About
Us
Who We Are
Youth For Future is a non-profit organization that was founded by Emre Caglar in 2021 as a high school project, now registered as an official NPO since 2025. Our management members and volunteers are primarily made up of university students across Japan from various ages and passions.
Our History
YFF was founded in 2021 as a youth organization and in its early stages, its primary objective was to connect service clubs across different international schools in Japan, working towards raising awareness and taking action on all the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
However, the leadership team recognized the need for a more defined mission and vision for YFF, as focusing on all SDGs proved to be ineffective. Thus, in late 2023, after numerous planning sessions and increased involvement from university students, YFF transitioned into a non-profit organization with a focus on improving the quality of education in both underdeveloped and developed countries.
However, through the donation of school stationery supplies to public primary schools in Kenya, it soon became clear that there was a significant need for substantial financial investment. Therefore, after further discussions, a decision was made to focus on children in Japan, specifically those in orphanages, aiming to empower them by providing English literacy and promoting international-mindedness, which they can leverage as an advantage when they turn 18 and become independent in society.
Now as of 2025, Youth For Future has been officially registered as a Non-Profit Organization (NPO法人) under the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, working one step towards a global change.
Message from Founder
Emre Caglar│Founder and Executive Director of Youth For Future
Japan is one of the most developed nations globally. However, attending the One Young World summit, sponsored by One Young World Japan, highlighted for me the duality of Japan’s progress: while Japan is ahead in many respects, it also faces significant challenges.
Japan is home to over 600 orphanages, sheltering more than 30,000 children. Tragically, many of these children end up in care due to experiences of violence, with over 200,000 cases of child abuse reported last year alone. Despite the declining population of children under 18 in Japan, the number of children in orphanages remains steady—an indicator of the nation’s ongoing orphan crisis.
At Youth For Future, our mission is to support and empower children in orphanages to realize their fullest potential. While their basic needs are met in care, we recognized a deeper question: How can we, as an organization, support these children in a way that sets them up for success when they turn 18 and leave these homes? Two critical gaps in Japanese society emerged—English literacy and global citizenship.
We chose to focus on these areas to equip children with skills that are both valuable and lacking in Japan, empowering them with tools they can leverage as they transition to independence. Our mission goes beyond merely teaching English or global citizenship. We strive to be facilitators in each child’s journey, guiding and encouraging them as they explore their interests. Through our project-based, student-centered programs, we offer children the chance to discover their passions, tackle real-world issues, and develop solutions—fostering a sense of agency and self-discovery.
Our goal is to expand their horizons, expose them to diverse career paths, and nurture them into true global citizens.
Meet the Board of Directors
Emre Caglar
Founder and
Executive Director
Sena Yamamoto
Deputy Executive Director
Jungen Ono
Director, Head of Public Relations and Government Affairs
Arika Okubo
Director, Head of Spring and Summer Camp & Kodomo-shokudo Project
Ryuta Wijers
Director, Head of Human Resources and Communications
Taiki Goto
Auditor
Departments and Teams
Global Identity Program
The Global Identity Program is at the core of Youth For Future, driving curriculum development, coordinating with children’s homes, and organizing engaging camps and fundays.
Curriculum Development Team
Ayse Bayram - Project Coordinator
Megumi Wurz - Project Coordinator
Emi Tanimoto - Project Coordinator
Mei Kanada - Project Coordinator
Fun Day Organization Team
Miyu Sugiyama - Project Manager
Reach Out Team
Kaoru Takashima - Project Manager
Spring and Summer Camp Team
Sarah Mastunaga - Project Coordinator
Shiho Iwasaki - Project Coordinator
Minseo Lee - Project Coordinator
Public Relations and Government Affairs
The Department of Public Relations and Government Affairs plays a crucial role expanding our reach and developing strong support towards our action.
Social Media Team
Maya Morikuni - Project Coordinator
Shiho Iwasaki - Project Coordinator
Miho Kim - Project Coordinator
Toru Hiiragi - Photographer and Videographer
Sponsorship and Fundraising Team
Hirokatsu Tao - Project Manager
Aina Hayakawa - Senior Project Coordinator
Hiro Hobson - Project Coordinator
Koichiro Komoto - Project Coordinator
Government Affairs Team
Soo Ho - Project Coordinator
Taiju Ishimi - Project Coordinator
Website Development Team
Yui Nogami - Project Manager
Human Resource and Communications
The Department of Human Resource and Communications plays a crucial role as the backbone of the organization through building and fostering a passionate YFF community.
External and Internal Human Resource Team
Enoch Cohen - Project Coordinator
Ethan Lee - Project Coordinator
Event Team
Hiro Hobson - Event Manager