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Campaign for the Children of Palestine
A Tokyo NGO unveils a postcard fundraiser for children in Gaza
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Courtesy of Campaign for the Children of Palestine |
Most of the images we see from the conflict in Gaza are not pretty. Photos of the dead and wounded, destroyed buildings, grieving family members and angry protesters abound. But one Tokyo organization is working to balance that negativity by calling attention to some good that’s being done.
The Campaign for the Children of Palestine (CCP) is a Tokyo-based NGO that has been working since 1986 to support the education, health and human rights of children in the war-torn area. The group works with neutral, local NGOs to provide health and social services, as well as raising awareness in Japan. “We don’t want children to be killed or victimized because of the situation there,” says CCP director Yoshiko Tanaka.
The CCP has been supporting humanitarian programs like the Atfaluna Society for Deaf Children, which opened the area’s first school for hearing-impaired kids. Students from preschool to middle school levels learn from a full curriculum taught in Palestinian Sign Language. The Atfaluna Society is also involved with community awareness and vocational training for the hearing-impaired.
Other CCP efforts include the Happy Smile Dentistry Project, offering dental services and education to Palestinian children in refugee camps in Lebanon; a program to support traditional Palestinian embroidery; and an art exchange of children’s paintings between Japan and Palestine.
In January, the CCP launched a fundraising campaign using an unlikely medium: postcards. Sold in sets of five for ¥1,000, the cards feature a variety of pictures, including a woman practicing traditional embroidery, a Gaza beach, and Palestinian children playing and using sign language. On the reverse, the cards offer information about the situation in Palestine and contact details for the CCP.
“We wanted to combat a lot of the negative imagines of Palestine, such as terrorists and war,” Tanaka explains. “We wanted to show that Palestinians are just like us. They have families, lives, dreams, futures.” She also hopes the postcards can help overcome another hurdle faced by local NGOs. “I think Japanese hesitate to just donate money, so if they can buy something, they feel more comfortable.”
The funds raised from the sale of the postcards, which can be purchased by postal transfer or through the CCP website with a credit card, will go to three programs.
The first helps supply basic necessities like food and clothes to children in Gaza, and the second funds the work of a nurse that the NGO dispatched to the region early this year. The third program attempts to alleviate the psychological trauma suffered by local residents—the World Health Organization reports significant increases in the number of people seeking treatment at community health centers, which are often understaffed and overworked. With around 50 percent of children in Gaza reporting personal experience of conflict-related violence, the CCP is hoping to make counseling and other psychological services more widely available.
Tanaka is aware that their contributions may only have a limited impact on such large problems. And yet, as she puts it, “It’s a small thing, but we have to do what we can.”
For more information about CCP see http://ccp-ngo.jp, email ccp@bd.mbn.or.jp or call 03-3953-1393. To purchase postcards, see the website or request sets by email.
| Village Voices |
■ Love soccer, teaching English and getting out of Tokyo on the weekend? Then round up some friends and enter the ALT Soccer Tournament. This year’s test of footie prowess will be held in Sugadaira Kogen, Nagano, with registration closing on May 2. Men play 11-a-side and women play 6-a-side on a half pitch, with participation limited to 20 teams each. Part of the registration fee goes to The Pepy Ride, a charity that supports increased access to education by building schools and providing educational opportunities in rural Cambodia. If you want to get involved without breaking a sweat, the tournament is also looking for sponsors.
May 16-17. Email Chris Moore at ALTSoccerTournament@gmail.com or see http://tinyurl.com/altsoccer for more details.
■ The Tokyo Marathon is over for this year, but don’t put away those sneakers just yet. Tokyo English Life Line’s 10th Annual Walk and Runathon lets participants enjoy the greenery around the Imperial Palace while getting some exercise and helping a good cause. The event includes 5km and 10km runs, or, for those who prefer a slower pace, a 5km walk. Giveaways, prizes for the winning runners and even refreshments are also on offer. Registration starts at 9am, and the money raised will support TELL’s confidential English counseling in Tokyo.
May 2. Email Taeko Yamada at admin@telljp.com or see www.telljp.com for more details. JO
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