Booksocial contribution activities
Training of dressmaking technology for single mother and open of dressmaking shop/operational support
Forgotten conflict
In Democratic Republic of the Congo, 5.4million lives lost by conflict.This number is almost same as population of current Hokkaido and it is said that it is the biggest conflict in the world after second world war.Also, at least over 30000 children were conscripted as a soldier and over 200000 girls and women were victims of sexual violence. In spite of great sacrifice,it is not foucused on in international community and it is called “forgotten conflict”.
Even now, in Eastern Congo, residents are forced to live an unstable life because of raid and food plunder by armed forces,and it cannot be said that sufficient aid activities are being carried out.Especially, single mother who became a mother at ayoung age are in a very difficult situation to rebuild their lives.
A place to work for women living in conflict
In this project, for fifty women living in conflict, we carry out vocational training of dressmaking techniques and support for opening a dressmaking shop.If they have dressmaking techniques, they can open a small dressmaking shop with their budddy.In the shop, they can earn income by making school uniforms and repairing villafers’ clothes. Thanks to that, single mothers who used to have almost zero cash income can get livings. In the end, not only satisfying clothing, food and residence, getting their chidlen to school id the big goal.And also, interaction with customers who come to the shop is useful for regaining ties with the villagers.
Thanks to support from THE BRIDGE HOTEL SHINSAIBASHI, graduation safely and from now on
Thanks to support from THE BRIDGE HOTEL SHINSAIBASHI, all 50 people got dressmaking techiniques and graduated safely in august 2018.
From now on they are going to open dressmaking shops. It will be possible that single mothers earn income, satisfy their chidlen’s clothes, foods and residences, regain a stable life and realize a more rewarding life.
Many of the women who opened dressmaking shops through our support become to be able to live on their own now.The women who used to live a life of being able to eat or not being able to eat one meal a day until they opend the dressmaking shops are now they can give their children nutrious foods.（In this area, there is a situation like many children are still malnourished and unable to live until the age of five and die）
Also, they bring thier small children to work and work by moving the stepping machine while taking care of the children. In the workplace, they can always talk about not only work but also their children’s future.
Because the conflict is still restless and many people are forced to live in poverty, the problems they have does not become zero.However, despite having various problems, in connection with the surroundings, they are able to regain their daily smile and live a life powerfully.
Republic of Burundi Support for infrastructure development of producer cooperatives
The poorest country in the world, Republic of Burundi
After independence from Belgium in 1962, the Republic of Burundi, located in Central Africa, has been devastated by the conflict between Hutsu and Tsuchi and is now the poorest country in the world.(GDP per capita is the lowest in the world) After the civil war, life reconstruction for orphan, child soldier and the poorest people who live on less than 1 dollar a day due to the effects of the conflict is one issue.
Most of the locals are small-scale microfarmers who make a living from major grains and coffee cultivation, but they do not have enough income and depend on some unstable sources of income(cash crop cultivation), making them economically vulnerable.Before implementation of this project,they could only make a living by selling cash crops on limited land, and the amount of money(about 50 en per day) was well below the international poverty level(about 200 yen per day).Also, the time when this income was earned was only due to work during the farming season, and there was almost no work during the four months of the dry season.
Achievements and challenges so far ~Beekeeping business~
The project last year allowed 98 people who conflict victims and the poorest to get jobs even during the off-season, and now beekeeping, ceramic industry, and primary processing technology for agricultural products have enabled people to secure three new sources of income.
In that, Dotonbori hotel has supported the beekeeping businesss.
We also opened a store at the Christmas market hosted by the Burundi Tourism Agency last year.(2017.12.21～12.25)
The customer response to Amahoro honey was good, and within the third day from the start, we were able to sell out al 111 pieces we brought, and earned 268,000 burundian franc(about 17,000yen).In addition to the fact that the booth visitors liked the taste of honey, we received calls that they want to buy the honey again even after the event, indicating that demand is high.On the other hand, since the production volume is not keeping up with the demand, how to increase the production volume together with the technology will be raised as a future issue.
（※）About a producer cooperative: A mutual aid organization in which residents engaged in production activities jointly invest, establish abusiness entity, and cooperate in economic activities such as production and sales to carry out democratically
to make a sustainable business
In this project, in addition to the beekeeping business that has been supported so far for conflict victims and the poorest people who have learned the primary processing technology of ceramic industry and agricultural products, so that we can jointly earn higher and more stable income, we will o the following two things ①Registration with producer cooperatives and follow-up of management and operation after registration, ②Forming a joint savings group and creating habits for savings and small-scale investment. In ①, we will carry out training on the management and operation of producer cooperatives, conference / meeting monitor producer cooperative registration, operation/follow-up ring for management/advice after registration and peace education workshop to strengthen cooperation among members. In ②, we will carry out on-the-job training on joint savings schemes and joint savings group savings and small investment cycles and activity monitoring and advice.
Also, they became to be able to earn income jointly, completed registration of producer cooperatives(※) with organizations / governments and started operating an independent business. Even though I sometimes face problems, I run it while coming up with various ideas within the union. On the other hand, for those who have never had the opportunity to work together, due to insufficient experience and knowledge about the operation of the union, we feel that it is necessary to follow up on the management and operation of the union as a future issue.
（※)About producer cooperatives：A mutual aid organization in which residents who engage in production activities jointly invest in each other to establish a business entity and cooperate in economic activities such as production and sales in a democratic manner.
Deepening People’s Connection
By working together to produce, sell, and ship products through cooperatives, we can provide more stable income opportunities and strengthen the community’s ability to adapt (resilience) to risks from disease and natural disasters. Also, if managed properly, unions can provide not only the economic benefits of sharing costs and making more profits, but also the social benefits of increasing unity among people.
