NPO ALECE TAKAOKA
Citizenship Education Program
What is CLD Youth?
CLD = Culturally and Linguistically Diverse
Refers to children and youth from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
Program Overview
While Takaoka City in Toyama Prefecture faces declining sustainability due to a shrinking and aging population and youth out-migration, it is also an area where foreign residents are widely scattered. Consequently, severe challenges faced by CLD youth—such as academic underachievement, school refusal, and low rates of higher education enrollment—are easily overlooked. Furthermore, CLD youth raised in the area often find their connection to the local community restricted to casual labor or consumption, leaving them marginalized on the fringes of society.
Through youth-led initiatives such as workshops and film festivals, this program expands opportunities for CLD youth to connect with the local community while strengthening our academic and career support. Our goal is to empower CLD youth to broaden their horizons, build self-esteem, and establish a foundation for taking an active, self-driven role in addressing community issues.
Output 1: Citizenship Education Workshops
Interactive sessions designed to foster essential skills for active citizenship.
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Frequency: Held 3 to 4 times a year in a workshop format.
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Accessibility: Conducted in multiple languages to ensure language accessibility for all participants.
Past Workshop Examples:
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Critical Thinking Workshops
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Disaster Preparedness Workshops
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High School Entrance Guidance & Consultation Sessions
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Year-End & Christmas Parties
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"Discover the SDGs!" Workshops, and more.
Output 2: SDGs Forum & SDGs Art Exhibition
Purpose:
To empower youth with the mindset that "we, the young generation, can actively build the world of tomorrow," encouraging their active social participation. This initiative focuses particularly on creating events where CLD youth—who often feel excluded from society—can think about the future of the world together.
SDGs Forum (Held in FY2020)
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Special Page: https://www.alece.org/alecesdgsaudience
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Format: Presentations, workshops, and panel discussions.
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Teams: 2 to 5 members per team (ages 17 and under).
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Language: Presentations can be delivered in any language, provided accessibility for a diverse audience is ensured.
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Team Structure: Each team must include at least one native Japanese-speaking child.
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Theme: Teams select a topic from the SDGs and deliver proposal-based presentations.
SDGs Art Exhibition (Held in FY2022)
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Special Page: https://www.alece.org/sdgsart
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Exhibition: Showcase of SDG-themed artwork (36 total pieces displayed).
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Participants: Artwork submitted by youth aged 6 to 18 living in Toyama Prefecture (including CLD youth).
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Special Activities: Digital art workshops (led by youth with roots abroad) and SDGs card game workshops.
Output 3: CLD Youth Film Festival (Held in FY2021 & FY2022)
Purpose:
To provide a platform for youth to express their perspectives, emotions, and thoughts on social issues through filmmaking.
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Collaborative Filmmaking: Japanese and CLD youth teamed up to create films (such as documentaries) set in the local community, followed by screening events.
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Filmmaking Workshops: Workshops were held in Takaoka to help participants learn the fundamentals of movie production.
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Community Engagement: Combining film screenings with interactive discussions, these workshops helped foster a deeper community understanding of multicultural coexistence.