Vision
A world where young people can have hope for a bright future regardless of their background
Mission
Establish a nurturing digital infrastructure for underprivileged middle and high school students
The Problem and the Challenge CLACK is tackling
1 in 7 children lives in poverty in Japan.
A society where poverty perpetuates
Parental income influences children’s education and future employment prospects, leading to income disparities in adulthood.
CLACK aims to break the cycle of poverty that spans generations.
CLACK aims to break the cycle of poverty that spans generations.
Parental Income and University Enrollment Rate
10 to 12 million yen
62.4%
about ½ times
Less than 4 million yen
31.4%
*From the Tokyo University “High School Student Career Tracking Survey” (2011)
Education and Non-Regular Employment Rate
University Graduates
20.4%
about 2 times
High School Graduates
42.8%
about 1.5 times
Middle School Graduates
62.0%
*From the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare “Employment Situation of Young People Survey” (2013)
Income Disparity Based on Employment Type
Regular Employment Average
5.03 million yen
about 1/3 times
Non-Regular Employment Average
1.75 million yen
*From the National Tax Agency “Survey of Actual Wages in the Private Sector” (2019)
Cycle of Poverty
Our Solutions
Support information doesn't reach those in need, and goes unnoticed
We collaborate with middle and high schools to ensure that support information reaches its intended students.
Missed opportunities due to financial constraints
We provide assistance with participation fees and transportation costs to overcome financial barriers.
Lack of Confidence
Through interactive workshops, we foster self-confidence by providing enjoyable learning experiences where participants realize their own potential.
Our Approach
We broaden career choices through programming education support and career guidance, aiming to achieve both economic and emotional independence.
Programming Education Support
- Through our entirely free programming classes, the participants learn programming skills and acquire a practical vocation.
- By engaging in programming education, the participants cultivate a learning mindset necessary to thrive in society and gain the confidence of having accomplished their goals.
Career Support
- The participants acquire knowledge about money, lifestyle, higher education, and employment through workshops.
- The participants create a vision for the future by not only visiting companies, but also communicating with professionals and university students who have diverse lifestyles.
Number of Graduates with Self-Sufficiency Skills
Programming Experience Workshop
700
students
Tech Runway
120
students
Tech Runway Camp
30
students
Tech Runway+
60
students
Message from Chairman
Empowered teenagers who have developed the "ability to overcome adversity" at CLACK become relatable role models for the next generation.
Greetings. I am Daiki Hirai, Chairman of the certified non-profit organization, CLACK. I founded CLACK because I personally experienced financial hardships during my middle and high school years.
When I was in middle school, my parents’ restaurant went out of business. This, combined with their divorce, led to financial struggles in my high school days and forced me to give up on various opportunities. I had no one to talk to about the financial challenges at home and the hardships of growing up in a single-parent household.
Nevertheless, with the support of those around me, I managed to enroll in a public university.
After entering university, I became involved in educational support for middle and high school students facing financial difficulties, abuse, and other challenges for over three years with the desire to help those in situations similar to mine. However, I felt that there were aspects that couldn’t be fostered solely through academic support or providing a sense of belonging.
What I realized is that they need the resilience to navigate life independently in the future. Providing temporary support to teenagers in difficult situations won’t be sufficient if they haven’t developed the fundamental ability to overcome adversity. Without this foundation, they might stumble in their future paths. It was with this in mind that I arrived at the idea of using digital technology to provide mentorship and support, helping teenagers facing various difficulties acquire the expertise and wisdom to persevere necessary to achieve their goals.
Many teenagers burdened by financial constraints, family discord, and personal developmental traits have been conditioned to believe that they can’t achieve anything, that their efforts will be futile. They lack hope and enthusiasm for their future. To restore hope, it’s crucial for them to be aware of the choices they can make for their future and to believe that these choices are achievable.
To achieve this, they need to learn about the available options and the methods to realize them. It’s also crucial to be aware of people in their surroundings who have pursued the choices they aspire to. Without these two components, young people’s dreams and goals might remain unattainable fantasies in many cases, and they might lose hope entirely in the worst cases.
Through CLACK’s support, these teenagers acquire the skills to pave their own way in life. They become role models for the next generation of young people facing similar challenges. At CLACK, we’re creating this cycle of hope throughout Japan.
Daiki Hirai
Founder/Chairman
Certified Non-Profit
Organization CLACK
Founder/Chairman
Certified Non-Profit
Organization CLACK
