The Japan Association for Refugees (JAR) provides comprehensive aid and critical support for refugees who have fled to Japan. Staff and volunteers begin assisting refugees immediately following their arrival and continue to offer support until refugees are self-supporting. In addition to providing direct support, JAR actively works on advocacy and networking to promote institutional reform and public relations campaigns to raise awareness for their cause.

Recently, I had the pleasure of working with Miyuki Nobu, JAR’s Public Relations Director, at the Japan Association for Refugees’ annual Dan Dan Run charity event. Close to 300 participants ran or walked around the Imperial Palace gardens to raise money for the organization. At the event, I had the opportunity to ask Ms. Nobu about the challenges JAR faces. Her response provided valuable insights into the issues refugees, and those providing them assistance, face in Japan:

“It is extremely difficult to be granted asylum in Japan. Last year, only 20 were recognized [as refugees] while JAR assisted 723 individuals. Plus, there are few public support[ers] while people are waiting for the results of [their] application, which takes [on] average 3 years. It is not rare for people to become homeless right after their arrival, because there is no one they can turn to. Our challenge is to keep fighting for the rights and lives of people seeking asylum in Japan against adversity…raising funds is also a major challenge for us as we receive almost no funds from the government, and we are mostly funded by donations from individuals.”

Though seeking asylum in Japan is an uphill battle, the Japan Association for Refugees will never give up fighting for the rights of refugees in the country. Their tenacity has not gone unrewarded. The JAR team has relocated to a larger space near Suidobashi Station thanks to the generosity of several donors.

JAR is always in of volunteers for various tasks within the organization. If you find yourself with free time on Tuesdays or Thursdays, consider helping JAR between 3:00pm to 6:00pm to help collect food from the Second Harvest’s Akihabara location.

For other volunteer opportunities, connect with the Japan Association for Refugees directly. You can follow the organization on Facebook and YouTube.

Watch this video to see JAR’s staff and volunteers in action!

The post July Community Service Feature: Japan Association for Refugees (JAR) appeared first on FEW Japan.

In April of this year, eleven women of various backgrounds met at the Mercer Cafe in Roppongi to discuss volunteerism in Japan. Over coffee and french toast, the attendees, from both the private and public sectors, asked volunteer work experts how they could find volunteer organizations that can benefit from their specific skill sets.

One of the experts in attendance was Mari Kiyota of Baamboo, an organization that aims to globally connect non-profit and non-government organizations with skilled professionals.

During brunch, Mari discussed digital volunteering, a new volunteer-based concept that intrigued several attendees. Digital volunteering refers to volunteer activities completed entirely or in part online. It is also known as remote volunteering, e-volunteering, or virtual volunteering. Some of the popular activities in this area of volunteerism include research, writing, graphic design, software maintenance, legal work, and medical consultation.

In addition to connecting volunteers to organizations, Baamboo also provides workshops. The goal of each workshop is to introduce business-minded concepts for NPOs and NGOs seeking to enhance their impact globally or locally. Baamboo has partnered with organizations such as the Foundation of Orthopedics and Complex Spine (FOCOS) to help generate building ideas and to strengthen marketing and social media skills.

After spending this past year researching and writing about local NPOs, I’ve asked each organization featured in this blog what their primary challenges and struggles are. Aside from funding, many NPOs expressed a true need for skilled volunteers for consulting work, translating, and web management. Baamboo is a fantastic solution.

For our FEW members seeking to expand your resume or looking to utilize the skills you have, Baamboo can connect you to organizations in need of your expertise! Sign up using Baamboo’s website, list any and all skills that you think will be viable for social impact organizations.

Use the link here to sign up.

Be sure to keep an eye of Baamboo’s numerous events and workshops. You can follow them via Facebook.

Remember, no matter what skills you have, you can always make a difference!

The post June Community Services Feature: Baamboo appeared first on FEW Japan.

APRICOT’s MISSION

APRICOT’s sole mission is to raise awareness and funding for children with mental health illnesses formed from the March 11 natural disaster to receive long-term mental health care and resources. According to APRICOT, a recent government survey suggested 1 in 3 children in Tohoku are already suffering from mental illnesses such as anxiety, depression, and possible early developments of PTSD, to name a few. The head of the NPO, Andrew Grimes, focuses on making sure the world sees how important it is for children to overcome this devastating ripple effect that extends seven years and beyond. Below are a few examples of some of APRICOT’s work:

Mr. Grimes isn’t alone in his journey, the members of APRICOT are made up of a group of like minded humanitarians who volunteer their time to make sure every yen donated goes towards other mental health NPOs working directly with children of Tohoku and other cities across Japan affected by the earthquakes and tsunami. This is especially important for Japanese families who no longer or have never received government assistance for moving forward with their lives. These volunteers also help with hosting community rebuilding events and one-to-one treatment sessions for many with mental illnesses.

APRICOT, like other organizations, are faced with raising the funds required to help children receive the therapy they most desperately need. So far, funding has been made possible through a few corporate donations. Corporations or ‘APRICOT NPO Angels’ are companies who regularly support APRICOT and put them one step closer to their goal. One such group is the UK and Japan social media firm Mantra Media run by Johnny and Jason Pawlik who are lifetime supporters of APRICOT. They, alongside Josh Stinton of Outspire are preparing Josh on his cycling journey across the entirety of Japan for awareness of children’s mental health. The proceeds of his journey will go to APRICOT.  

Nonetheless, one lifetime member is not enough. The need is still great. Mr. Grimes invites anyone who is interested in their company or organization in becoming an APRICOT NPO Angel, please send an email to teamapricotchildren@gmail.com.

How Can You Help APRICOT?

If you are interested in assisting APRICOT individually or with a friend there are few ways you can lend a hand!

• Are you great at organizing fundraising events? APRICOT is currently looking for someone who can organize such events in the Tokyo area for the international community.
• Monthly or one-time Individual online donations are also possible via www.apricotchildren.org/donations
• Follow Josh Stinton on his cycling journey across Japan in support for APRICOT here:
  • Instagram: @joshoutspire
  • Twitter: @Joshstinton
• Follow APRICOT on their Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/apricotchildren

Other Organizations who focus on on the well being of children:

Mirai no Mori                                                       Shine on Kids

The post May Community Services Feature: APRICOT appeared first on FEW Japan.

As hanami season comes to a close, many of us are preparing for the new work or school year. While some welcomed March’s spring weather joyfully, March can also be the most depressing or mentally debilitating time for a person or family in Japan. Sadly, 21,140 people lost their lives to suicide in Japan during the 2017-2018 year. And though Japan is seeing an annual decrease in suicide rates, March and April have

Our International Community’s Support Center

In a country where Japan has the world’s second highest suicide rate coupled with its lack of addressing mental illness, TELL Japan, has courageously taken the helm to combat the stigma of mental illness and to provide mental health counseling. Established in 1973, they were the first English-language lifeline, becoming one of the most well known organizations in Japan’s international community. 20 years later in the 1990s, they created a counseling center and in recent years have been conducting effective community outreach programs.

As some of our FEW members may know, TELL Japan is not just a telephone hotline. Their mission to promote positive mental health extends to face-to-face counseling and building awareness about the less discussed mental health issues. FEW Japan has had an impactful partnership with TELL in the past by introducing members to TELL as volunteers or as a resource for counselling.

TELL’s Own Call for Support

TELL Japan is one of the longest running foreign organizations and with the international community growing more each year, the request for TELL’s counselling services are in high demand, essentially outstripping resources. TELL is making a call to the international community it has served for 45 years to continue counseling friends, loved ones, co-workers, or anyone who has been personally affected by a mental illness of any kind. Even micro-donations of 300 yen can help them address the growing need for counseling.

TELL is relieved to see there are more foreign residents coming to terms with their mental illness and are receiving counseling for it. The organization has immense gratitude for their volunteers who help connect people to TELL’s services through awareness and to the volunteers who answer each call that comes in. Even getting out into the Tokyo and Kansai areas through comedy shows, marches, and self-care events to raise awareness and prevent suicide is one of their proud moments. They are more than happy to volunteer at existing events or partner with others to build awareness throughout the community.

What You Can do to Support TELL

There are a ton of great things you can do to show your support or donate to TELL. This April there is a very diverse lineup of events in the Tokyo area:

April 4th: Pub Quiz

April 20th: Academic Talk on Mental Health diagnosis

April 21th: Yokohama Workshop About Art Communication Aimed at Parents

April 25th:  Workshop About Parenting With Mindfulness

May 19th: Band Night at What The Dickens in Ebisu

If you know anyone in the Kansai area, please share with them TELL’s information! Kansai events and webchat services are also available.

Also, If you are someone who would like to help TELL through donations of time or money, or by spreading the word about their services, please visit http://telljp.com/help/ or ask for Selena Hoy, a fellow FEW member, at one of our monthly meetings.

The post April Community Services Feature: TELL Japan appeared first on FEW Japan.

1. Matahara Net

Short for “Maternity Harassment,” Matahara Net focuses on helping women overcome workplace discrimination over pregnancy through consultations and training programs to companies. This NPO works with both maternity harassment victims and companies where maternity harassment has happened or could potentially happen.

One of out every five women in Japan have experienced a form of maternity harassment and 60% of women leave their jobs due to pregnancy. Matahara Net is working to change law and promote better protections for women employees who are holding off starting a family for fear of matahara and/or mothers who have experienced it. As the first organization in Japan to specifically combat maternity harassment and promote diversity and inclusion in the workplace. The organization is also run by people -men and women- of all backgrounds.

For more information about what Matahara is and how you can create a conversation around it, you can visit their website here or purchase their discussion DVD for your own Japan-based company here.

2. Resilience

This organization raises awareness of domestic violence for Japanese and Japanese-speaking women. They have recently expanded that awareness and support to non-Japanese and English-speaking victims as well. Through it’s website, Facebook, Meetup, and other social media channels the organization conducts over 100 workshops and training sessions a year.

Sachi Nakajima, the woman at the helm of bring awareness (and our March 2017 Monthly Meeting Speaker), began the Resilience NPO in 2003 in hopes to provide support to those who have suffered from emotional or physical abuse, child abuse, sexual trauma.

3. Lighthouse

It’s hard to ignore the dangerous appeal of Japan’s child-like idols, JK “high school girl” worker, and sexual exploitation of female imagery. Lighthouse sheds light on these particular subjects and more by:

• • Providing private consultation services

• • Training and educating law enforcement officers and government officials

• • Organizing awareness through campaigns and seminars

• Lobbying the government to change legislation

Each of these tactics help in combating human trafficking and support sexually exploited women. With the help of their Blue Heart comic book they hope to help in the establishment of anti-human traffic laws in Japan by 2020.

4. TELL

It could be said that TELL is the leading organization that provides support and counseling services to the international community in Japan. From topics such as women’s mental health issues, parenting and eating disorders to helplessness with adjusting to life in Japan, trained volunteers are there to answer the phone or text for those who need a shoulder to lean on or someone to listen.

Since taking the first call in 1973, TELL has expanded to handling more specific cases regarding children, person to person counselling, and is now a part of the Federation of Inochi-no- denwa, or Lifeline Federation. The organization even goes above and beyond for emergency medical translation services and can even connect you with English-speaking police officers.

In addition to its phone counseling services, TELL offers a range of outreach programs to schools and other organizations to raise awareness of various issues such as date rape, sexual violence, and suicide prevention.

As part of this year’s International Women’s day  #PressforProgress campaign, in Japan, the following three areas play a vital role in bringing about change:

1. 1. Effective training of police, lawyers, medical examiners, nurses etc. is essential to have a positive supportive impact on the survivors of sexual violence, and not create more trauma.

1. 1. Support for survivors in languages other than Japanese is also needed.

1. Education at the community level to change people’s attitude to rape and sexual violence is urgently needed. Efforts that focus on the prevention of sexual assault/violence can reduce the likelihood of multiple victimizations in womens’ lifetimes, thereby curbing negative mental health effects.

TELL is looking for funding to deliver a dating violence program in high schools and colleges across Japan to promote insight and prevent abusive relationships among youths.

If you would like to sponsor or find out more information, please contact us at lifeline@telljp.com. All across the world women are raising their voices and making positive gains day by day. Let’s make sure that Japan also continues to #PressforProgress, and equality for all.

Or if you want to sign up to be a volunteer for this amazing and highly dynamic organization, sign up here.

5. College Women’s Association of Japan (CWAJ)

The CWAJ is a non-profit volunteer organization that focuses on both Japanese and international women who are interested in academics and cultural exchange. The organization holds monthly luncheons and other activities in Tokyo to create lasting bonds and opportunities for women to share their cultural experience with their Japanese peers.  Through meaningful volunteer activities, members empower and inspire each other to create an enduring, positive impact on our communities.

For over 50 years  CWAJ has provided scholarships for women wanting to further their studies both in Japan and overseas. Other scholarships are open to both men and women: those for visually impaired students and for Fukushima nursing students. These scholarships are funded by donations and by the proceeds from the CWAJ Print Show, an annual exhibition and sale of Japanese contemporary prints which was organized for the first time in 1956.

If you are interested in applying for a scholarship or if you would like to donate and help young women become more culturally aware of their world, click this link here.

Five Events You Can Go to in Honor of International Women’s Day

1. UN Women Japan Liason Office HeForShe Seminar – “Choose Your Own Mindset” ~ To Live Your Own Life and Choose Your Own Workstyle~
In Support of HeForShe  UN Women Movement for Gender Equality

2. International Women’s Day Workshop: Challenge Stereotypes & Bias

Hosted by Tell, this workshop seeks to have an open discussion dismantling gender biases. Topics of discussion will be the #MeToo movement and practical ideas to change society and influence the younger generation.

When: Saturday, March 10 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Where: Wesley Center- Minami Aoyama
Admission:  Free
Register here: https://www.facebook.com/events/349602878856085/

3. INSEAD International Women’s Day in Tokyo

The Japanese chapter of INSEAD Women in Business Club will be hosting a  “Women in Business” event on International Women’s Day. There will be an interactive session and discussion regarding “women in business” and “diversity.”

Invited speaker, Global Supply Chain Sustainability Director, Veronique Rochet will share some of her views on the topic. Seats are limited to 25 for this exclusive event and tickets are sold on a first-come-first-served basis.

When: Thu, March 8, 2018 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM JST
Where: Tenoha Daikanyama, & Style Restaurant Kitchen Studio
Fee: 6,000 Yen
Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/insead-international-womens-day-in-tokyo-tickets-43285631489

4. Shibuya Omotesando Women’s Run 2018

Join 5,000 women and families for a run down Tokyo’s famous fashion district. Every year 5,000 women in the latest colorful running gear enjoy the chance to run through the heart of the city. Whether you’re running or coming to cheer, make the most of this memorable day!

When: Sunday March 25, 2018 09:00 ~ 10:30
Where: Yagaiongakudo Yoyogi Park
Fee:  5,000yen
Register here: http://womensrun.jp/english/

5. FEW Monthly Meeting – Celebrating Women as Change Agents in Post-Disaster Tohoku

FEW Japan welcomes you for its own celebration of women who have been diligent changers in the earthquake and tsunami stricken Tohoku area. Come listen and speak with Megumi Ishimoto of NPO Women’s Eye and political scientist, Dr. Jackie F. Steele discusses several examples of diverse young women who are agents of change for their community.

When: Thursday March 15th / 19:00 – 22:00
Where: Minami Azabu Centre Hall
Fee:  Members ¥2000 (Associates ¥1500) / Guests (Women only) ¥5000 / Students and Interns (Women only) ¥3000 (includes salad/finger food buffet and soft drinks/wine)

The post March Community Services Feature: Five Tokyo-Based Organizations That Fight For or Empower Women appeared first on FEW Japan.

In October of last year, FEW Japan had the pleasure of welcoming three panelists to discuss multiculturalism in Japan. Among them, Angeli Narandran, International Coordinator of Peace Boat, spoke with the FEW ladies about how to create conversations and environments to foster multiculturalism in Japan. Ms. Narandran regaled us with the mission and history of Peace Boat touring Asian nations while having tough discussions regarding pain caused by Japan in the early 20th century.

For this month’s feature, I had a very informative conversation with Robin Lewis, International Coordinator for Peace Boat Disaster Relief Volunteer Center (PBV). Surprised to hear there was a separate entity dedicated to disaster relief within Peace Boat, I asked him to explain both.

Peace Boat was established in 1983 by a group of Japanese university students eager to address the issues of government censorship regarding Japan’s aggressive military actions in the Asia-Pacific area. These students toured nearby nations in Asia to learn first hand about the war from those who directly suffered from it. 35 years and 60,000 passengers later, Peace Boat is on its 96th voyage from Yokohama (Jan. 8) to its farthest point in New Zealand (Feb 12) and back to Yokohama (Mar 4) through Papua New Guinea. During their journey, these participants are currently assisting local residents in visiting nations while fostering people to people relationships. They are also listening to guest speakers, such as Nobel Peace laureate Rigoberta Menchu, discuss special projects they are focusing on while en route to their next destination.

What is the Peace Boat Disaster Relief Volunteer Center?

While Peace Boat continues to foster cooperation and unity between people of different nations, Peace Boat Disaster Relief Volunteer Center (PBV) is the disaster relief arm of Peace Boat. It not only focuses on disaster relief aid but also long-term support to areas affected by disasters.

The 1995 Kobe Earthquakes was the first time Peace Boat participated in any disaster relief efforts. Peace Boat in turn coordinated hundreds of thousands of volunteers to assist in the disaster giving them the idea that it could utilize its resources and ships to send goods when possible. With the March 11 earthquakes in Tohoku, Peace Boat realized how severe the situation in Tohoku was and created the separate entity, the disaster relief volunteer center.

Fun Fact: Did you know that ship routes are actually planned months or sometimes years in advanced?

It’s impossible to simply set a course and sail out at a few week’s notice. What’s even more surprising is that rule remains even in the wake of a disaster where people are desperate for aid. However, when a disaster hits, Peace Boat takes advantage of their pre-scheduled routes by loading their ships with volunteers, food, water and other disaster relief necessities to domestic or international areas. For example, just a year ago, Chile had been stricken by horrendous forest fires burning about 180,000 hectares of land. Because Peace Boat typically travels to Chile for its global voyages, they were able send aid. There have also been long-term disaster relief response projects in Haiti (2017), Nepal (2015), Vanuatu (2015).

PBV’s Challenges

Despite the amazing ability PBV has to quickly amas humanitarian aid there is still an all-to-familiar challenge to the division. Like many of our past feature organizations, PBV relies on donations and grants. PBV has been able to create its own revenue through disaster relief training workshops to families, companies, and embassies however it’s difficult to fund support and awareness for smaller and lesser known disasters. There are plenty of donations that come in for large earthquakes that have media coverage but what about areas affected by a flood, or mudslide, or fire that get very little attention? The lack of awareness makes it difficult for PBV team to provide the aid needed for those situations.

PBV’s Greatest Accomplishments

Being about to quicking coordinate aid and volunteers like this is what Mr. Lewis feels is Peace Boat and PBV’s greatest achievement. In just the first year of PBV, they were able to coordinate 13,000 volunteers to go to Ishinomaki, Miyagki Prefecture. It’s said to be one of the biggest mobilizations of both Japanese and internationals volunteers from 53 countries in history. PBV worked with local governments to clean damaged homes, provide food and water, and rebuild and promote for local industries such as the fishing and tourism industry. The PBV Ishinomaki Headquarters are still there to this day having shifted from emergency response to long-term recovery support. Mr. Lewis himself has been a volunteer coordinators for PBV for seven years and characterizes his job as helping people help people.

How Can the FEW Ladies Help PBV?

If you don’t have an emergency supply kit yet, PBV currently sells emergency supplies packed by those with disabilities living in Tohoku. Profits are for each kit goes towards funding employment opportunities and training for other Emergency projects. You can order one here.

Also, for more information on Peace Boat or the PBV, you can follow them on their Facebook page. For any donations to Peace Boat, they can be sent here.

And of course if you are interested in participating in on of Peace Boat’s voyages as a passenger or volunteer, you can get more information here.

The post February Community Services Feature: Disaster Relief with Peace Boat & PBV appeared first on FEW Japan.

Happy New Year to the FEW community!

This month we are featuring another phenomenal NGO in the Tokyo area, Human Rights Now!

Human Rights Now (HRN) is Japan’s first home-grown human rights advocacy organization founded in 2006 by a group of attorneys, scholars and journalists. The NGO currently has 700 members who work towards the promotion and protection of human rights in Asian nations as well as nations outside of Asia. HRN acts as the native hub for human rights in conjunction to its international counterparts including London’s Amnesty International and New York’s Human Right Watch.

HRN cover many issues including women’s rights, children’s rights, and empowerment projects. For over 10 years, they have worked to hold countries such as China, India, the Philipines, Myanmar and more to address violations committed and to create steps to reverse those violations. HRN members, Kelsey Lehner and Cade Mosley where gracious enough to answer a few questions during the holiday season and were very open about HRN’s successes and a few of its challenges.

As an NGO, HRN also faces funding challenges similar to other NGOs. Due to HRN’s unique UN special consultative status, it is imperative for the organization to stay neutral in its approach and relies heavily on grants and donations..

Another challenge unique to Human Right Now is awareness. Awareness of human rights violations and awareness of how people such as FEW Japan members can be of help to international victims of human rights abuse. According to Mosley, people just like you and I have significant power to hold international governments and corporations accountable for their actions or their decisions that directly or indirectly condone human rights abuse. Because potential volunteers view themselves as powerless against international human rights crimes, it can be difficult for HRN to get audiences to have empathy for the human rights victims they are trying to rescue.

An example of how great they are, HRN supported their Hong-Kong based partner, Students and Scholars Against Corporate Misbehavior (SACOM), to release an investigative report on labor rights abuses in a UNIQLO supplier factory. Following a press conference on the report HRN began an awareness raising campaign. Both created a lot of media attention. HRN then began negotiations with the operating company which owned the factories in question. The two sides were able to come to an agreement for the company, Fast Retailing Group, to release a plan to improve working conditions at the almost 150 known factories. HRN continues to this day to follow up on ensuring Fast Retailing continues to implement all of the points in its plan and to eventually disclose all of its suppliers. This was one of HRN’s proudest moments and is proof of how powerful the real awareness of human rights abuse is.

How can we make this amazing organizations become even more powerful in combating human rights crimes? HRN are currently selling 2018 calendar to fund their work. You can purchase one in English at info@hrn.or.jp. You can even donate directly via their website.

In addition, there are also awareness-raising events every month. Check out their Facebook page and Meetup Page for monthly updates.

Other human rights advocacy groups in the Kanto area:

Lighthouse: Center for Human Trafficking Victims

http://lhj.jp/english

The post January Community Services Feature with Human Rights Now appeared first on FEW Japan.

“When you experience a disaster, when you lose everything that was important, your world falls apart. You lose hope. You lose purpose. You lose the capacity to recover. Those who survived the disaster now must survive the recovery.” – Angela Ortiz, Founder of A Place To Grow

A Place To Grow is an organization that aims to break away from the short term disaster relief NGOs we see in Japan today and create a more lasting and socially driven effort to rebuild communities. The organization originally began after the subsequent events that stemmed from the March 11, 2011 earthquake disaster. As families in Tohoku began to pick up the pieces of their lives, APTG created interactive workshops facilitated by international and local volunteers to help educate communities, particularly children, to become self sufficient once more. Ideally, APTG’s effects in one community inspire survivors who in turn support new disaster victims in other communities.

A Place To Grow’s Unique Strategy

Where many traditional disaster relief NGOs focus on providing food, water, and shelter in the wake of a disaster, A Place To Grow provides emotional and educational recovery with the children of these recovering communities. Children who have suffered a loss participate in art, media, or sports-oriented workshops that allow them to express themselves and redefine their lives from being dependent to being independent. Building self-sufficiency in a recovering community is one of APTG’s most important goals. Another such goal is connecting recovering communities with each other to foster positive and lasting relationships.

The Challenges for A Place To Grow

Because of their unique approach to fostering stronger communities and self-sufficiency, Angela Ortiz and her co-director Tyler Harder’s biggest challenge is finding international and local volunteers who are committed to a more recurring role to children and their families in these recovery areas. One of the benefits of volunteering with A Place To Grow is that volunteers not only help a recovering community gain back their strength, but that they also maintain relationships with those survivors through APTG workshops and events. Angela fondly remembers a time when one of the children she interacts with began calling her “Angela” instead of “Angela-san” as used the year before. Creating a bond with children survivors is key to helping them develop their ability to express themselves. Having an ample number of familiar-faced volunteers are key components of APTG’s success.

How can we ladies at FEW help?

There are numerous ways we can help A Place To Grow cultivate creativity, expression and recovery in the many affected areas in Tohoku. This month, Angela, Tyler and the APTG team will be conducting the Santa Soul Train on December 16th, 17th and 18th. APTG volunteers will be carrying Christmas cards and Secret Santa Stockings to almost 1,312 children across Tohoku. FEW members are more than welcome to decorate a christmas card for one or more Tohoku children or purchase a Secret Santa gift stocking for one or more children at 3,000 yen per stocking. If you would like your company to sponsor a large number of children, there are multiple corporate sponsor options as well.

We are happy to announce that A Place To Grow will be present for FEW Japan’s 2017 Bonenkai Party on Friday, December 15th at the HR Roppongi Hotel.

————————————

Other organizations you can support during the Christmas season are:

Mirai no Mori

Is a non-profit organization that creates life-changing outdoor programs for abused, neglected, and orphaned children in Japan. Their mission is to support each child’s growth into a happy and successful young adult. Become a volunteer here!

The Make a Wish Foundation

The Make a Wish Foundation is an organization that contributes towards the wishes of children living in Japan, between the ages of 3 and 18 years old, with life-threatening illnesses. Become a volunteer! Show your support here!

A Playground for Hope

The Playground of Hope aims to restore the “social fabric” of disaster-affected and/or economically challenged communities through the power of play.  This is done by providing cost-effective play equipment and pairing donors with local volunteers to build play spaces that restore community pride and help make communities “livable” again for children, their parents and grandparents. Help build a better community here!

The post December Community Services Feature with Angela Ortiz, Founder of A Place To Grow appeared first on FEW Japan.

With Winter and the holiday season around the corner, many of us are mapping out our plans for the upcoming thanksgiving dinners, bonenkai, Christmas celebrations, and the like.

As we make merry in our end-of-year celebrations, we should still be mindful that in Japan there are 20 million people who live below the poverty line with food insecurity trying to make it through the season as best they can with the little they have for their families. In fact, Japan is ranked number 4th for relative poverty among OECD nations.

For 15 years Second Harvest Japan has been matching surplus with unmet need in Japan. They partner with food manufacturers, importers, and retailers to provide services directly to those in need and the many welfare institutions, NPOs, and faith-based groups that serve them. In Kanto alone they serve 300 such organizations each month.

Fresh from a business meeting, I was able to speak with the founder and CEO of Second Harvest Japan. It was amazing to hear about their ambitious plan to create a food safety-net to serve those in need. Currently, none really exists and so this is a ground-up effort.  

By 2020, they are aiming to have a safety-net in place to serve 100,000 people in Tokyo. They estimate there will need to be 75 distributions per week to accomplish this goal. Currently there are only 10. Their main task is getting churches, temples, and other community based organizations to host a distribution, even if it is only once a month. Second Harvest Japan is more than willing to provide the food if there is space available to host a distribution.

His second challenge is making sure there is enough “gas” in the car. We are talking about funding. What is incredible is how efficient they are. For every ¥1000 cash donation they are able to deliver 40 meals. “Not even the Red Cross can provide that level of efficiency,” points out Charles McJilton. The main reason behind this incredible number is that all food is donated and an incredible large team of volunteers. Last year over 33,000 hours were donated.

Taking a break from the challenges of Second Harvest, Mr. McJilton discussed with me what he was most proud of in Second Harvest. He beamed at the question and admitted it was a hard one – as Kiei and Steven from Run for the Cure have said. He said with earnest, he was very humbled and proud that Second Harvest has 25 loyal staff members who could work anywhere but choose to work with him and complete his goal to providing people with enough food. He’s also grateful for the over 100 volunteers who come and help prepare and serve food each week for those who need it. Lastly, he was grateful to work with numerous for-profit organizations as well as welfare organizations that collaborate well and promote innovation.

So how can FEW help Second Harvest?

To ensure the Second Harvest car keeps running, the team welcomes any and all financial donations. If you’d like to donate to Second Harvest, you can do so, here.

Also, if you’re available the evening of December 2nd, the ACCJ, the American Chamber of Commerce of Japan, will be hosting a charity ball in Second Harvest’s honor. Three additional organizations (Mirai no Mori, NPO Institute of Medical Care and Societal Health, and Living in Peace) will also be recognized as well. To register for this event, please click here.

I strongly request all of our FEW members to help Charles McJilton create a bigger and stronger food safety net across Japan.

Other organizations who help in the fight against hunger are: Sanyukai  (http://sanyukai.or.jp/english.html)
A free medical clinic that offers health care to those can’t afford medical care nor health insurance. Food is often needed to feed many of their patients.

The post November Community Services Feature with Charles McJilton of Second Harvest appeared first on FEW Japan.

The Run for the Cure Foundation is a Tokyo based non-profit organization dedicated to eradicating breast cancer in Japan as a life-threatening disease through education, timely screening, and treatment. For over a decade, organizers at Run for the Cure have provided community outreach programs and education initiatives to increase the awareness of breast cancer.

Since 2004, the Run for the Cure Foundation has served thousands of women by donating six mammography machines to local areas where women are underserved. Their dedication to providing cancer screenings and improving the quality of life among breast cancer patients and survivors is truly inspiring.

Recently, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Kiei Kim, the Awareness Program Manager and Marco Magnani, the Events Manager. Kim and Magnani are two members of the trio who operate the foundation. Though only managed by a small group of three, the Run for the Cure Foundation has a 12-member board of trustees and partnerships with six major international corporations. In addition, a diverse and dedicated teams of volunteers helps the organization with administrative work and fundraising events throughout the year. The funds they raise at events such as the Pink Ball, allows the foundation to develop and conduct breast cancer education programs.

Kiei Kim works with companies across Japan to conduct the Lemon Project. The project’s goal is to teach men and women how to recognize the signs and symptoms of breast cancer through self-examination…using lemons!  A shout out to FEW members who work for or have connections with companies in the area: consider having Kim and the foundation bring the Lemon Project to your company. The seminar is free of charge and can potentially be life saving.

Let’s not stop there in giving the Run for the Cure Foundation our support! As FEW members, we can offer our support as active participants in the foundation’s annual events. Events such as the Cuisine for the Cure, Casino Night and The Pink Ball. Also, don’t forget the actual Run for the Cure/ Walk for Life Marathon around the Imperial Palace this December 2nd. The Run for the Cure is not a race! Every participant can run or walk at their own pace. If cardio is not your thing, no problem. You can participate as a volunteer by passing out water, assembling gift bags to corporate groups who are running, or helping with preparations prior to the race.  There are also various booths and performances to enjoy. The event is family friendly to both participants and volunteers. For more information on how to become a volunteer or to participate, click the link below:

https://runforthecure.org/en/tokyo-run/

The team at the Run for the Cure Foundation is proud of the work they do and have done. Their commitment to breast cancer awareness knows no bounds. They are very much looking forward to a chance to visit FEW during one of our monthly meetings or annual events.

If you are interested in volunteering with the Run for the Cure Foundation in any capacity, please email the Community Service Director Tia Haygood at community.service@fewjapan.com

The post October Community Services Feature: Tokyo Run for the Cure appeared first on FEW Japan.