Although various brochures and informational tools have been developed in recent years to promote foster care among adults, there have been few materials designed for children themselves. As a result, some children are placed into foster care due to abuse or other reasons without sufficient understanding of what foster families are. Amid a growing national emphasis on family-based care, there emerged a need for design that ensures children’s rights—particularly their right to express their views—are respected. In 2019, Masahiro Takita (Kyushu University) was commissioned by the Nippon Foundation and the Public-Private Council for the Promotion of Child and Family-Based Care, and collaborated with UMA/design farm to plan and design the kit. Since September 2022, the kit has been published and sold by the General Incorporated Association Welfare and Design.
TOKETA is a tool designed to support children living in, or preparing to live in, foster homes—including foster children and birth children. Comprising three types of cards and a guidebook, it facilitates dialogue between children and foster caregivers to help build trust and foster understanding of life in foster care.
Award: Special Jury Prize, 18th Kids Design Award
Related Link: https://toketa.jp/
