Garde d'enfants au Japon

In Japan, it's not uncommon to work until 9 or 10 PM daily, while schools usually end at 3:15 PM. For this reason, many parents resort to the option of placing their children in after-school care facilities, known as "Gakudos."

In Tokyo, we collaborate with several Gakudos. These are non-profit organizations, meaning the fees paid by parents only cover operating costs. Each Gakudo is visited daily by about 90 to 100 children aged 3 to 10. At the Gakudo, children do their homework, play with other children or do sports, eat snacks, and learn English. There are also regular events or excursions, to which parents are also invited.

You can complete your volunteer work or internship in one of these Gakudos. In international kindergartens and preschools, you typically look after children aged 2-6 who learn English and are often taught according to the US curriculum. This curriculum usually includes reading, writing, arithmetic, social studies, science, art, sports, music, and dance. Learning there is playful and often incorporates elements of Montessori pedagogy, with the aim of also teaching something about other cultures (mostly American).

You'll assist the staff with supervising and teaching the children, converse with the kids in English, play, do crafts, play sports, tidy up, and help with meal distribution. You typically work about 6-8 hours a day, 5 days a week, either in the mornings or afternoons.

These placements are also suitable for internships in education. Some facilities may pay you a small contribution towards living expenses if you stay for 12 weeks or longer.