Waffle Monthly Update – February 2026
Empowerment Month is Here! Launching #EmpowerNext for International Women’s Day
Last weekend, March 8th, marked International Women’s Day (IWD)—a global moment to honor the journey of women who have raised their voices to pave the way for rights, opportunities, and social participation.
At Waffle, we’re extending this spirit beyond just one day. We are dedicating the entire month of March to empowerment! We’ve launched a special SNS campaign, #EmpowerNext, to share the real-life stories of alumni who are charting their own paths in STEM.
In this issue, we’re excited to introduce this campaign, alongside reports from the YUI Mirai Project final presentation, the Technovation Girls mid-point event, and new ways to support our mission through donations. We hope you enjoy this update and feel inspired to share it with those around you!
Empowerment Month is Here! Launching
#EmpowerNext: 10 WOMEN. 10 STORIES.
To celebrate IWD, we launched our social media series, “#EmpowerNext / 10 WOMEN. 10 STORIES.” on Wednesday, March 4th.
We are featuring 10 trailblazers from the Waffle community. Their paths vary wildly: from a humanities major who pivoted to software engineering, to a high schooler who built an app from scratch, to a student researching AI abroad. Despite their different backgrounds, they all share one thing: the courage to try.
Check out our SNS to find the inspiration that says, “If they can do it, so can I.”
- Instagram: waffle_org
- Facebook: Waffle.org
- X (Twitter): @Waffle_org
Hands-on Tech: Coding at Tsukidate Elementary School (Miyagi)
On Thursday, February 27th, we brought the world of programming to Tsukidate Elementary School in Kesennuma.
Using “MESH” (smart IoT blocks), younger students (Grades 1–4) built “Surprise Boxes” that reacted with lights and sounds. The 5th and 6th graders took it a step further with the “Surprise Cake Delivery” challenge, using school equipment like vaulting boxes and cones to create obstacle courses. It was inspiring to see them embrace the “test-check-fix” mindset to bring their creative ideas to life.
You can also read more about the day’s energy on [Tsukidate Elementary’s official blog]. Be sure to check it out!
Waffle Club: Watching Ideas Bloom
On Sunday, February 8th, we hosted our online Waffle Club.
- Part 1 (Career Talk): Anri and Kayo—both Waffle Alums and Technovation Girls award winners shared their honest processes for navigating career choices and academic anxieties with their peers.
- Part 2 (Workshop): For those worried if they “can actually do it,” we held a session animating digital flowers through code. Even first-timers, supported by our student mentors, were thrilled to see their code actually move on screen. It was a powerful moment where “I’m curious” turned into “I can do this.”
Project Milestones & Partnerships
YUI Mirai Project Final Presentation
On Monday, February 9th, we gathered in Yokohama for the final presentation of the YUI Mirai Project. This marked a major milestone after two years of support. 14 organizations dedicated to gender equality came together to share their trajectories and visions for the future. We shared the growth of our students and the impact of our nationwide programs. Our deepest thanks go to everyone at the YUI Mirai Project and our fellow organizations.
Lenovo Tech World Japan 2026
On Tuesday, February 17th, we were honored to present Waffle’s initiatives at Lenovo Tech World Japan 2026. As a Corporate Citizenship community partner of Lenovo Japan, we spoke about our STEM education support for girls and non-binary youth. It was a wonderful opportunity to connect with new supporters and hear their resonance with our mission.
Upcoming: Create Your Own Digital Intro Card!
Date: Sunday, April 5th | 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM (JST) via Zoom
Spring break is the perfect time to explore something new! Join us for a workshop where you’ll build a digital intro card that flips with a click. It’s a fun, low-pressure way to see if coding is for you.
- Who: Middle & High School Girls and Non-binary students (Beginners welcome!)
- Cost: Free [Register Here]
Ways to Support Our Mission
New: Donate via Yahoo! Net Fund
You can now support Waffle using PayPay or V-Points (starting from 1 point!). Every contribution helps us provide equipment and scholarships to students who might otherwise lose the chance to learn. [Visit our Yahoo! Donation Page]
Join Our Path to Certified NPO Status
Waffle is currently working toward becoming a Certified NPO, which will make your donations tax-deductible. To get there, we need at least 100 supporters to donate 3,000 JPY (or more) annually. Your support helps us stay sustainable for the long haul. [Donate Here]
Volunteer Spotlight: Technovation Girls 2026
A huge thank you to our guest reviewers who mentored our students during the March 1st mid-point pitch event:
- Grace Jin, Director of MetLife’s
- Asuka Kuwabara, CEO of Anosa AI’s
- Yuko Sasahara, CEO of NTT DOCOMO Ventures’
- Kazuaki Nakamura, CEO of Villing’s
- Mai Takeuchi, Project Manager of NEC X’s
A Message from Waffle Leadership
Kumiko Morita, Director of Waffle’s
March always reminds me of the power of empowerment. I’m also thrilled to share that I have been selected as a 2026 JWLI (Japanese Women’s Leadership Initiative) Fellow. I’ll be heading to Boston this May to dive deep into social change leadership. I can’t wait to bring these learnings back to Waffle and our incredible students. Thank you for walking this path with us!
Let’s keep pushing for a more equitable future in STEM!
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