Our Vision
At enForward, we design and implement programs
that connect people from diverse nationalities
to find effective solutions to pressing issues.
Our goal is to build future-ready communities
and nurture the next generation of leaders.
What is the Change Maker Program?
The Change Maker Program brings students and teachers from Nofei Habsor High School—the only high school in Israel’s Eshkol region, deeply affected by the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks—to Japan. Over the next five years, this transformative initiative will nurture and inspire over 100 future leaders, equipping them to shape a brighter tomorrow.
Developing Leaders of Change
Through the program, participants will develop key skills in problem-solving, leadership, diversity, mutual support, and community building. By empowering them as agents of change, the program inspires them to drive meaningful solutions to challenges in their communities.
Program
The core initiative, “Eshkol in Japan: Change Maker Program,” has three objectives.
1Learn Leadership in Community Service
Visit areas impacted by the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Fukushima nuclear disaster to explore resilience and long-term recovery plans.
2Understand Diversity
Engage with Japanese high school students,
exchanging perspectives on cultural and
social backgrounds.
3Develop Problem-Solving Approaches
Leverage experiences and insights from Japan to drive meaningful community outreach initiatives back home.
Background of the Change Maker Program
Japan, a country often impacted by natural disasters, has faced numerous challenges, including the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and nuclear disaster, which left lasting scars. Over a decade later, more than 20,000 people remain displaced. With natural and man-made disasters on the rise globally, Japan’s resilience, recovery strategies, and community spirit hold valuable lessons for the world.
The Change Maker Program was born out of this belief, aiming to bridge communities affected by disasters and foster mutual understanding and support. As a first step, we are connecting the Eshkol region of southern Israel, devastated by the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023, with Fukushima, Japan. Many students in Eshkol have experienced profound loss—some have lost friends, others have seen family members abducted, and many are living as refugees far from home. Through this program, we hope to foster empathy and solidarity between these communities, empowering them to heal, rebuild, and move forward together.
Eshkol in Japan
The first "Eshkol in Japan" was held in 2024.
Please take a look at the situation and the schedule for 2025.
Eshkol in Japan 2024
“Eshkol in Japan 2024 : Chang Maker Program”, the memorable first edition of the program was held in Fukushima, Kyoto, Gifu, and Tokyo from July 28 to August 8, 2024.
Please take a look at the movie (Director: Yo Kohatsu).
Voices of Participating
High School Students
Eitan Raitcin
Since October 7, 2023, my family and I have been displaced. My dream is to see Israel become a place where everyone feels safe. I want to be someone people can trust—someone who listens and helps others realize their dreams. By combining the best of Japan and Israel, I hope to make the world a better place.
Yuval Moses
Every day in Japan, I thought about my grandfather, Gadi Moses, who was abducted by Hamas. (Thankfully, he was safely released 482 days later, on January 30, 2025.) This program has been a gift. While the events in Fukushima and Eshkol are different, they share a common thread of divided communities. I want to grow into a person who can bring people together and make a meaningful difference.
Voices of the people of
Fukushima
Founder of Okuma Future Lab,
Norio Kimura
I felt that the high school students truly embraced the perspectives of everyone involved, including myself as a victim of the nuclear power plant disaster, as well as those from TEPCO and the Ministry of the Environment. I hope our experiences serve as a catalyst for their own reflections. The Israel-Gaza issue felt deeply personal to me during this exchange. These students may return home, face the mandatory military service, and encounter life-or-death situations. I sincerely hope such a future can be avoided.
Film Director,
Yo Kohatsu
I was initially apprehensive about what experiences awaited us in Fukushima as I accompanied the Israeli high school students for interviews. Having visited Fukushima many times, I was surprised to see it transform into a place for conversations about ‘peace.’ Capturing that atmosphere on film was one of the most fulfilling aspects of this experience.
Eshkol in Japan 2025: Change Maker Program is,
The program will be implemented in Fukushima, Gifu, Osaka and Tokyo in July, 2025.
Schedule
-
DAY1-2 Tokyo
- Japanese language and culture course
- Visit to the Israeli Embassy in Tokyo
-
DAY3-8 Fukushima
- Visit The Great East Japan Earthquake and Nuclear Disaster Memorial Museum
- Guided tour of the nuclear evacuation zone
- Meet with local residents involved in recovery efforts
- Visit a local high school
-
DAY9-10 Gifu
- Visit The Chiune Sugihara Memorial Museum
- Dinner hosted by a local farming family
-
DAY11-12 Osaka
- Explore the Expo
-
DAY13-14 Tokyo
- Wrap-up event to share insights and reflections
News
- 2025.6.9 | News
- Change Maker Program:2025 will be held on July, 2025
About Us
enForward is a community platform that stands by people, promotes diversity and multi cultural collaborations to achieve a better future and overcome challenges and crises.
The expression “en” in Japanese means, bonding connection and collaboration on a deep level. So the name “enForward” means “bonding for the future”.
We forward the values this en brings together.
Founder & Executive Director:Mayo Hotta
Born in Gifu Prefecture, Japan, she moved to the United States in 1998 to attend high school, spending six formative years in Oregon and California.
In 2004, Mayo began her career at Softbank Group, where she played a pivotal role in acquisitions, investments, and joint ventures for nearly 100 IT companies, including Alibaba, Vodafone Japan, Bio Fund, China & India Fund, and MySpace. Following the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011, she worked in the CEO’s office to support reconstruction efforts, creating opportunities for over 1,000 high school students to study at the University of California, Berkeley on the TOMODACHI program.
After relocating to Israel in 2017, she focused on introducing cutting-edge technology to Japanese companies and facilitating its localization in Japan. In 2022, she co-founded NacreArc with an Israeli partner, continuing to bridge businesses between the two nations.
Mayo’s expertise spans cybersecurity, cyber influence, blockchain, and artificial intelligence, reflecting her commitment to innovation and global collaboration.