Connecting children in the Amami Islands with inspiring “senpai” role models, so they can discover themselves, expand what feels possible, and take a positive next step.

Location:  Amami Islands (centered in Amami Oshima), Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan

Mission:

ME Amami exists to be a bridge between the Amami Islands’ children and caring adults (“senpai”) -so island geography doesn’t limit access to role models, opportunities, and life-opening experiences.
 

Who we are

ME Amami is a community initiative built around one simple idea: when children meet diverse adults who have walked different paths, they gain language, confidence, and a wider sense of possibility.

The organisation was founded in June 2023 and runs “me cafe”, a place and program where children can connect with supportive adults and take part in meaningful experiences.

 

Our activities

• “me cafe” - a place where children feel supported

  • A youth-centered “ibasho” (a space to belong) run with the support of senpai from Amami and beyond.

• Real-world experiences 

  • Hands-on experiences created both on-island and off-island, designed to be challenging, fun, and memorable.

• Exposure to life paths, careers, and ways of thinking

  • Conversations and learning around things school often doesn’t teach; like design, entrepreneurship, and money literacy. So kids can broaden what they consider “for someone like me.”

• Mentoring through “senpai” connections

  • Connecting children with role-model adults (“senpai”) across many fields to learn, talk, and find encouragement.

• Ongoing events and collaborations

  • Seasonal programs and collaborations with local partners to increase opportunities for youth.

The challenges we face
ME Amami is working on real constraints that island communities often face:
 

• Lack of role-model access:

  • ​many young people leave the islands at 18, reducing everyday opportunities to meet “a little older” senpai.

• Fewer “real” experience opportunities:

  • ​compared to cities, fewer facilities, fewer specialists, and fewer chances to try new fields.

• High travel costs:

  • ​even when opportunities exist off-island, transportation costs can be a major barrier.

• Sustaining programs:

  • ​funding is needed for activities, operations, and guest instructors so experiences can continue consistently.