At LOVE Québec, our staff members visit high schools, group homes, and community centers daily to deliver programs to youth from diverse backgrounds.

I myself have facilitated the program in five different institutions, including elementary schools, high schools, and group homes. In every setting, teachers and counselors have given positive evaluations and feedback about the LOVE program. We also conduct surveys with youth midway through and at the end of the program, and the responses consistently highlight how essential the program is to them.

Why is the LOVE program needed by today’s youth?

The Media Arts Program (MAP)The core of the LOVE program is the Media Arts Program (MAP). Through artistic activities such as creative writing, group based discussion and photography, youth engage with their emotions and thoughts and express themselves. By sharing within the group and listening to others’ stories, they learn to recognize differences between themselves and others, thereby fostering emotional intelligence (EQ).

Challenges Faced by Today’s Youth

Due to the widespread use of smartphones and social media, as well as lifestyle changes brought on by the pandemic, the way young people interact with others has drastically changed. This shift has led to a rise in feelings of loneliness and isolation among youth.

In Japan in particular, self-esteem among youth is reported to be among the lowest in OECD countries. For example, in the 2018 OECD Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), only 50.2% of Japanese youth responded that they are satisfied with themselves, compared to the OECD average of 66.9%. Japan also ranked lowest among OECD countries in the indicator “I feel that my life has meaning.” (PISA 2018 Results, Volume III)

Furthermore, in Japan, access to mental health support remains limited. Only 6% of people in Japan have ever used psychological counseling, compared to 52% in Western countries. (World Economic Forum)

The Impact of the LOVE Program

The Media Arts Program by LOVE aims to foster mental health and emotional intelligence, empowering youth to face challenges with confidence. Specifically, participants naturally develop the following five key skills:

Self-awareness: Recognizing one’s own emotions and state of mind

Self-management: Regulating and controlling emotions

Social awareness: Understanding the emotions and context of those around them

Relationship skills: Building healthy and positive relationships

Empathy: Understanding others’ perspectives and feelings

In fact, results from a high school where LOVE Québec implemented the program showed:

・High school graduation rate: 92% (compared to the Quebec provincial average of 64%)

・Positive impact on the decision to pursue higher education: 97%

・Improved ability to cope with social difficulties: 80% of students reported improvement

Feedback from youth often includes positive comments about the program being a “safe space” and a valuable opportunity to engage with others.

・How it gives me a break in the day but also gets me to socialize more and understand different points of view.　

・Being about to be with my friends and maybe share or hear things that we never really shared with each other.

・There’s no judging in this program. We feel comfortable when expressing ourselves.

・That I get to spend time with my friends and be in a safe space.

Introducing As iZ in Japan

Inspired by LOVE, a team in Japan has launched a pilot version of the Media Arts Program under the name As iZ, adapting the program to suit Japanese culture and society. It has begun in Tokyo.

Given the challenges Japanese youth face, the Media Arts Program offered by LOVE/As iZ presents a promising solution. By providing a safe environment for self-expression and fostering greater self- and other-awareness, the program nurtures mental wellness and emotional intelligence.

Youth learn new skills like photography, connect with peers, and enjoy the process—all while naturally gaining essential life skills. I truly believe that the LOVE/As iZ program is an excellent fit for the needs of today’s youth.