JFC Network is a nonprofit that supports children born to Japanese and Filipino parents (Japanese-Filipino Children, or JFC). From the 1980s, more Filipino women came to Japan to work, and the number of children born between the two countries grew. It was founded to protect the rights of those children, many of whom live in emotional and financial hardship because their Japanese fathers did not provide for them.
It started in 1994 as a network supporting JFC and opened its local office, Maligaya House, in Manila in 1998. At first most consultations came from mothers with young children, but after 30 years it also hears more often from JFC who have grown up. In 2021 it began accepting consultations online, and inquiries now arrive from all over the Philippines.
Its vision is a society in which JFC are recognized as individuals and can live without losing their dignity. Its work rests on three pillars: help with legal and administrative procedures such as finding fathers, paternal recognition, nationality and child support; living and education support that helps young people plan their lives and build their identity; and awareness-raising. It also holds workshops and study tours and publishes a newsletter.
Key points
- Opened a local office in Manila in 1998 and has offered consultations for many years
- Support with legal procedures, such as finding fathers, recognition, nationality and child support, is at the core of its work
- Workshops, study tours, and volunteer and internship opportunities let citizens get involved
Why this organization deserves attention
It has spent 30 years addressing the challenges of children who grow up across national borders. With bases and partners in both Japan and the Philippines, it stays close to each person's situation, from legal procedures to life planning.
People can support its work in many ways, from donations and monthly giving to volunteering, internships and study tours. It is a chance to notice that international families also exist in communities close to home.
Editor's comment
Families and nationalities come in many forms, and this is becoming more familiar in Japanese society today. The work of JFC Network invites us to think again about why it matters to be recognized as an individual.
Announcements of workshops and other events are posted regularly on the official website. Why not take a look?