Interview with Japan's refugee matchmaker

J-STORIES ー Japan has welcomed hundreds of refugees from the war in Ukraine. Employment, which can provide both income and stability, is key to helping these displaced people settle into their new home.

Last week, J-Stories reported on the activities of WELgee, a Tokyo-based NPO that is matching Ukrainian refugees with potential employers. This time, this we speak to WELgee founder Sayaka Kankolongo Watanabe. Watanabe explains the progress of her NPO’s activities, about national and local authorities that are offering support, and how many companies are keen to participate.

Watanabe also tells how the NPO is assigning volunteers to assist refugees with their job searches. These “mentors” are aged between their 20s and 60s and don’t need any special qualifications other than having worked in Japan.

Her goal is to find 100 companies to employ refugees. Then, once that has been done… she says she will use that experience to look for the next 100 companies.

Translation and Editing by Tony McNicol

Top page photo credit: WELgee

For inquires about this article, please contact us at jstories@pacificbridge.jp

More on this story:

Click here for the Japanese version of the article.