This project is a certified project of the K's House NPO Grant Programme. In the K's House NPO Grant Programme, K's House Inc. sponsors the payment fees incurred when settling donations, so that the full amount of the donor's precious and thoughtful donation is delivered to the NPO. Furthermore, additional grants will be provided to organisations that reach their crowdfunding target amount. By supporting the activities of organisations that support the lives of foreigners in Japan, we aim to create a society where people can live happily together with foreigners.
▼K's House NPO Grant Programme special website
https://congrant.com/jp/corp/k…
▼K's House official website
What is this project about?
The third year of refugee life is the hardest! Help us continue providing psychological care to 100 Ukrainian refugees in Japan.
Currently, there are over 2000 Ukrainian refugees living in Japan. According to recent studies, the third year of support programs is the hardest for refugees. Many lose confidence living out of their home country for such a long period of time.
Particularly, as the lengthy war in the Ukraine goes on, many programs assisting Ukrainian refugees will discontinue or lose interest. It can feel like a double-punch to the refugees, because mental health support ends and support groups lose interest in helping them. But they still need assistance.
Our program wants to continue to support Ukrainian refugees in accessing mental health assistance.We need your cooperation to continue our psychological support program.
Introducing NPO Foreign Women’s Association Paruyon
Our NPO group Foreign Women’s Association Paruyon was founded in 2007 to support foreign women living in Japan. For 17 years we have been providing safe spaces for foreign women to build communities, receive important information about living in Japan, and advocate from foreign women’s perspectives.
In July 2022, we began our psychological support program for Ukrainian refugees living in Japan. We have Ukrainian specialists (psychologists and counselors) who provide online psychological assistance in their native language to the refugees.
In June 2024 we plan to commence face-to-face interviews in our new Tokyo base.
Why do displaced Ukrainians need ongoing psychotherapy?
40%-70% of displaced Ukrainians suffer from moderate or higher depression.
There are currently 2103 Ukrainian refugees living in Japan. According to research into psychological dependency in refugees fleeing from war, there may be between 400-840 refugees experiencing moderate to higher rates of depression or anxiety.
Grief as families continue to be apart.
While some people may seem fine on the surface, trauma experienced immediately after evacuating from your home and the continuation of a war in your country meaning you cannot return can evoke questions of “why should I continue living” or “what does my future look like”. Which brings on feelings of isolation and helplessness, leaving the refugees feeling psychologically stuck.
Cancellation or discontinuation of other assistance programmes.
Two years since the war in Ukraine began, there has been a noticeable trend of many support organizations either cutting back or discontinuing their programs to assist refugees.
For the Ukrainian refugees in Japan, the prolonged warfare means they have to make long term plans for their lives in Japan, with constantly shrinking support networks.
What is included in the psychological support project?
Online counselling for displaced people across Japan.
In July 2022, our NPO Paruyon began our psychological support program, providing mental health support to Ukrainian refugees. At this moment, 126 people have applied and 1469 interviews have been conducted.
The project focuses on providing free online consultations to Ukrainian refugees living in Japan, who are 14 years and older (if under 18 years old, parental consent is required).
In June 2024, we will open a base in Tokyo where we plan to conduct face-to-face consultations.
Psychotherapy tailored to individual needs.
Each individual psychological support consultation is 50 minutes. A brief consultation record is provided within 10 minutes after the consultation and an assessment is made by our counselors. Depending on the subject’s individual needs, the counselor may refer them to further psychological consulting or counseling, psycho-education, or psychiatry.
The main focus of psychological support consultations we provide is short-term psychotherapy, with an average frequency of 8-10 sessions per subject.
Helpful counseling of displaced persons.
Based on a user survey conducted in January 2024, just under 80% of users said they wished the program would continue. Over 90% said they would recommend the program to their close Ukrainian relations. Due to the Japanese language barrier, no other organizations offer stable, expert support psychological programs in Ukrainian language such as ours. Our counselors are also based in Japan, meaning they have an understanding of what living in Japan is like from a cross-cultural perspective.
The following are some of the stories of Ukrainian refugees who received psychological support.
Refugee testimonial 1 - woman
“Because the culture and rules of Japan and Ukraine are different, I was so worried I would unintentionally offend or upset Japanese people. So, instead I became withdrawn and didn’t see anyone. After a year of counseling, I have the courage to go outside and give living life in Japan another try.”
Refugee testimonial 2 - man
“I was conflicted about taking refuge in Japan as a man and was worried if I had made the right choice or not. I tried to resolve this emotional issue alone, but was not successful. I had preconceived notions about receiving counseling. But, after meeting a psychologist from the psychological support project from Paruyon, I finally found a solution to my problem. I am glad that I decided to take the plunge and seek counseling.”
Refugee testimonial 3
I took refuge in Japan as a university student. I was strict with myself and a perfectionist, which made it hard for me to feel at ease. I felt that no matter how hard I tried, it was never enough. However, after receiving counseling from the Paruyon project, I am more capable of managing my emotions and I’m feeling more tolerant towards myself.
Not all my problems have been solved yet, but I feel reassured that I have a place like Paruyon to turn to in the future!
Here is some feedback from our project’s psychologists:
Studies show that the third year of displacement is the toughest year for refugees. Right now, it is essential that psychological support for refugees is continued.
The Paruyon project is able to provide a one hour session of counseling for only ¥4000. Counseling can make a huge difference to the lives of Ukrainian refugees. Refugees who have tended to withdraw from society have gained a new confidence and are re-entering their lives in Japan.
Refugees who had lost sight of their futures due to the war are slowly beginning to rediscover the meaning of life.
Your donation will make all this possible. Please help us to ensure that Ukrainian refugees can continue to live a stable and happy life in Japan!
Representative’s Message
President of the NPO Association of Foreign Women, Paryon
Nina Hakkarainen
Research shows that the third year is a mountainous time for evacuees. Now is the time for stable and continuous support. The Paruyon project is able to provide one hour of professional counselling to Ukrainian refugees for only 4,000 yen. Counselling can make a big difference to the lives of Ukrainian refugees.
People who had tended to withdraw have regained their courage and are re-engaged in life in Japan. People who have lost sight of their future due to the war are gradually beginning to rediscover the meaning of life. Your donation makes these things possible. Please help us to ensure that Ukrainian refugees can continue to live a stable life in Japan.
Message of Support
We have been learning a lot through the activities of ‘Paruyon’ for some time now.
Our organisation has also had the opportunity to work with evacuees from Ukraine and other countries who have fled to the Tokai region, and we have heard many different voices, but one thing we are unable to help with is ‘psychological care’.
We hope that through our daily relations with them, we can make their life in Japan as safe and secure as possible, but we sometimes feel that specialist support is indispensable in their situation in their home country and in their relationship with their families.
However, building such a support system is not an easy task.
That is why I would like to express my sincere respect for the challenge you have taken on this time, and would like to give you my support, however small.
I sincerely hope that this project will be an opportunity to share with as many people as possible that psychological care is essential not only for refugees and displaced persons but also for people living in immigration destinations, and that future initiatives in various regions will be enhanced.
President, NPO Multicultural Resource Centre Tokai
Yoshihiko Doi
How your donations are used
First goal is ¥400,000 : 100 sessions of online counseling. Including gratuities for our project experts (psychologists)
Our second goal is an additional ¥200,000 : 21 face to face counseling sessions.
Gratuities for psychological support project experts (psychologists) 21 x ¥ 4,000 = ¥ 84,000
Administrative staff salaries 42 x 1,200 yen = 50,400 yen
Travel expenses for psychologists 21 x 1,500 yen = 31,500 yen
Travel expenses for administrative staff 21 times x ¥1,500 = ¥31,500
Printing costs for flyers 130 x 20 yen = 2,600 yen
