THE ONE THING THAT HOLDS US ALL TOGETHER
IN DEC 2021, I DID SOMETHING CRAZY.
I shelved Gosh! Kids, my husband Mathieu quit his day job and we brought our newborn son Maxime into a country that was rampant with coronavirus.
What made us do such a crazy thing?
For 365 days, we lived in Fukuoka City, Japan, to build communities.
But as with any journey, there were bound to be challenges.
Being first-time parents and navigating the complexities of raising a child in a foreign land where we didn’t speak the language fluently, it proved to be a difficult task.
Fortunately enough, I stumbled upon a Japanese woman who was also struggling to adapt to her new role as a mother. We formed an unlikely friendship over our shared experiences and exchanged tips on how to raise our children in the city.
My first mama-tomo friend in Fukuoka City
My first mama-tomo friend in Fukuoka City
This friendship proved to be invaluable for myself, as it provided a sense of support and encouragement, a lifeline in a sea of uncertainty.
In turn, I also became a support for my newfound friend (a.k.a
'mama-tomo', which means 'mother friend' in Japanese).
As the months passed, my circle of mama-tomos expanded, from 2 to 3, and eventually 5.
My circle of 'mama-tomos' during Christmas 2022
Through this experience, I discovered something priceless.
Community.
Community = Everything.
A community is a group of individuals who share a mutual concern for one another’s welfare.
A group whose members may share ideas, interest, proximity but lack concern for one another is not a community.
At Gosh! Kids, community is everything.
It is the pillar that holds our values together.
A space where our children gather to create and inspire one another, to have fun and enjoy the process of working together.
I believe in community because,
Community builds character
Belonging breeds self-worth
Connection cultivates empathy
Diversity expands perspectives
Support systems foster resilience
COMMUNITY IS WHERE CHILDREN LEARN TO THRIVE ALONG WITH ONE ANOTHER.
Illustration from Matt Gray
But building a community is not something that happens by accident.
Neither is it only about the size or audience. It is an intentional act of bringing the right people together.
But what makes a community invaluable for your children?
Is it simply the number of children in it? Or something more than that?
Remember, a community is not just a crowd. It’s a network of relationships and interactions.
A small, tight-knit community can be just as impactful, if not more, than a large one.
WE STRIVE TO CREATE A COMMUNITY WHERE CHILDREN FEEL SAFE TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES, LEARN NEW SKILLS, AND FORM CONNECTIONS WITH THEIR PEERS.
We facilitate this by creating a variety of activities that allow children to work together and share their creativity, such as group art projects and collaborative experiences.
We encourage positive behaviours such as respect, kindness, and inclusivity. We also celebrate the successes of our students, whether it’s a child completing their first project or a group exhibition they’ve participated in.
Remember, children don’t do well being alone.
They thrive in a group to reach a common objective.
And that is to have fun.
COMMUNITY SPURS YOU TO DO SOMETHING BIGGER THAN YOURSELF.
It goes beyond our programs or a curated environment.
It follow us wherever we go.
You may not realise this but, you and I need community more than we think we do.
Your children are important, but you are equally important as well.
Because for you to empower your children, you must first empower yourself.
I will be curating activities and programs for all our parents and children to bring everyone together.
I believe that learning is not just a silo activity, but one that is filled with people heading in the same direction together.
If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.
And that is also why I stress the importance of over-communicating the values and mission of our community of explorers.
For now, stay tuned as I continue sharing insights on our mission to empower children to find their authenticity in the digital age through the creative arts.
