Artificial intelligence is changing how non-profits reach the people they serve — but what does that actually look like inside a children's home?
In this episode, Michael Perry-Clemons, Founder of YouMeWe NPO, a Tokyo-based organization supporting children and young people in institutional care, explores how AI is creating new ways for non-profits to expand their impact, improve access to learning, and support their communities.
Drawing on his work with children's homes in Japan since 2007 and founding YouMeWe in 2018, Michael breaks down:
— How AI is already being used across the non-profit and education sectors
— The unique opportunities AI creates for young people who've faced disrupted schooling or institutional care
— What it actually takes to introduce new technology into a non-profit responsibly, especially when the people you serve are children
A grounded, practical look at where AI genuinely helps — and where it can't replace the human relationships at the center of this work.
Learn more about YouMeWe NPO: youmewenpo.org
I've had a lot of conversations on this podcast. This one mattered differently.
I was placed in foster care at 13. My sister and I were separated. I know firsthand what it means to be a kid the system has decided is someone else's problem.
So when Michael Perry-Clemons walked me through what's happening inside Japan's orphanages, the 33,000 kids, the siblings split into different homes, the 90% who drop out of university in their first year, I wasn't just listening as a host. I was listening as someone who lived a version of that story.
Michael founded YouMeWeNPO, an NPO in Shibuya that goes into orphanages and teaches kids to code, earn certifications, build apps, and see a future for themselves. He's been at it since 2007. He calls the kids "champions" while they're in the orphanage and "ambassadors" once they graduate. Because language shapes how you see yourself.
He tells multicultural kids who feel like they don't fully belong anywhere: "You're not half. You're double." This resonated with me personally as I'm also a someone of mixed race .
It's the kind of reframe that sticks with a person and helps them shatter societal expectations so that they can reach their full potential.
This conversation reminded me why I started the Produck Podcast in the first place. It's one of my favorite episodes to date and I highly recommend you give it a listen. If it's within your means, please consider donating your time, money, or expertise to YouMeWeNPO and join Michael on his mission to empower future champions.
Week 2 of our LEAD collaboration reminded us that relationships come first.
When we listen to children and bring their ideas into the lesson, they stay more focused and feel that their voice matters. One student even pulled us aside to say, “I really like this instructor!”
That small moment means a lot. Thank you to the LEAD team for showing up and building trust with our children.
#YouMeWeNPO #YouthEmpowerment #ChildrensVoices #VolunteerImpact #LEAD
Every child already has what it takes. Nagareyama L.E.A.D. just gives them the space to prove it.
Through hands-on learning, real teamwork, and actually building things together, kids develop the critical thinking and confidence they'll carry long after the program ends. This is what 21st-century skills look like in practice.
Follow along and cheer these young leaders on.
#YouMeWeNPO #YouthEmpowerment #SocialImpact #fortheyouth #children
Meet our Designs for Impact collection
Every piece in this collection starts with youth creativity and turns it into real support for young people in institutional homes preparing for life on their own.
When you wear or share something from the collection, you're directly funding YouMeWe's education, career prep, and digital literacy programs.
Check it out on Redbubble and pick something you love
https://www.redbubble.com/people/youmewenpo/shop?asc=u
#YouMeWeNPO #DesignsForImpact #YouthEmpowerment #CreativeImpact #SocialGood
We’re proud to share a first for YouMeWe: one of our students has developed their own phone app.
They created a game, which was then compiled into an Android app so they can share it with friends. A wonderful accomplishment, and a reminder of what young people can do when they have the chance to learn and create.
#YouMeWeNPO #YouthEmpowerment #DigitalInclusion #SocialImpact #Japan
September 1 is here, and that means the ‘Ber Months' are officially on!
For the young people we support, the best gift we can give them isn't wrapped in a box. It's the confidence to stand on their own two feet when they turn 18 and step out of institutional care.
Career readiness. Real skills. A plan for what comes next.
But we do have our Sharing and Caring program. Where donor companies purchase and wrap presents in a shoe box and we give the gifts out to the children in the home so everyone has their own personal gift.
If you'd like to volunteer or sponsor Sharing and Caring, reach out early this season. Email us at [email protected] and let's make this holiday count for them.
#YouMeWeNPO #YouthEmpowerment#DigitalInclusion #SocialImpact #fortheyouth
US Embassy + A250 Kits - Keeping Children Safe, Before Disaster Strikes
Our COO Gio Cannegieter is on the ground in Kumamoto today, delivering A250 Emergency kits in partnership with the US Embassy. 🇱🇷🇯🇵
The children in our care deserve to feel safe, and that means being ready before disaster strikes. These kits go directly to the homes that look after them every day.
Thank you to the US Embassy for making this possible. Preparedness is care. 💙
#YouMeWeNPO #YouthEmpowerment #Sociallmpact #DigitalInclusion #fortheyouth
When Learning Becomes Confidence
The moment a student cracks a tough problem, they don't celebrate alone. They turn to the person next to them and start explaining it. That's what keeps us showing up every week.
Our volunteer sessions are less about drilling answers and more about watching kids build real confidence, the kind that makes them want to lift each other up.
Want to see it for yourself? Come join us.
#YouMeWeNPO #YouthEmpowerment #Digitallnclusion #Sociallmpact #fortheyouth
DAA This August
Paint, create, bowl, repeat!
This August, our Designing Artist Academy was all about getting creative, trying new things, and having fun along the way. The kids spent time painting, drawing, trying out new ideas, and even taking a break from creating for some bowling! It was great seeing everyone have fun, get a little messy, and make something of their own.
Thanks to everyone who helped make it such a great experience 💜
#YouMeWeNPO #DesigningArtistAcademy #DAA #SummerCamp #YouthEmpowerment #Creativity
Small Habits, Big Futures: Building Skills That Last
Nobody learns by being handed the answers.
What actually sticks is when a student figures out their own rhythm. When they start to trust that studying for 20 minutes today means being a little more ready tomorrow.
That's what our volunteers help build. Not dependency.
Routine. Confidence. The quiet kind that comes from showing up for yourself.
For kids growing up in institutional care, that kind of self-direction matters beyond any single exam. It's a skill they carry into adulthood.
Want to be part of that? Reach out at [email protected] to learn how you can volunteer.
#YouMeWeNPO #YouthEmpowerment #Digitallnclusion #fortheyouth #Sociallmpact
DAA Day 2!
DAA: Day 2. Three of the boys are siblings.
There are 5 in total we support. Another has a brother who couldn't join for the day. We are proud of the work we do to support siblings that are kept together to be raised as best as possible. And we are humbled when they turn to us to show their art work where we encourage, praise and help them along their journey.
Building Brighter Futures Through Education
We are proud to be helping siblings grow up and create a new foundation for themselves. Shizuma was a Mark Bell Scholar and now is a preschool teacher coming back full circle to help kids at Rapport who are showing interest in the same profession. Now his younger brother is in need of a scholarship.
Gala Reminder
We're getting ready for our Hokkaido to Nagasaki Gala 2026!
To help bring the night together, we're looking for items and experiences to include in our Auction & Raffle.
Whether it's a product, service, experience, or something unique, your contribution will help us continue creating opportunities for youth in institutional care.
October 14, 2026
Salesforce Tower Tokyo
Interested in contributing? Scan the QR code to learn more!
#YouMeWe #YouMeWeNPO #Gala2026 #Tokyo #SupportYouth #Fundraising
World Humanitarian Day
Happy World Humanitarian Day!
Humanitarian work doesn't always mean traveling to another country. Sometimes it looks like opening your laptop on a Tuesday evening and spending an hour helping a young person practice English or prepare for an exam.
That's what our volunteers do, week after week, bridging the distance between Japan and Manila to support youth in alternative care. And they've been doing it for 17 years.
To every volunteer who has shown up, every donor who has given, and every corporate partner who has backed this mission - thank you. You make this real.
If you've ever thought about volunteering, today is a good day to start. Send us a message at [email protected] and we'll find a way to get you involved.
#WorldHumanitarianDay #YouMeWeNPO #YouthEmpowerment #VolunteerHeroes #Sociallmpact
DAA Day 1
Design thinking builds problem-solvers, not just artists! 🎨
Through creativity, kids learn to explore ideas, try different solutions, and bring their imaginations to life. It’s not just about creating something; it’s about learning how to think, experiment, and solve problems.
Last week at Tokyo American Club, kids put those skills into action through drawing, painting, dancing, making DIY lanterns, and working together to create one big mural!
#YouMeWe #DAASummerCamp #SummerCamp #DesignThinking #CreativeLearning #YouthEmpowerment
We support young people around the world who have potential and big plans for their future.
We know their names. We know the careers they dream about. And every week, we show up to remind them that they matter.
That consistency is where trust begins.
#YouMeWeNPO #YouthEmpowerment#EducationForAll #GlobalCommunity#fortheyouth
