With the world’s attention turning to Japan for the Rugby World Cup 2019 and for the 2020 Olympics, members of EO Japan realized an opportunity to cultivate an international mindset in their families. What better time to connect with other countries? And what better way to do so than by reaching out to EO peers?

EO Japan member Junji Aihara quickly set to work creating a homestay exchange program for children of EO members in Japan to visit with EO families in Guangzhou, China, and Hong Kong. Then, the children they stayed with returned with them to visit Japan.

“Attending homestay programs made the children more appreciative for the support from parents and friends, which is normal in their ordinary lives, as they could observe their lifestyle objectively. The program gave the children opportunities to interact with entrepreneurs other than their own fathers or mothers, which was very refreshing,” says Kimitaka Yoshimura, whose son, Tsukasa, took part in the program.