Ma-chan, 82-year-old programmer speaks at UN
An 82-year-old Japanese software programmer has given a speech at the UN in New York on the merits of digital technology for senior citizens.
Masako Wakamiya on Friday described to members of the conference a game app for smartphones she developed for the elderly.
She called on people to encourage seniors as active members of society.
Wakamiya began to learn programming after she turned 80. She said she became interested in digital technology after joining a group of internet users about 20 years ago.
She said technology helps the elderly remain active, and enables them to have exchanges with their families and people of different generations and countries.
One participant said Wakamiya is proof that senior citizens are capable, and deserve better quality of life. Another said it's impressive to see what she has achieved, as women tend to lag in the use of technology.
The conference was hosted by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, and Japan's permanent mission to the UN.
Wakamiya said later she is happy people seemed to understand her message.
The Social Impact of the 30,000
Very honored to appear with Ma-chan (Masako Wakamiya) who will be addressing the United Nations in February. Rights for older women are listed in the UN's Sustainable Development Goals, an agenda that aims to address many of the world's ills by 2030. One goal calls for healthy lives and well-being "at all ages" and another seeks gender equality.
We presented at the COLT CSR kick-off party and while Ma-chan showcased everything she has accomplished in retirement including becoming the world's oldest programmer with her own app. She hinted that one of the challenges in the www is the inequality for elderly.
At YouMeWe, we are launching a project in 2018 called Obaa-chan in the cloud... where we are looking to get the children in our homes to connect with elderly who have years of wisdom to share.
https://www.youmewenpo.org/get-involved/
We are OFFICIAL and starting 2018 off with COLT as our CSR Partner
We are very proud to announce our 2018 CSR partner Colt
Colt CSR believes investing in the future is what matters. Delivering business results in a responsible way to their customers, whilst sustainably applying their technology and expertise is key.
With charity partners in every Colt country they encourage their colleagues to volunteer and support local initiatives taking responsibility for the impact their business has on wider society.
Their approach to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) involves sharing ideas with colleagues and customers which result in activities that have a positive impact beyond their daily business activities, both internally and externally.
Colt's CSR activity is based on 4 key pillars: Colleagues; Customers, Community and Charity.
Connectivity Matters...
Announcing Colt Japan's 2018 CSR partner YouMeWe!
In Japan, it is estimated that there are over 30,000 children in more than 600 orphanages spread across the country with another 14,000 in foster homes and countless on the streets.
Colt Japan’s 2018 Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) partner YouMeWe’s mission is to help these children fulfill their potential by becoming self-sufficient and preparing them for a world of work that has been drastically transformed by technology. Young people entering today’s workplace are expected to possess digital skills and competencies that simply didn’t exist ten years ago.
But these same young people are also driving change. A report conducted by analyst house IDC notes that more than 50% of the Asia Pacific workforce will be made up of millennials by 2020, fuelling adoption of ‘high potential innovation accelerators’ such as augmented and virtual reality (AR and VR), artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics.
However, with just 5% of children in orphanages in Japan having access to WiFi, these children face an incredible skills gap compared to their peers, especially in a country where having access to the internet and all of its fantastic development opportunities are taken for granted.
If you drill down, success and opportunity are about people connecting. Opportunity typically arises from access to people and relationships, with technology and the internet giving the disenfranchised youth that access. There are seven billion people on earth, five billion are in poverty and 4.5 billion don’t have access to the internet. The inequality is huge. But the more access to technology and the internet there is, the more we can reduce poverty by giving those less fortunate than ourselves access to opportunities. It’s clear that for the battle against poverty, connectivity really does matter.
YouMeWe, Colt Japan’s 2018 CSR partner, is committed to helping the disenfranchised youth in Japan flourish in later life by imparting onto them the digital skills they need to find meaningful employment opportunities.
Headed by Michael Clemons, the organisation has been supporting similar programs across Japan for more than ten years.
“I first got involved in CSR in 2007 when I was asked to play Santa at an orphanage in Tokyo,” Michael said. “It was an eye-opening experience as I realised there were many stories behind why the children were living in the homes. I began to visit the orphanages more and more, helping where I could.
“It quickly became apparent that there would be very hard struggles for some of these kids in the long term if we didn’t act soon. In Japan, you can leave school at the age of 15 and many of the orphans in these homes do. This manifests itself in the fact that just 16% of them go to university versus the national average of 60%. Without proper guidance and access, the children can and have simply fallen out of the system, often ending in prison or on the streets. It’s clear that we can help,” Michael added.
Over the course of 2018 through our partnership with YouMeWe, we’re going to support the development of those less fortunate than ourselves and give Japan’s orphans a fighting chance to flourish. Stay tuned for updates on our mentoring and tutoring programs later in the year.
“You, me, we – with these three words anything is possible,” Michael said.
To find out more about YouMeWe please visit https://www.youmewenpo.org/
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/announcing-colt-japans-2018-csr-partner-youmewe-patrick-godden
Mamma Luisa's Got Talent
Mamma Luisa's got Talent vol.2 will be presenting the teenage wonder RIO SAITO
日本語のご案内は英語の後に続きます
We are proud to announce the 2nd Mamma Luisa's go Talent event with
the young but already famous Ukulele player, Rio Saito.
It is also a charity event.
We are donating a part of the proceeds and your donation to St.Francis Children's Home Tokyo.
Pietro is working on the special menu which will be revealed shortly.
Please join us for a fun evening with a wonderful full course along with paired wines + live music.
November 29,2017 (Wed)
Door Opens::19:30
Dinner Starts::20:00
Full course dinner / paired wine and the show
¥9,800+ donation you can make（¥1,000~）
Please call the restaurant for reservations. Seats are limited!!!!!!
Mamma Luisa's Table:::03-6805-1337
マンマ・ルイーザ・ゴット・タレント vol 2開催!!!!!
今回は、若手ウクレレプレーヤー Saito Rioさんをお迎えして開催。
第一回に引き続き、楽しい夜になる事間違いなし！
メニューは、一生懸命考え中！ちょっと待ってて。
ちなみに、今回は収益の一部と皆さんからのご支援を聖フランシスコ子供寮に募金させて頂きます。（ttp://otsuge-francisco.org/kodomoryo)
美味しい料理とワインと音楽準備してお待しております。
是非、お運び下さい。
2017年11月29日（水）
ドア オープン:19:30
ディナースタート:20:00
フルコースディナー・ワイン・ショー 含み
¥9,800 + いただける募金（¥1,000~お願い致します。）
なお勝手ながら、席数限定の予約のみとさせて頂きます。
お早めにご予約下さい。
予約・お問い合わせ
Mamma Luisa's Table
03-6805-1337
More Certification at Matsubaen
Thank you for your support.
Children passed the personal computer certificate and passed.
Also, users of Itabashi support station have passed the personal computer certification and passed.
I appreciate your support
Ｙａｍａｋａｗａ
#GivingTuesday 2017
PRESS RELEASE
Contact: [email protected]
YouMeWe NPO Joins the Global #GivingTuesday Movement
Pledges to raise funds in Tokyo with a night of entertainment with friends.
Tokyo, Japan…YouMeWe NPO and O-bar has joined #GivingTuesday, a global day of giving that harnesses the collective power of individuals, communities and organizations to encourage philanthropy and to celebrate generosity worldwide #GIVINGTUESDAY EVENT HERE. Occurring this year on November 28, #GivingTuesday is held annually on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving (in the US) and the widely recognized shopping events Black Friday and Cyber Monday to kick off the holiday giving season and inspire people to collaborate in improving their local communities and to give back in impactful ways to the charities and causes they support.
This is the third year Michael Clemons has held this event for various NPOs focused on children living in children homes in Tokyo. YouMeWe is a new NPO started as a social enterprise to empower the youth living in the homes to be mentored and coached into finding sustainable employment.
92Y − a cultural center in New York City that, since 1874, has been bringing people together around its core values of community service and giving back − conceptualized #GivingTuesday as a new way of linking individuals and causes to strengthen communities and encourage giving. In 2016, the fifth year of #GivingTuesday, millions of people in 98 countries came together to give back and support the causes they believe in. Over $177 million was raised online to benefit a tremendously broad range of organizations, and much more was given in volunteer hours, donations of food and clothing, and acts of kindness.
“We have been incredibly inspired by the generosity in time, efforts and ideas that have brought our concept for a worldwide movement into reality,” said Henry Timms, founder of #GivingTuesday and executive director of 92Y. “As we embark on our sixth year of #GivingTuesday, we are encouraged by the early response from partner’s eager to continue making an impact in this global conversation.”
Those who are interested in joining YouMeWe’s #GivingTuesday initiative can visit http://peatix.com/event/316017. For more details about the #GivingTuesday movement, visit the #GivingTuesday website (www.givingtuesday.org), Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/GivingTuesday) or follow @GivingTues and the #GivingTuesday hashtag on social media.
About
About #GivingTuesday
#GivingTuesday is a global giving movement that has been built by individuals, families, organizations, businesses and communities in all 50 states and in countries around the world. This year, #GivingTuesday falls on November 28. #GivingTuesday harnesses the collective power of a unique blend of partnersto transform how people think about, talk about, and participate in the giving season. It inspires people to take collective action to improve their communities, give back in better, smarter ways to the charities and causes they believe in, and help create a better world. #GivingTuesday demonstrates how every act of generosity counts, and that they mean even more when we give together.
To learn more about #GivingTuesday participants and activities or to join the celebration of giving, please visit:
Website: www.givingtuesday.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/GivingTuesday
Twitter: twitter.com/GivingTues
More awards for the Matsubaen Digital Citizens
To Michael
Thank you for your help.
I also got a lot of successful applicants in this PC certification exam.
Thank you for always cooperating.
Power point 1st grade 13 year old girls
Access 3rd grade, homepage 4 grade 15 year old girls
Excel 3 and 4 class 18 year old girls
Power Point 4th grade 16 year old boy
Yamakawa Yousuke
Day 5: Designing Artists Academy- Artist Key teaching singing at St.Francis
The super talented singer and songwriter, Key is a past artist at DAA, and we're thrilled she will be teaching kids at St. Francis children's home how to create lyrics to music and record songs.
シンガーとソングライターのうたいうたいKeyさんは、以前にもDAAに参加してくれたアーティストです。今回、彼女は、聖フランシスコ子供寮にて、作詞を作って曲に当てはめて、歌声をレコーディングする方法を子供達に教えます。
Singer Songwriter Key Bio
Music Composer and singer. Key currently composes music through DTM (computer processing), and posts new songs to Youtube fortnightly. As a singer, Key has recorded covers for more than 100 songs in Japanese and English. Key has also been a reporter for radio stations and has hosted many events. Information on live performances and videos by Key are regularly updated on her Facebook page (please see link below). Key's past musical experiences include a fife-and-drum band, wind instrument, rock band, and performances at weddings and with choirs. Key's instruments include the electronic piano, tenor saxophone, alto saxophone, accordion, metallophone, small drum, and big drum.
シンガーソングライター【うたうたいkey】
経験のある楽器は、エレクトーン、テナーサックス、アルトサックス、アコーディオン、鉄琴、小太鼓、大太鼓など。鼓笛隊、吹奏楽、オリジナルロックバンド、結婚式場での聖歌隊などの活動・経験を経て、現在DTMにて楽曲制作を中心に活動中。二週間に１度のペースでYoutubeに動画配信を行っています。
シンガーとしては、邦楽洋楽のカバー曲レパートリー100曲以上あり。ラジオでのレポーターやイベントでの司会経験もあります。新しいライブ情報や動画詳細は、随時、うたうたいkeyの【facebookページ】にて更新しています。
facebookページ】https://www.facebook.com/うたうたいKey-656640971066180/
【Youtube】https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvlu5RYi5XPYfLE-CF9lKPQ
【過去の楽曲提供先】エフエム滋賀２０周年ステーションキャラクターテーマソングHP→ http://www.e-radio.co.jp/love-shiga-love-radio/room/
Youtube（イベントでの公開収録映像）→ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxSdMA5kSTM
Day 4: Designing Artists Academy: Artist Arisa
Every year at DAA we always have a dance workshop component for kids to explore movement & rhythm. Together Hayato Yamaguchi & Arisa Imaeda have been leading these workshops-Hayato since 2009!! This year we will truly miss Hayato-san (he lives in Germany) but we are so lucky to have Arisa coming back to teach kids at St.Francis children's home a 3-day dance workshop. Kids will learn a choreographed dance sequence to perform for their home. Arisa-san is a super talent and also a natural pro at helping kids break away from their shyness and open up creatively. Below Hayato and Arisa are featured in a workshop from DAA 2015.
Syrian children collaboration in Amman, Jordan
At a talk at Meiji University, the subject of Syrian children was discussed. How they have been displaced from their home country to neighboring countries such as Turkey, Greece and Jordan. How the orphans from the conflict are for the most part living in foster families in Sweden.
My cousin is married to a Syrian man who is also my cousin. Their children are very much like the faces of the children seen in the news. When I asked Professor Makiko Kishi what the most effective way to help as one could donate and one could continue to write to their senators. She replied, "language" the children leaving Syria, especially those going to non Arabic speaking countries, are only learning their mother tongue at home. As a result they most likely only understood at home.
This lead to YouMeWe and www.nightzookeeper.com reaching out and collaborating with Syrian teachers who have relocated in North America, community centers in both Amman, Jordan and Greece. Using the Night ZooKeeper software we have started to build a curriculum for volunteers teachers to teach online via SKYPE.
We are looking for donors, computers and volunteers to facilitate this School in the Cloud based environment.
Helping people where they are.
Day 3: Designing Artists Academy making party masks with Artist GON
- The talented Gon taught the kids at St.Joseph's children's home how to decorate party masks. A returning artist, her smile lights up the room, and her creativity is inspiring! We are lucky to have @dorothyvacance join us again at Designing Artists Academy. #DAA #artforkids#givingbacktothecommunity check 👇🏻for details on her online shop! 👛👗👚online shop: dorothyv.theshop.jp
Day 2: Designing Artists Academy-Antony Tan
Today our veteran DAA volunteer artist Antony Tran & his team will travel to Port Kanegaya children's home to teach kids about the art of portrait taking. Last year's session at St. Joseph's was great fun - and we're sure the kids will enjoy today. Thank you Antony and team for sharing your time, passion, your smiles and warmth with the kids! ありがとうございます! — with Antony Tran.
Designing Artists Academy Day 1: Gandhi Gyoza making
Our 9th year of DAA kicked off yesterday with our talented friend Gandhi teaching kids at St. Joseph's children's home how to make GYOZA! Gandhi has been sharing his time and passion with our camp since the very first year.
Ma-chan visits Matsubaen in Itabashi-ku to discuss Excel Art and her new app
We were very fortunate to host Ma-chan (Masako Wakamiya) our 82 year old ICT Evangelist teaching the children at Matsubaen about her Excel Art http://marchan.my.coocan.jp/excel_art/fih/fill_howto.htm and how she developed her own Apple App and went to the USA to meet Tim Cook, CEO of Apple at a developers conference.
We were very fortunate to host Ma-chan (Masako Wakamiya) our 82 year old ICT Evangelist who came to the Digital class of Matsubaen in Itabashi-ku to teach the children about the journey of buying her own computer at 60 and how she has used EXCEL to create and teach art. She also shared with us pictures of meeting Tim Cook, CEO of Apple when she went to the USA earlier this year as the oldest developer of apps.
We are hope project
We are kicking off a project using Night Zookeeper to connect Japanese children with refugee/orphan children from Syria using the language software as a common tool to communicate and collaborate.
Ma-Chan, an incredible 81 year-old who proves it's never too late to start something new will be sharing her experience with one of our children's homes about building her own app.
Ma-Chan, an incredible 81 year-old who proves it's never too late to start something new will be sharing her experience with one of our children's homes about building her own app. Here you can read her interview with CNN Money.
Ma-chan we met at your TedX Tokyo talk in 2014 where she shared with the audience how she, at 60, was taking care of her 90 year old mother and wondered what she would do for the rest of her retired life. After reading an article about how you could buy a computer and talk to people all over the world, she made the impulsive shopping decision to buy a computer. This changed her life and gave her wings. She used Excel in depth to create design patterns with different colors and functionality.
Recently interviewed as the oldest developer having created her own app:
Masako Wakamiya is a vibrant, self-described chatterbox who just launched her first smartphone app.
Oh, and she's 81 years old.
She says she felt compelled to do something after noticing a shortage of fun apps aimed at people her age.
"We easily lose games when playing against young people, since our finger movements can't match their speed," Wakamiya told CNN.
Related: Women: Japan's hidden asset
The retired banker asked a bunch of people to create games for seniors, but no one was interested. So she took matters into her own hands and achieved something many people half her age haven't done.
"I wanted to create a fun app to get elderly people interested in smartphones," she said. "It took about half a year to develop."
Related: NASA's women space pioneers to star in new Lego set
Wakamiya started using computers at age 60 when she was caring for her elderly mother and finding it difficult to get out and socialize with friends.
Back then, computers weren't so user friendly. Speaking at a TEDx conference in Tokyo in 2014, an energetic Wakamiya recalled how it took her three months to set up her computer and get online.
"My face was covered in sweat and tears," she said.
She joined what's known as a "silver club" to learn how to use the internet and connect with other senior citizens online.
"I talked with a lot of silver guys," she says with a laugh. Wakamiya is single and doesn't have any children.
Her app, Hinadan, is an iOS game based on Japan's traditional festival Hinamatsuri, or Doll's Day, which is celebrated in early March.
During Hinamatsuri, ornamental dolls representing the Emperor and his entourage dressed in traditional clothing are displayed in a specific arrangement. In Wakamiya's app, users have to decorate the dolls and get them in the right position for Hinamatsuri.
She calls herself a technology evangelist and even wrote her own PC textbooks because she found the options available to her were too boring.
Related: Play this coding game. Score a job in Silicon Valley
"You don't have to be a professional," she said. "If you have creativity, if you have a playful mind, you can create teaching materials."
Wakamiya now gives computers classes and blogs regularly in Japanese (and English with the help of Google's translation tool). Hinadan was her first app, but it likely won't be her last.
"I have lots of ideas and want to create new apps, but my programming skills are poor," she said. "I need more time to develop them."
