Sayaka’s story

Sayaka Kankolongo Watanabe, 32, was a finalist for the Business for Good Award at the Global Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards 2022. Her business WELgee, based in Japan, is a non-profit organisation that builds the future together with young refugees. In its career programme, JobCopass, WELgee discovers refugees’ talents and legally acquires a more stable visa with private companies.

“The challenges facing refugees in Japan are fraught with difficulties and subtleties stemming from social incomprehension and the legal system,” says Sayaka. “Through the employment of refugees, companies will acquire human resources with strengths that cannot be easily developed, such as their already honed skills and experience as well as their boldness and pioneering spirit to create businesses in the face of adversity. The expansion of JobCopass will contribute to revitalising Japanese industry, including local communities, and promoting diversity and globalization in the Japanese workforce.”

Sayaka faced a series of hardships to start a business out of nothing. She had limited work experience and this was her first business idea, but she saw the need for better support for refugees and believed in the positive impact this support could have.

Sayaka turned to YBI member ETIC. for support. “At the time, ETIC., through its free student entrepreneurship program, helped me shape my business values, network with people I could trust, and most importantly, push me to believe in myself. The staff, mentors, and peers I have met through ETIC. have been there for me over the past six years when I haven’t been doing as well, lost confidence in myself, or when I have been struggling with my business relationships.”

By 2022, WELgee’s projects had resulted in 19 hires, two interns and five cases of change in residency status at an IT venture company and a new business development division of a major machinery manufacturer. JobCopass will continue to promote outreach to the private sector.

WELgee also aims to increase their number of career coordinators and is preparing to raise funds for this purpose.

“This business is not a temporary or one-way support, but rather a means for refugees to transcend their backgrounds, plan their own lives, and forge their own paths, thereby bringing social and economic significance to Japanese society.”