We delivered a MY FOOTBALL KIT experience event to the children of Kobushigaoka Gakuen, a children's residential care home operated by the Kobushi no Mura Welfare Association.
As part of the JFA × Molten crowdfunding project conducted in 2025, we delivered a MY FOOTBALL KIT experience event to 20 children at Kobushigaoka Gakuen, a children's residential care home operated by the Kobushi no Mura Welfare Association in Fukuyama City, Hiroshima Prefecture, on April 2, 2026.
Through this event, the children had the opportunity to experience the joy of assembling their own footballs and playing with them afterward. Made possible through the generous support of everyone who contributed to the JFA crowdfunding campaign, the event provided another meaningful opportunity for children to learn, create, and enjoy sport together.
As soon as we arrived, some of the children came over and excitedly called out,
“You're from Molten, right? What are we doing today?”
It was clear that they had been looking forward to the event. They even helped us carry our equipment inside, eager to get started as soon as possible.
The children guided us to the spacious event hall where the activity would take place. Their enthusiasm and excitement were evident from the very beginning.
During the introduction, we told the children the names we would like them to call us by and explained the key points of the event. To make it easy and engaging for everyone to understand, we used illustrations and visual aids, presenting the information in a way that felt much like a picture-story show.
With the introductions complete, it was finally time to begin assembling the MY FOOTBALL KIT.
Before starting, we reminded the children that this was not a competition. What mattered most was not how quickly they finished, but whether they challenged themselves to assemble the football on their own.
As the children eagerly got to work, we encouraged them to keep trying, even if they made mistakes along the way.
Would everyone be able to take on the challenge and assemble their football all the way to the end by themselves? The adventure was about to begin.
The event also provided a valuable opportunity for a newly appointed staff member who had joined Kobushigaoka Gakuen in April and had just begun their career in child care and support.
Participating alongside the children created a natural setting for communication and interaction, helping to build relationships and trust. It was encouraging to see how the MY FOOTBALL KIT experience served not only as a learning opportunity for the children, but also as a meaningful way for staff and children to connect through a shared activity.
In the end, every child successfully assembled their MY FOOTBALL KIT on their own. It was wonderful to see each of them complete the challenge through their own effort and determination.
After the assembly session, we enjoyed a variety of activities using the footballs. Some of the children were especially eager to play football as soon as possible, and their excitement quickly spread throughout the group. The venue soon filled with energy, laughter, and enthusiastic play, creating a lively and memorable atmosphere for everyone involved.
Comment from Mr. Akagi, Director of Kobushigaoka Gakuen, Kobushi no Mura Welfare Association
“Thank you very much for bringing the MY FOOTBALL KIT event to our children.
The children had been eagerly looking forward to this event, and once it began—perhaps even before it began—they became completely absorbed in the experience.
When the football assembly started, the level of difficulty was perfectly balanced. At first, it seemed unlikely that some of the younger children would be able to complete it on their own. Naturally, our staff felt tempted to step in and help.
However, thanks to the thoughtful guidance and encouragement provided by Mr. Uchida and Mr. Tsukada, the focus remained on supporting the children rather than doing the work for them. As the children repeatedly attached and removed the parts, learning through trial and error, each of them was ultimately able to complete their football through their own efforts.
This event not only helped deepen the children's confidence in themselves, but also reminded our staff of the importance of patiently watching over children without intervening too quickly.
For that valuable lesson and wonderful experience, we are truly grateful. Thank you very much.”
Once again, we would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who supported the JFA × Molten 2025 Crowdfunding Project.
Thanks to your generosity, we were able to deliver a truly special experience to the children and create opportunities for them to challenge themselves, learn through trial and error, and gain confidence through their own achievements.
Our mission is to bring education and sport to children who need opportunities for meaningful experiences.
The support we received is continuing to make a difference, and this journey is far from over. Together, we will keep creating opportunities for children to learn, grow, and discover their potential through sport and hands-on experiences.
Thank you once again for your support. We look forward to sharing many more stories and smiles with you in the future.