Save Japan Kauri Education Trust! Help Us Keep the Heartbeat of the Japanese Community Alive

$8,828 of $30,000 goal

Given by 77 generous donors in around 6 months

We can continue to offer Japanese educational resources, cultural programmes, and a safe haven for all those in need in our community.

Rosedale, Auckland

日本語: https://x.gd/Vn9An

Japan Kauri Education Trust (JKET) is currently facing an unprecedented crisis. With cuts in government funding, an economic downturn, and skyrocketing rents, JKET is being forcefully pushed towards the brink of closure. Without immediate action, the community built over the last 18 years may permanently vanish.

JKET has been the heart of Auckland's Japanese community for nearly two decades, providing essential services through our Japanese Children’s Library and the Auckland Japanese Heritage Centre. Our library, with 14,000 Japanese-language books borrowed by 300 families annually, also hosts storytime sessions that connect children to Japan through reading, songs, and cultural activities. The Japanese Heritage Centre supports around 50 students to embrace their Japanese heritage and multicultural backgrounds.

Beyond the library, JKET is a sanctuary—a lifeline where families, especially those from international marriages, find support and connection. It’s a place where high school volunteers grow, single parents find solidarity, and families in need are embraced. We’ve created more than a space; we’ve built a home.

We, and the services that support the children growing up here, 9,000 km away from their homeland, urgently need your help.

Your kind donation will directly impact our lives. Your generosity will ensure that JKET remains a place of belonging, pride, and cultural preservation, impacting the Japanese community in Auckland for generations to come.

About us

Japan Kauri Education Trust (JKET) operates the Japanese Children's Library and the Japanese Heritage Centre (Japanese language/cultural education classes) for the Japanese community in Auckland.

Use of funds

We’ve launched this campaign to raise $30,000 for our critical rent–keeping doors open. While searching for a new home, we’re dedicated to resuming our vital services. It’s not just books–it’s hope and a home.

We thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

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Update on the Books from JKET Japanese Children's Library 14 June 2026

It has been nearly one year since the closure of the JKET Japanese Children's Library.

We would like to share an update with everyone who kindly supported us through our Givealittle campaign at that time.

Although the library no longer exists in its original form, the books continue to be actively used in the community. They are now part of Japanese storytime sessions held at public libraries across Auckland, as well as lending resources for classes at the JKET Japanese Heritage Centre, where they continue to connect with many children and families.

We understand that some people miss having access to the collection as a lending library in the way it was before, and we are sorry that we are not able to provide that service in the same form. However, by drawing on a wide and diverse collection that is not always available in public libraries, we continue to support children with Japanese heritage in maintaining their connection to the Japanese language and culture.

The books made possible through your generous support continue to live on, now in different forms, supporting children’s learning and community connection.

We are deeply grateful to everyone who supported us. We remain committed to nurturing learning and connection through books, step by step.

Thank you once again for your continued understanding and support.

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