The Gift of Giving

by Elisabeth Lambert

While the commercialism associated with Christmas has well and truly embedded itself into the Japanese social calendar, the more serious aspects associated with the event have been a little slower to take hold. In Western countries, Christmas nowadays has its commercial roots too, but whether you are religious or not, it is still closely connected with the notion of giving outside of the present-sharing that occurs amongst family and friends. Christmas is a time to embrace charity and reach out to those in our communities who are less fortunate.

Generally organizations requiring charitable assistance in Japan are not as visible as they are in Western countries—no televised telethons, heavily marketed fundraising campaigns or door knocking appeals. However, they do exist on both a local and international level, and they do rely on the generosity of those in the community to survive.

As the gift-buying frenzy commences for Japanese and expats alike, it is a good opportunity to look at ways in which giving can embrace the true spirit of the holidays.  Let the act of giving become the gift itself.

Photos by Mark Atkinson/Smile Train

Every Smile Tells A Story

As Christmas gets closer, images of smiling, happy children crop up everywhere. But have you ever thought about the importance of a smile? Understandably, most of us have never given this any in-depth consideration—a smile just happens when the time is right. Sadly for some children, this gift of communication does not come naturally.

Cleft lips, an opening in the upper lip between a newborn’s mouth and nose, and cleft palates, a hole in the roof of the mouth, are the number one birth defects in developing nations. While in the US and Europe this defect is seldom seen due to a simple surgery after birth, most families in poorer countries cannot afford the operation required to repair the problem.

Children who grow up without surgery are faced with a life full of shame and isolation. Most cannot eat or speak properly, and in some countries, are not allowed to attend school or gain employment when they are older.

That’s where the Smile Train gets on board. Celebrating its tenth anniversary this year, Smile Train has successfully completed over 500,000 cleft lip and palate surgeries in 75 of the world’s poorest countries and has never turned a patient away.

Their mission is to provide free cleft surgery for millions of poor children in developing countries and to provide free cleft-related training for doctors and medical professionals until there are no more children who need help, completely eradicating the problem of clefts.

The Dalai Lama once said, “Nobody needs more a smile than the one that cannot smile to others,” and for sufferers of cleft defects, nothing could be closer to the truth.

You can literally help a child to smile this Christmas by donating at:  www.smiletrain.org

Photo courtesy of The Salvation Army Japan

Thank God for the Salvos

Every December for the past 101 years, the Salvation Army has implemented Shakainabe around the country. Adapted from the American Salvation Army’s yearly Christmas Kettle appeal, Shakainabe translates into ‘society casserole,’ and is set up as a nabe (casserole) pot in key points around major cities in order to collect donations from passersby. The money raised by Shakainabe is put towards Salvation Army initiatives, including food distribution and relief activities. Funds also assist the organization’s various social institutes, which consist of nursery schools, children’s homes, women’s shelters, alcohol institutes, hospitals and thrift stores.

The biggest problem faced by the Salvation Army in Japan is a lack of manpower, particularly at this time of year, when the need for their services increases. The Salvation Army is calling out for volunteers to assist with Shakainabe and food distribution. Volunteers with hairdressing skills are also needed to provide grooming to the seriously ill, disabled and homeless. The Salvation Army does not discriminate amongst those they help, or their volunteers. “People may think our activities are limited to Christians,” explains Major Kazumitsu Higuchi, Salvation Army program secretary. “Our events are open for all kinds of people, which is why we focus on the Christmas season.”  Volunteer positions are also available for those who don’t speak Japanese.  Please visit the website below for more information.

Locate your closest Shakainabe and donate: Shinjuku Station (West exit), Ikebukero (East exit), Ueno Hirokoji Station, Ginza (in front of Matsuya and Matsuzakaya department stores) and Shibuya Station (South Exit).

Website: www.salvationarmy.or.jp

Photo courtesy of Oxfam

Unwrapping Oxfam

Within Japan, Oxfam is working toward raising awareness of global poverty and injustice. So this Christmas, Oxfam is providing an alternative online giving campaign, which allows people to not only do their Christmas shopping from home, but to also give something in the spirit of the season.

First givers choose a gift on offer: chicken, goat, seeds, farmer training, starting a business, education, fruit trees or safe water. Specific items provide different aid in varying countries. For example, purchasing a chicken or goat will send money to livestock schemes in India, Cambodia or Mozambique. Buying education will see money reach education projects in India and Laos.  Oxfam will then send a card with a picture of your selected item to your chosen recipient, containing details about the support you have provided on his or her behalf. Contributions are delivered directly to those who need the support.

Oxfam also holds monthly fundraising trivia nights in Shimokitazawa and have recently started signing teams up for the 2010 Oxfam Trailwalker event.
http://oxfam.jp/unwrapped/en/
http://oxfam.jp/en/whatyoucan/

Photos by Second Harvest Japan

Banking on Food

At this time of year, many of us are thinking about how to bring a touch of Christmas to our Japanese dinner tables. Yet at the Second Harvest Japan (2HJ) headquarters in Akihabara, staff and volunteers are figuring out how to simply get meals onto the tables of those within our local communities who need it.

Relying on food donations from both the private and corporate sectors, as well as volunteers for food preparation and distribution, 2HJ supplies food to soup kitchens, orphanages, the elderly, emergency shelters, single mothers, the homeless, migrant workers, and many others all across Japan.

Executive director Charles McJilton says, “Between five and ten million tons of food is thrown away each year in Japan. We are not talking about scraps either, we are talking about food that is still edible, such as canned goods, unused food products that have not expired, and rice.” Second Harvest is working towards creating a viable, fully functional food bank but still needs that extra help from the community to do so. Whether it is volunteering your time, holding a food drive at work or your child’s school, or donating food untouched and leftover from the traditional Christmas feed, all contributions are welcome.  2HJ only asks that any food donated is safe to eat and has not expired. As McJilton clarifies, “Ask yourself ‘Would I feed this to a guest?’  If you answer no, chances are we cannot use it either. If the answer is yes, then Second Harvest could use it too.”

For more information on 2HJ, please visit
www.secondharvestjapan.org

Photo ©WFP/Rein Skullerud

Unite Against Hunger

For the first time in human history, the number of hungry people is projected to exceed one billion by the end of the year. The UN World Food Programme (WFP) is asking for people to join in its efforts in the fight against hunger.

This Christmas, the WFP would like people to utilize its unique campaigns to not only assist in its plight, but also to show loved ones how special they are.

The Wall Against Hunger is an online mural of photos uploaded by supporters of the WFP. You can feed a child this Christmas by making a donation in honor of someone you love and adding their photo, complete with a personal message, to the Wall.

Which takes us to the ‘Fill the Cup’ campaign, symbolized by the red cup the WFP uses to feed hungry kids regular school meals. It takes just 25 cents to fill one cup ($50 to feed a child for an entire school year), with a full red cup standing for health, education, hope, productive families, and strong communities.

When it comes down to it, the WFP still needs assistance in spreading the word about world hunger and what it is doing to address the issue—and any contribution to the Wall or aid in filling a cup this Christmas will do just that.

http://wall.wfp.org/
www.wfp.org/how-to-help/individuals

Photo by Kerry Raftis, Keyshots

Getting Hands On

For those wanting to make a more personal charitable connection this Christmas, Hands On Tokyo will be able to link you with a wide range of flexible volunteer activities within the Tokyo community. “Finding where and how to volunteer can be a challenge, especially for busy working people or foreigners with limited Japanese skills,” explains Marjorie Dewey, executive director. “Hands On Tokyo makes it easy to volunteer by offering up projects every week. All volunteers need to do is sign with us.”

Activities range from helping to coach basketball, tennis, or bowling, teaching basic motor skills, sharing English conversation with young blind people, and doing arts and crafts projects with children or seniors living in group homes.  Hands On Tokyo manages over 200 volunteer projects each year and is always looking for new volunteers and project coordinators.  “We are open to all ages, nationalities and religions,” adds Dewey.

To get involved, please visit Hands on Tokyo at:
www.handsontokyo.org

All creatures great and small across the globe need our support.

Have a Cow Man!
Why not purchase an actual cow, a hive of honey bees or other animal gift? Through Heifer International, these creatures will go directly to families in areas of need to promote self-reliance and sustainability.  www.heifer.org

Where the Wild Things Are
Adopt a species with the World Wildlife Fund and support its global efforts to protect wild animals and their habitats.
www.worldwildlife.org

Nature’s Own
Critical habitat in some of the world’s most unique and diversified areas, such as the grasslands and savannas of East Africa and the coral reefs of the Dominican Republic, need restoration. Adopt an acre through the Nature Conservancy.
www.nature.org