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YMCA Ukraine Evacuee Assistance 132 people in 59 cases (as of June 27) Evacuees from Ukraine to Japan �- to independence in the community� Aiming for total support

Japan YMCA Alliance

pr@japanymca.org

TEL +81-3-5367-6640

(Contact: Yokoyama, Ishibashi)

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YMCA Ukraine Evacuee Support Activities

Support to departure from Ukraine, entry into Japan, and start of life in Japan� 59 cases/132 people (as of June 27)

Consultation on daily life after coming to Japan, participation in exchange meetings, Japanese language classes, etc.� 217 (including 132 above)

Number of Ukrainian displaced persons entering the country (according to the Immigration and Residence Administration)

As of June 21 (preliminary figures)

1,358 persons

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Evacuees who came to Japan

- Differences from those accepted by the government

Interview at a Japanese embassy abroad

  • Willingness to seek refuge in Japan
  • No person or organization to act as guarantor

Approximately 140 people

Government Assistance Packages

  • Full-board hotel living
  • 1,000 JPY(7.5USD) per day cost of living

Started living in rural areas (still very few)

  • Public Housing & Work
  • 2,400 JPY(18USD) per day cost of living

About 1,100 people

Visiting Japan with a family member or acquaintance as guarantor

  • Move into public housing
  • Plans to receive travel and living expenses subsidized by the Nippon Foundation

Matching with local governments and companies

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Europe YMCA work (support in Warsaw, Lviv, Borders, etc.)

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The work of the YMCA of Europe (direct support in Lviv, border areas, etc.)

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The work of the YMCA of Europe (providing psychological counseling)

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YMCA Ukraine Evacuee Support Project (Global Relationship Chart)

Evacuee Families

Japan Entry Assistance

Japan Life Support

Evacuee

Ukraine� Evacuee Support� Projects

YMCA Europe

Japan YMCA/National

Local YMCA/YWCA

NPO Network

Acceptance in Europe

Support for coming to Japan

Community-established�Accompanying Support

Evacuation assistance application and subsequent close communication with the YMCA

Preparation for acceptance as a guarantor (first of all, transportation, food, clothing, shelter, etc.)

(Continuing on to the new stage of evacuation that will begin after his arrival in Japan)

Company/Organization

individual

Public administration (national and local)

Activity Support

(Funds and human resources)

Support Measures and Information

Co-Partners

donation

relief supplies

Travel from the home country of Ukraine to Japan via a third country

Apply for/obtain passports, visas, etc.

Maintain health, fitness, and motivation

(continuing into the new stage of evacuation that begins after arrival in Japan)

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Accompanying support that only the YMCA can provide (staying close to each individual)

  • We call them "evacuees" rather than “refugees" and provide companionship and support to each one of them.
  • Because we are an organization that offers programs to meet the needs of people of all ages, from 0 to 100 y/o.
  • We will use our experience and knowledge to meet the individual needs of evacuees

  • Responding and leaning in is the way to go.

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Son-in-law Yevhen and NCY Japan staff welcome Ms. Lopatenko at Haneda Airport

After a long and arduous journey.

Reunion with daughter Natalia

Encounter with a new life (granddaughter)

First case of support for coming to Japan

(arrived on March 17, 2022)

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Evacuation assistance to Japan

Rava-Ruska� Hrebenne

Krakow.

Warsaw

Support by YMCA of Europe (1):.

  1. Hotel Arrangements
  2. Train Arrangements to Warsaw

Mobility assistance within Ukraine

Assistance with pick-up at the Polish side of the border

Arrangement of transportation from the border to Warsaw

Lopatenko's evacuation route (example of YMCA support)

Support by the YMCA of Japan until coming to Japan:.

  1. Overall management between evacuees, host families, and local YMCA
    1. Contact and counseling with Japanese family members
    2. Collaboration with local YMCA (84 contacts in total)
    3. Assistance in preparing documents required for visa applications/PCR inspections
  2. Arrange airline tickets → eTickets sent via local YMCA

Support by YMCA of Europe (2):.

  1. Meet and greet in Warsaw
  2. Homestay Arrangements
  3. Accompanying visa application pick-up at the embassy
  4. Accompanying the patient to the hospital (injured during transportation)
  5. Accompanying PCR testing
  6. Airport pickup and drop-off

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From baby to senior / 75% of them are female

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Issues related to evacuation to Japan and YMCA support 1

[Evacuation Decision, Challenges to Departure, and From Escape to a Third Country]

・The economic burden, especially the inability to pay for travel expenses.

・ Difficult to persuade local parents/family members�・The situation in the southeastern part of the country is very difficult, especially in the southeast.

・Ukraine currently allows almost no adult males to leave the country.�Hurdles and Risks of Hazards in Traveling within Ukraine

Ukraine Escape

~Third Country

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Issues related to evacuation to Japan and YMCA support 2

[Issues from a third country to reach Japan

・Time and money spent in obtaining visas and preparing for departure in a third country

・Cases in which the person does not have a passport at the time of evacuation or does not possess a passport in the first place�Cases of language insecurity (not being able to speak English) and lack of experience in traveling abroad, especially among the elderly.�  

≪The support provided by the YMCA of Europe ≪Content.

 Arrangement of train to Warsaw

 Arrangement of homestay for the duration of the procedure

 Accompany and support visa applications to embassies

● Accompany to hospitals and other facilities as needed

 Accompany the client to the PCR inspection and make payment on behalf of the client ●Transportation to and from the airport

 A wide range of support to meet your needs, including

a third country

~Arrival in Japan to

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Entering Japan

~ to place of residence

Acquisition of status of residence

~Start of life

Challenges faced by evacuees and guarantors immediately after arrival in Japan

◎Language problems in all procedures (difficulty in English as well as Japanese. (Difficulties on the Japanese side as well.)

Airport pickup (3-5 hours for quarantine inspection. (3-5 hours for quarantine inspection, sometimes up to 12 hours)

Ensure internet access *Indispensable as a lifeline to the home country.

Obtain a phone number (SIM card with number) after registering as a resident

Arrangement of temporary housing and relocation

Other applications for various types of government support (e.g., applications for use of public housing)

Switch to "Designated Activities Visa

Resident registration with the municipality

Move from temporary housing to public housing, etc., and arrange for daily commodities.

Obtaining a health insurance card - If you need to go to the hospital or see a doctor immediately after coming to Japan

Japanese language study: Diverse needs (at any rate, Japanese language skills for daily life are necessary for all)

Issues related to evacuation to Japan and YMCA support 3

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Acquisition of status of residence

~Start of life

Education and Child care

Commencement of employment

Community Participation

Independence in Japan

Challenges that begin immediately after arrival in Japan and continue until after the start of life in Japan

Many of the issues on the previous page have not been resolved and are ongoing.

Difficulty in job search (unable to find desired jobs due to language, qualifications, licenses, etc.) ⇨ Career Discontinuity

● If you have an infant: Difficulty in finding an acceptable daycare center and complicated application materials (some are difficult to obtain)

School-aged children: situation in home country, choice of educational policy in the absence of a clear outlook on life in Japan

Do you plan to attend a Japanese school in anticipation of a long-term stay in Japan?

Do you choose to study online at a local school in anticipation of returning to your home country?

Adaptation to the rules of life in Japan (support for community life, such as garbage separation, is important)

● Need for a place to interact to prevent isolation and loneliness in the community

Establishment of a consultation service in Ukrainian and Russian (some people may reject the service)

These issues are difficult to solve only through the efforts of evacuees and supporters (organizations).

Collaboration and cooperation with government agencies (national and local) in charge is essential

Issues related to evacuation to Japan and YMCA support 4

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Specific examples of challenges you will face after coming to Japan (partial examples only)

administrative procedure

  • By prefecture and city
  • Difficulty in distinguishing between administrative services
  • Furthermore, the vertical division of government by section
  • All documents are basically in Japanese
  • Opening a bank account is still a challenge.

Nursery schools and kindergartens

  • Differences in Mechanisms with Ukraine
  • Cumbersome and difficult admission procedures
  • Obtaining a job search certificate at Hello Work

Where to stay during quarantine

  • Hotel stay: meals, physical condition
  • Temporary care of children
  • For home: small room/house

Move into public housing

  • Conditions vary from municipality to municipality.

e.g.) Tokyo: 2~3 weeks hotel standby, and further different conditions for each ward of occupancy

  • From building relationships with neighborhood associations to Adaptation to unfamiliar rules of life

Lack of daily necessities

  • Products for rainy season, heat wave, etc.
  • Books in Ukrainian (picture books)
  • School supplies and toys for children, etc.
  • Bread machine (expensive if you buy enough bread for every staple meal)

Language

  • Japanese language is required, but each student has a different learning background and target acquisition level.
  • Conflicts between Ukrainian, which has minuscule opportunities for use, and Russian, which is a bit wider

mental health care

  • Overall tendency toward "withdrawal and depression."
  • Children showing sensitive reactions to the sound of sirens
  • Uncertainty about the future and anxiety about the future of the home country

school education

  • Online continuation of school classes in Ukraine
  • Difference of semester system from Japan

  (Now you're enrolling for the second semester...)

  • Ukrainian, Japanese, and English as they affect your choice of future higher education.

finding employment

  • Too high language barrier, qualification barrier
  • I can't take advantage of my career.

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    • Cases in which a relative who has already been living in Japanese society for a long time and stably becomes a guarantor
      • Mostly in large cities: Ukrainians at diplomatic missions in Japan, local (associate) civil servants, working for global companies, etc.
      • Many in rural areas: Japanese/other foreigners and Ukrainian couple + children who have been in Japan for a long time.
      • Characteristics: Relatives living in Japan can use Japanese or English well and have stable family finances.
      • If the evacuees themselves have a high level of education, many wish to continue their careers and studies, but the actual situation is difficult

    • Cases where there is a guarantor, but the life foundation of the party itself is fragile.
      • Cases where the guarantor himself/herself has limited financial resources or a complicated family structure, such as a single mother
      • Raising children, but need support from ex-spouse or others in the first place due to insufficient support from ex-spouse or others.
      • Comprehensive support by moving into public housing and applying for support funds is desired after the evacuees enter the country.

    • Cases where there is no relative to act as guarantor and an acquaintance or friend acts as guarantor
      • Formal guarantor, but not close enough to practically guarantee identity.
      • Weak capacity/relationships to directly reach out for municipal support, such as moving into public housing
      • (In the case of a guarantor who met on the Internet, etc., it is necessary to ask the guarantor beforehand.
      • Comprehensive support measures are needed, assuming that guarantors may not be able to provide successful support.

Organizing Issues from the Guarantor's Perspective

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Ukrainians living in Japan before 2022

First to exceed 1,000 people (2000)

61% (2003) of 1,927 were box office visas

Japanese spouses were the largest group at 37% (2007)

Crimean Crisis (2014)

Permanent residents were the largest group at 35% (2010) → 2021 (50%)

Technical, Humanities, and International Affairs visas ranked third (6%) (2017)

Overwhelming majority in their 30s and 40s

Three-quarters are women.

Women in the prime of their careers

concentration in large cities

30% to Tokyo

The trend of change from migrant workers to permanent residence

F M

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Co-operation with Embassy of Ukraine in Japan

From the Embassy of Ukraine

Received 100 million yen (740,000 USD) donation

(From Nojima Co.)

Referred by the Embassy.

Strong ties with the Ukrainian community in Japan

Japanese and Ukrainian language support from Ukraine

Establishment and operation of an information portal site for evacuees

Ukraine Cafe HIMAWARI

Creating a place to stay mainly for Ukrainian evacuees who have started to live in Japanese society

Next to NCY Japan

Rental Conference Room

”A YOTSUYA” working with

Online Introductory Japanese Classes

NPO in Nagasaki

”Beautiful World”

Yana Ono (Ukrainian)

as an instructor.

Current registrations

110 or more

YOKOHAMA

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Lifestyle Consultation Room

Support for various languages

Ukrainian (regularly scheduled: every Wed.)

Russian (Irregular: as needed)

The company operates a face-to-face life counseling office by Including

consultation via chat and inquiry form (at all times)

3-4 cases/week being accepted & handled.

Monthly information exchange meetings, social events, and free bazaar

Ukrainians who came to Japan as evacuees and Ukrainians who have been living in Japan for some time.

Conducted a social event

Exchange of information on recommended food, daily necessities, etc.

We plan to gradually increase our interaction with Japanese people

in the future.

Venue: A YOTSUYA

Shared office located next to the Japan YMCA Alliance.

Opening in 2020, the entire facility is a new landmark filled with art.

Sun Frontier, the operator, provides the space.

Ukrainian Cafe

HIMAWARI

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〜National Government

Ministry of Justice

Immigration Service Agency

Foreign Residents Support Center (FRESC)

~Tokyo

Bureau of Citizenship, Culture and Sports, Tokyo Metropolitan Government

Tokyo Tsunagari Creation Foundation

  One-stop consultation service for

displaced persons in Ukraine

Expanding Co-operative Network

NPOs and other organizations

Public administration (national and local)

business

Inspection by Mr. Kada,

Parliamentary Vice-

Minister of Justice

June 14, 2022

〜Ukraine Café HIMAWARI

Sun Frontier Real Estate

  • Providing a venue for the event.
  • Employee Volunteer Participation

〜Provision of relief supplies

Amazon Japan

Costco Japan, etc.

~ Domestic NPOs, etc. ~

World Vision Japan

Other national scale NGOs, NPOs, etc.

Connected to various municipalities

International associations, etc.

~YMCAs in Japan~

Japanese Language School

Nursery school

Elderly welfare

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  • YMCAs around the country will provide support for evacuees in their childhood, adolescence, and adulthood to help them stabilize their lives in the local community.

Evacuee Families� Providing childcare

Acceptance in International Schools

Japanese Language Study� Free of charge

Temporary Childcare� Educational Preparation

Acceptance in the local community

(assistance with garbage disposal, community information, etc.)

Evacuee Targets Refresh Camp

Interaction with local residents, etc.

employment assistance

Elderly evacuee care

Proposed matching of programs developed at local YMCAs and support for evacuees

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YMCA Wishes

In Japan, which has always been inadequate in accepting refugees and dealing with migrant workers, we hear people say that only Ukraine is being given preferential treatment.

In addition, there are many Japanese people who are in dire straits due to the Corona disaster.

Nevertheless, support for Ukrainian evacuees is still by no means sufficient.

We at YMCA sincerely hope that this model of support for Ukraine will help to raise awareness, and that in the future it will be a step toward a society in which the human rights of foreigners are protected and a truly multicultural society is realized. We are convinced that such a society will lead to the creation of a prosperous society with a positive net, a society in which each of us, especially young people, can live comfortably.