure that they will have confidence in the integrity of the project and the people running it.
It is also a good idea to decide how you will send the money to the project you are supporting, how often you will do this (bearing bank charges in mind), and how you will show those donating where their money is going. Opening a bank account specifically for the charity is a good idea, and will instill confidence in those donating money.
Presenting your plans
Once you feel sure that you are sufficiently prepared to rally others into battle and able to persuade them to support your charity, it is time to produce some literature. A simple pamphlet is very easy to produce, but can be highly effective. In it, you should lay out exactly what the charity is, its goals, who it will benefit, etc. People reading it should come away with an impression of certainty. First impressions are important, so the front page should be given plenty of thought. Printing the pamphlets on good quality card, and folding them tightly and neatly is also advisable. Furthermore, taking a little time and care over the internal lay out, the use of headings, photos, maps, tables, etc is vital. For any JETs reading this, simply think of all the amount of irrelevant, sloppily-copied material you receive at conferences. If you were to suddenly present a professional-looking pamphlet to everyone present, it will make quite an impact. An eye-catching publicity campaign might also be effective. Basically, use your imagination and have a laugh.
The timing of when you present your proposals is also important, and will once again be dependent upon local circumstances. For JETs, conferences or AJET meetings are useful. It is advisable to secure around 10-15 minutes or so, hand out the pamphlets, give people a few minutes to browse through it, and then give a short, heart-warming speech laying out your plans. There should be time for questions afterwards.
In time, of course, information about the charity can be presented through a wider range of media, including the internet, video footage, etc.
Benefits for all
A prefectural charity's prime objective is to help those less fortunate than ourselves, and this should not be lost sight off. But just giving money is not what it is all about. A prefectural charity is a wonderful opportunity for all involved. A genuinely close personal relationship can be built between those supporting and those being supported. Opportunities for education, travel, volunteer work, etc, are also opened up to people supporting the charity. Offering your Japanese students at school a fresh and exciting window to the world is just one other possibility. In promoting your prefectural charity, people should be made aware of what they stand to gain from contributing.
Once people are interested
Once you have got the ball rolling, and people are donating money, it is important to maintain a high level of interest. Otherwise, donors will drop off one by one. Keep the work and development of the charity in the fore, by incorporating it into interesting, varied events - having dinners, fund-raisers, club nights, short videos about the project, perhaps even organize a trip so those interested can volunteer to get involved with the project in person. Try to bring home to people the extent to which their support is making a positive difference. If this is done successfully, the feel-good factor will grow, people will become more personally involved in the work of the charity, and the whole projects reputation will benefit. This will be most useful when encouraging new people to join in and help.
In conclusion
There is no right or wrong way to set up a prefectural charity. But there are some ways that are more effective than others. As such, if you are interested in setting up such a charity, being confident, adaptable, and willing to rise to a challenge are important qualities. You must be able to look at the situation around you, and make decisions accordingly. Nobody else will be there to do it for you, and if you do not act, nobody will.
Your plans must also be made with a view to the long term. Once a charity is established, it will come to be relied upon by people. As such, a charity that lapses after a short time is worse than a charity that was never started at all. It is the responsibility of the person who establishes the charity to make sure that this does not occur.
But don't let this put you off, but rather look at it as a challenge. Focus on the very positive fact that because of your efforts, many people will be experiencing a more fuller, richer life. The responsibility you will have undertaken undoubtedly brings with it a great sense of achievement, a very interesting talking point for your CV, and a broader understanding of many global issues. Furthermore, the positive focus it can bring to a group, along with a renewed sense of direction, is a most valuable contribution.
