Ikigai Project
"What is the Ikigai Project and why did you start it?"
In December 2020, our Curves of Growth team officially launched the Ikigai Project. As a part of this program, mentors, or “experienced” scoliosis patients (most of whom have worn a spinal brace for at least 1 year, have received spinal surgery, or are currently doing physical therapy for their condition) are matched with a group of 4-5 mentees. These mentees, whose scoliosis is newly-diagnosed, are guided by their group’s mentor in various aspects of the bracing and surgery experience. All of our mentors are devoted to fully connecting with their mentees and becoming their trusted friends whom they can rely on. Through engaging workshops, interactive Q&A sessions, and exciting game nights, mentors work with the Curves of Growth Leadership Team to give mentees all the love and support that they need to embrace their conditions.
Our team also strongly believes in the importance of not only raising awareness for scoliosis ourselves, but encouraging others to do the same. We have a wonderful team of support friends, or teens without scoliosis who are currently working toward informing today’s society on the different experiences that scoliosis patients must endure, even at very young ages. By participating in simple yet effective outreach tasks and inspiring their family, friends, and classmates to become a part of our initiative, support friends play a vital role in our organization. Each mentor group will have 2 support friends (in order to make sure that each support friend does not feel "awkward" or uncomfortable as a participant without scoliosis). By becoming a part of our Ikigai Project, they will be able to have a deeper understanding of how scoliosis affects youth in their communities.
​
Please remember that if you sign up to become a mentor, mentee, or support friend, you are only required to share what you feel comfortable with sharing during discussions/group talks! Curves of Growth respects that everyone has aspects of their scoliosis journey that they may not feel comfortable sharing with others, especially during the first few months of meeting your mentor group, and that's perfectly understandable! Please read the below for more information of who mentors, mentees, and support friends are.
Become A Mentor
Mentors are scoliosis patients who’ve worn a spinal brace for at least 1 year, have received spinal surgery for their condition, or have undergone physical therapy treatment. They are each in charge of a small group of mentees (around 3-5 newly-diagnosed scoliosis patients), who will be matched to them based on the similarity of their experiences. Within this mentor group, mentors and mentees are able to give each other valuable encouragement and support, providing all of them with a safe community to share their questions and concerns. Mentors will be hosting meetings with their individual mentor groups each week through Zoom/Google Meet, or any other video-call platform, unless there is a special event scheduled by the Curves of Growth Leadership Team. The Leadership Team will provide each of the mentors with discussion prompts and activities for the mentors to lead prior to the date of their mentor group meeting. These discussion prompts and activities can be used to initiate meaningful conversations and encourage members of the group to share their thoughts, ideas, and advice.
​
Mentors also have the amazing opportunity to host fun club workshops about topics that they’re interested in in which any member from our organization can attend. Similar to the support friends (please scroll down to read about who support friends are as well!), they have the ability to schedule game, study, or tutoring events with the Leadership Team and prepare their own activities for all of our Curves of Growth members to participate in.
​
Become A Mentee
Mentees are newly-diagnosed scoliosis patients (we don't place strict limits on how long "newly-diagnosed" is; if you are a scoliosis patient who would like to receive guidance from our mentors, feel free to sign up anyways! Whether you have a brace and would like advice regarding the bracing process or are about to undergo surgery and would like tips on how to recover quickly, all of our mentors have joined our organization from different walks of life and would be more than happy to have personal conversations with you about how they have learned to embrace their scoliosis (and they would love to show you how you can embrace your own scoliosis curves, as well)!
​
Each mentee would be matched with a mentor group and exchange contact information with the members of their group. Every week, mentor groups would meet up during their own scheduled time through a video-call platform of their choice. A member of the Curves of Growth Leadership Team will be checking in with each mentor group every week, making sure that mentees feel comfortable with those in their group at all times and feel safe in this support group environment. Besides the weekly mentor group meetings, mentees will be able to engage in fun workshop sessions scheduled by the Curves of Growth Leadership Team regarding different topics of bracing, surgery, physical therapy, etc. and mentors/support friends will be able to host game, study, and even tutoring events in order to allow for close bonding opportunities between all Curves of Growth members.
Become A Support Friend
Support friends are individuals who do not have scoliosis themselves but are passionate about raising awareness for scoliosis and the physical as well as mental difficulties that scoliosis patients endure on a daily basis. These applicants will be matched with a newly-diagnosed scoliosis patient based on their interests, from baking yummy desserts to watching K-dramas or anime! Besides encouraging them and offering a listening ear, they can become game or study buddies together. Support friends can also host interactive workshops of their own based on their hobbies (ex. a "Learn How to Make Origami" workshop) in addition to fun game nights for all members of Curves of Growth to attend!
​
Each mentor group will have two support friends and will engage in engaging discussions about not only scoliosis itself, but about mental health and the importance of taking care of your own body. Support friends will be able to share their insights on what it means to "love yourself" and will contribute to discussions on other topics as well. Along the way, they will be able to learn about the different kinds of scoliosis and their methods of treatment, as well as how scoliosis can affect one's view of themselves.
​
Support friends will also play a key role in spreading the word about our organization to others through various social media platforms, such as Instagram and Discord, and will serve as "ambassadors" of Curves of Growth. They will also have the opportunity to participate in different outreach tasks; for example, they can reach out to hospitals/clinics with scoliosis programs to explain to them what Curves of Growth is and how we would like to make a positive difference in the lives of those they are treating. Of course, our Leadership Team will be there for them every step of the way in order to guide them toward contributing toward our cause, which is to bring together those with scoliosis and those without it to create healthy friendships and a safe atmosphere for all.