We delivered a MY FOOTBALL KIT experience event to the children of Toyohama Gakuryo, a children's residential care home operated by the St. Joseph 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 Toyohama Gakuryo, a children's residential care home operated by the St. Joseph Welfare Association in Kure City, Hiroshima Prefecture, on March 31, 2026.

Through this event, the children experienced the joy of assembling their own footballs and playing with them afterward. The event was made possible thanks to the generous support of everyone who contributed to the JFA crowdfunding campaign, allowing us to create another memorable and meaningful experience through sport.

Although the day began with cloudy skies and unsettled weather, the sun gradually came out as the event start time approached, creating perfect conditions for the day's activities.

The assembly session was held in the facility's dining hall, which offers a beautiful view of the sea. While we were there, the children told us that this is the season when hijiki seaweed is harvested, and they pointed out the seaweed being laid out to dry along the nearby shoreline. It was a wonderful opportunity to learn a little about the local community and environment through the children's eyes.

With the introductions and instructions complete, it was time to begin assembling the MY FOOTBALL KIT.

Before starting, we always share a few important points with the children. One of the most important is:

“This is not a competition. Build it yourself and enjoy the challenge.”

As they worked through the assembly process, we could hear the children repeating those words to themselves and to one another:

“It's not a competition—we're building it ourselves!”

It was wonderful to see each child thinking through the process independently. Even when they made mistakes, they did not give up. Instead, they kept trying, learning from each attempt and steadily making progress until their football began to take shape.

As children finished assembling their MY FOOTBALL KIT, many of them naturally stayed beside and encouraged those who were still working hard.

Thanks to this spirit of support and teamwork, every child was able to complete their football in the end.

Comment from Mr. Futagawa, Director of Toyohama Gakuryo, St. Joseph Welfare Association

“We would like to sincerely thank you for providing this football assembly experience for the children at our facility.

While the children often have opportunities to play with commercially available footballs, neither the children nor our staff had ever experienced assembling a football themselves. As a result, the joy and excitement they felt were far greater than we had imagined.

After completing their footballs, the children immediately took them to a nearby park and enjoyed playing with them. Seeing them use something they had created with their own hands made the experience even more meaningful.

Children living in residential care homes are able to grow and develop thanks to the support and kindness of so many people. Through experiences like this, they also learn the importance of gratitude and the value of those who support them.

We will continue to do our very best to support our children and help them grow in ways that honor the generosity and goodwill that you have shown. Thank you once again for your kindness and support.”

Once again, we would like to express our sincere gratitude to everyone who supported the JFA × Molten 2025 Crowdfunding Project. Thanks to your generosity, we were able to provide the children with a truly special and memorable experience.

Our mission is to bring education and sport to children who need opportunities for meaningful experiences.

The impact of your support continues far beyond this event. Together, we will keep creating opportunities for children to learn, grow, and discover new possibilities through sport and hands-on experiences.

Thank you for being part of this journey. The support we received is still making a difference, and there is much more to come.