Search Results

In 2021, Julien Dumont  founded the association Piment solidaire , the same year he settled in Tové-Aghessia, Togo , with a very clear idea in mind: to create an agroecological farm . Four years later, the farm employs four staff members and helps many young people settle in. Agroecology, Promotion of organic farming in Togo within a farm; Solidarity projects for disadvantaged populations; Reforestation, sustainable timber management while respecting the environment and enabling the most deprived to regain dignity through work. Contact: associationpimentsolidaire@gmail.com Website: https://www.helloasso.com/associations/piment-solidaire

Dear WannaGonners! 🌟   Guess what? We're already onto our third edition of this awesome newsletter! Yep, that's right, three editions in and we're just getting started! 😳   First things first, a huge warm welcome to all our new members! 🎉 You've joined a community that's not just cool, but also making a real difference by helping NPOs from anywhere in the world! 🌍   Let's dive right into the March highlights 🚀 📢 Previously on Wanna Gonna Our team is directly involved and leading the technical project of creating a Digital Transition Toolkit, a guide and roadmap created by IFCA  for institutionalized children to become independent in adult life! We have a dedicated team working on that and we are looking for talents who are interested to join the party and help on the technical side! You are interested ? Contact us ! 🔎 Want to make a difference and help NGOs? Check out our latest listings. ✨ What’s Up NGOs? #2 Founder Interview: YouMeWe   This month, we got to chat with the amazing Michael Clemons, the brains behind YouMeWe.   He shared with us the details about his journey to Japan, how he got started helping institutionalized kids, and how he manages his time between being a stockbroker, running an NPO, and being a father. 🌟⏳   We are going to release soon the interview ! Stayed tuned on our Blog !! 🍏 Green Snack News We're all aware that International Women's Day falls officially on March 8th, but we believe in making it a daily celebration! 🎉 This year, the theme revolves around "Inspire Inclusion," emphasizing the significance of diversity across all facets of society.   "Inspire Inclusion" is advocating for diversity in leadership and decision-making roles. Women, particularly those from underrepresented communities, often encounter obstacles to leadership positions 💜   By focusing on inclusion, organizations and communities can harness the full potential of diverse perspectives, leading to better decision-making and innovation. 🌟 Education and awareness through initiatives such as mentorship programs, workshops and resources are key players in empowering women. 📚💪   The entertainment industry has a significant influence on shaping societal perceptions and attitudes. Filmmakers have a unique opportunity to promote diversity and representation on screen, inspire audiences, and challenge existing stereotypes.   As we celebrate International Women's Day 2024 and reflect on the theme of Inspire Inclusion , let's all put efforts into creating a world where all women are empowered, valued, and included. Stéphanie Stay tuned for next month Wanna GoNews !

Nekoten House is a registered Non-Profit Cat Sanctuary committed to providing the highest level of care for abused, abandoned, terminally-ill and senior felines. Located in beautiful Chiba, Japan, the sanctuary was founded by a Japanese woman over 10 years ago. Together with her daughter they provide care for over 88 cats. The founder’s biggest goal was to establish a safe and healthy environment for cats. She wanted to give this place a name that is reflective of the special Heaven-on-Earth like atmosphere, so she decided to name the sanctuary “NekoTen”, which means ‘Cat Paradise’ in Japanese. The cats at the sanctuary are all housed in clean rooms and are all spayed and neutered. End-of-life care using a natural, holistic approach is provided for all cats. Unlike other animal organizations we do not foster or adopt out the cats. NekoTen House is their forever home. We are not accepting cats at this time as we have reached the maximum capacity. Our goal is to provide the best life and highest, quality level of care for terminally-ill, elderly, abandoned and abused cats. Location : Chiba - Japan Contact : nekotenhousejp@gmail.com Website : https://www.nekotenhouse.org/

Welcome to the kick-off of our "NPO Founder Interview" series! In each episode, we'll be chatting with the inspiring minds behind various Non-Profit Organizations (NPOs). Our goal is to dig into their personal stories—finding out what motivated them to start their NPO, the challenges they faced, and what keeps them going. Get ready to discover the unique journeys of NPO founders and stay tuned for a monthly dose of inspiration ! Getting to know you 🔍 Can you tell us more about yourself? I’m Mizohata Sachiko, born on August 11th, 1950. I dedicated my life to Mikkyo Buddhism and am working as a caregiver even after turning 70. I occasionally work as a soothsayer in Sogo, a shopping center located in Yokohama. What triggered you to start the NPO? I have always loved cats. At that time, I was living in Kyushu, in my family house, a place with a huge land. People kept bringing me cats they couldn’t take care of. At the same time, even though I installed the right infrastructure to keep all the cats on my land, I started having problems with my neighbors who disliked cats. I guess it was the turning point and I started looking for a new place. I initially thought of Nagano but I had an intuition that it had to be in Boso, Chiba prefecture. It took me a lot of time to find the right land, but after weeks of research, I finally found a place that was not listed in real estate agencies.  There were delays in construction, unexpected invoices, and other things that made the whole process extremely tedious. I had no plan to create an NPO but based on the advice from my surroundings, I understood that it was a necessary step to gain legitimacy from society. Launching the NPO 🚀 What were the difficulties when you first started? The whole construction was a hassle. I have asked three different local construction companies but none of them respected my requests, asking for a huge amount of money. I ended up asking a company based in Fukuoka, it was much cheaper and more effective. At that time, I had no idea about how to set up an NPO. I asked a couple of people that I knew in my network, who then introduced me to lawyers, accountants, etc, and they all agreed to help me launch the NPO, handling all the legal and administrative aspects of the creation. How did you cover the cost from the beginning? One of my requirements was to not run the NPO for business and make it completely non-profit. I didn’t want to ask people for money and therefore, the NPO was running with my funds. For many years we had 5 to 6 employees and the salaries were also paid with my savings. Did you get any support from your surroundings? It was not from my surroundings but from people I would randomly meet. Neko Ten House has been facing real financial challenges for the last 2-3 years, to the point that it is sometimes difficult to even afford the commuting price to my other workplace.  Yet, there’s always someone who crosses my path and offers to help me without anything in return. There was this time in the supermarket when I was trying to find a way to get some cat food. Then I saw a lady, holding a cart full of luxury cat food, I talked to her asking if she could spare one for me. She said no because those were for her cats, but when that lady found out that I was running a shelter for cats, she offered me money instead. She had a very strong relationship with her cats and believed that doing good for animals was good fortune. I guess I overcame all the recent challenges with the unexpected help from like-minded people. Challenges 🌄 What keeps you going in the difficult times? It’s my love for cats and animals in general. Here at Neko Ten House, we accept all cats, even those diagnosed with incurable diseases, we accept and we dedicate all our efforts to taking care of them until the very end. I initially wanted to call this place Paradise, but the name was already taken by other businesses. Tengoku is paradise in Japanese and Neko is cat so I shortened Tengoku to TEN and it became Neko Ten House, meaning that paradise for cats is right here, on earth. I also pray every day, spirituality is part of my life and I believe good things happen to people who take care of and save animals.  What would you do differently if you had the opportunity to go back in time? I would do the same thing. My philosophy is focused on right now and the future. I have a couple of ideas and projects in my mind that I would like to set up. For example the creation of a small-scale nursing home for the elderly where they can live with their pets. In addition, I'd like to build a separate home exclusively for pets (similar to a senior care facility). For a fee this place will serve as a permanent home for pets whose owners are no longer able to care for their furry companion. Conclusion 🧭 How can people get involved with or support your organization's mission, whether through volunteering, donations, or other means? Right now, we are accepting all forms of help, cat food, cat litter sand, volunteering, and donations. I notice that people are willing to help one or two times but it is difficult to find someone who comes and helps us in the long term. I strongly believe in the importance of looking after animals, and that includes of course loving them, providing the right living environment, and of course taking the responsibility to look after them until the end. The animals will give it back to you.  This is my philosophy, we are “Neko First” (cat first, before us). The interview in video: (In Japanese language) How to support NekoTen House ? There are several ways to support them. If you want to volunteer locally in Chiba, you can directly contact them: nekotenhousejp@gmail.com If you want to support them by donation, here are several ways ! Bank Transfer             Bank Name: Japan Post Bank (ゆうちょ銀行）             Branch Name: 058 ( 〇五八） 　　　 Account Type: Futsu/Savings Account ( 普通預金)            Account Number: 5717515 (or 10580-57175151)            Account Name: 特定非営利活動法人ネコ天ハウス *For US or overseas bank transfers, please contact: nekotenhousejp@gmail.com Donating Amazon Gift Cards : nekotenhousejp@gmail.com Amazon Wish List https://www.amazon.jp/hz/wishlist/ls/UMKRFF1U3CAV?ref_=wl_share The Cat Sanctuary has a list of items needed every month.

AnimO is an educational exotics sanctuary where we take in and care for exotic animals while we focus on teaching people the difference between exotic and domesticated animals in hopes that people can make better decisions when choosing a pet. We also take in domesticated animals on death row to rehabilitate and train to be good house pets, and train dogs to be therapy dogs or emotional support dogs to try to tackle the issue of lack of mental health care in Japan. Her Mission AnimO’s primary mission has two parts. The first is to rescue exotic animals from the pet trade and euthanasia, to rehabilitate them if need be, and to give them lifetime sanctuary. The other is to educate people about the difference between domestic and exotic animals. The reality is that exotic “pets” have not gone through the domestication process enough to thrive in life in captivity. Exotic animals have adapted to live in very specific conditions which we cannot provide them, therefore keeping them as pets and depriving them of their basic needs is abuse. We want to help people make better choices about bringing home a pet. Since it’s not possible for captive-bred animals to be returned to the wild, we try to replicate their natural habitat as closely as possible and provide enough enrichment for them to live a quality life. AnimO’s secondary mission is wildlife rehabilitation/release and repopulation. Location : Togane, Chiba - Japan Website: https://www.animosanctuary.org/

Moo Mow Garden is an NPO dedicated to transforming the lives of cows and restoring neglected lands in regions affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake. Managed by the Friends of the Hometown and Heart Association, Moo Mow Garden operates under the leadership of Satsuki Tani, who aims to create vibrant spaces where people, animals, and nature can thrive together. Moo Mow Garden（もーもーガーデン） は、東日本大震災の影響を受けた地域で、牛たちの命を救い、放棄された土地を復活させることに取り組むNPOです。ふるさとと心を守る友の会が運営するMoo Mow Worldは、谷さつきの指導のもと、人と動物と自然が共存できる活気ある空間を作ることを目指しています。 Our mission involves using cows, affectionately known as our "mowing team," to graze on overgrown fields and gardens. These cows have a natural appetite for weeds and underbrush, effectively clearing even the most overgrown areas. Doing so, they help prevent the spread of wild vegetation, reduce wildlife overpopulation, and prevent wildfires. Our innovative approach revitalizes the local ecosystem and provides a sustainable model for land conservation. 私たちの使命は、「草刈り隊員」として親しまれている牛たちを利用して、雑草が繁茂した畑や庭を草刈りさせることです。これらの牛は雑草や低木を自然に好み、最も茂った地域でも効果的に草刈りを行います。これにより、野生植物の拡散を防ぎ、野生動物の過剰繁殖を抑え、山火事を防ぐ手助けをしています。私たちの革新的なアプローチは、地域の生態系を復活させ、持続可能な土地保全モデルを提供します。 Our Activities Include / 私たちの活動内容: Land Conservation/土地保全: Utilizing cows to naturally manage and restore overgrown fields and gardens, preventing wildfires and reducing illegal dumping. 牛を利用して、雑草が繁茂した畑や庭を自然に管理・復元し、山火事を防ぎ、不法投棄を減らします。 Wildlife Control/野生動物の管理: Reducing the wildlife encroaching into residential areas by clearing their natural hiding spots and creating a separation between their habitat and the city. / 野生動物の隠れ場所を取り除き彼らの生息地と人間の居住区を分けるくことで、イノシシなどの野生動物が住宅地に侵入するのを防ぎます Ecosystem Revitalization/生態系の復活: Helping restore the local ecosystem by maintaining vegetation and promoting natural biodiversity./植生を維持し、自然の生物多様性を促進することで地域の生態系を復元します。 Agricultural Land Restoration/農地の復元: Transforming neglected and overgrown agricultural lands into usable and beautiful spaces, reducing the labor and cost associated with traditional land maintenance./放棄された雑草が繁茂した農地を美しく使いやすい空間に変え、従来の土地管理にかかる労力とコストを削減します。 Community Engagement/コミュニティの関与: Collaborating with local farmers and experts to implement sustainable land management practices and involving the community in conservation efforts./地元の農家や専門家と協力し、持続可能な土地管理を実践し、地域社会を保全活動に巻き込みます。 Sustainable Model Development/持続可能なモデルの開発: Creating a replicable model for other regions facing similar challenges, demonstrating the potential of natural resources for environmental conservation and community rejuvenation.同様の課題に直面する他の地域に再現可能なモデルを作成し、環境保全と地域再生における自然資源の可能性を示します。 Flora Revival/植物の復活: Protecting and reviving local flora such as cherry blossoms, plums, persimmons, blueberries, kiwis, strawberries, roses, lilies, and irises, which have flourished due to the cows' grazing activities./牛の放牧活動により桜、梅、柿、ブルーベリー、キウイ、いちご、バラ、ユリ、アヤメなどの地元の植物を保護し復活させます Moo Mow Garden was established in the aftermath of the Great East Japan Earthquake, as a response to the abandoned cows left to fend for themselves. Our initiative has not only saved these resilient cows but also provided a solution for land conservation and community rebuilding. Through our efforts, we strive to protect and enhance the coexistence of people, animals, and nature, ensuring a brighter future for all. もーもーガーデンは、東日本大震災の後、取り残された牛たちを救うために設立されました。私たちの取り組みは、これらの牛を救うだけでなく、土地保全とコミュニティ再建のための解決策も提供しました。私たちは、これらの努力を通じて、人と動物と自然の共存を保護し強化し、すべての人々にとって明るい未来を確保することを目指しています。 Support Us: We invite everyone to support and follow the amazing work of our cows and the dedicated efforts of the local community. Together, we can continue to nurture this harmonious space where life flourishes. 私たちを支援してください: 皆さんに、牛たちの素晴らしい活動と地元コミュニティの献身的な努力を支援し、見守っていただきたいです。共に、命が輝くこの調和のとれた空間を育み続けましょう。 Contact: moomowengineer@gmail.com Website: https://moomowgarden.or.jp/ https://www.moomowworld.com/

Our mission as Youth For Future is to support the development of children in underprivileged communities by leveraging our community of international students from across Japan and fostering a service-learning mindset. Managed by university students, our management team creates various volunteering opportunities for both high school and university students, known as our Kaizen Projects. The Kaizen projects we run at Youth For Future aim to enhance child development in underprivileged communities through three key aspects: increasing their access to basic necessities, providing free educational support, and offering emotional support. Current Kaizen Projects: Collaboration with “Kodomo-Shokudou” to ensure they have enough resources to support their causes while providing free academic tutoring to the kids who go to such facilities. Support orphanages in Japan and overseas through partnering up and working together with other NPOs such as YouMeWe. Our global project aims to support underdeveloped schools overseas, such as Mvita Primary School, which we have continuously supported by raising funds to improve the environment and quality of education. We provide them with school stationery and other resources to enhance the quality of education. Contact: yfforg@gmail.com Website: https://www.yfforg.com/

Welcome to our second episode of our "NPO Founder Interview" series! In each episode, we'll be chatting with the inspiring minds behind various Non-Profit Organizations (NPOs). Our goal is to dig into their personal stories—finding out what motivated them to start their NPO, the challenges they faced, and what keeps them going. Get ready to discover the unique journeys of NPO founders and stay tuned for a monthly dose of inspiration ! Getting to know you 🔍 Can you tell us more about yourself? I’m originally from Napa California, from a family of 13 half and step siblings. I was the first one to leave the country. Back in 1989, I had the opportunity to follow a friend to Japan, it was a euphoric experience as it was the bubble economy, it felt like everyone won the lottery. After coming back to San Francisco I started to look for jobs in Japan and eventually came back to work as an accountant at the University of Maryland, based in Yokota. During the same period, I was working as an English teacher to earn more money as the dollar was weak, commuting around 4 hours a day. A few years later I started a banking job. What triggered you to start the NPO? In 2007, I was appointed COO at Barclays Securities.  At that time my roommate in college had his 1st child born with Down syndrome so I had that in my mind. Second, I was asked to play Santa Claus in an orphanage and I never really left after that. I was mostly handling numbers at my banking job and felt like something was missing so I started an initiative called the “Speakers Series” where we invited interesting people to share their stories during lunch time in Bloomberg. One of the invitees was a lady who lost her child to Down syndrome and created this community to gather people who had a family member with Down syndrome. The concept evolved and they launched the Palette Bakery. I initiated the “Colleague Appreciation Day”  where employees bought cookies from the Palette Bakery, the sales were up to 700 000 JPY that day, everything was sold out, they made an enormous profit, employees got to thank each other and raise awareness to this cause at the same time. In 2008, someone approached me to request money to organize the Designing Artists Academy, an annual summer arts camp in Tokyo that offers children in orphanages a unique opportunity to experience arts. It was during the Subprime financial crisis but Barclays managed to assign over 2 million USD for charity just in Asia. Launching the NPO 🚀 Tell us about your journey until the launch of YouMeWe During my time at Barclays, I launched a program where employees come together to focus on different charitable activities. This program is still going on today as part of YouMeWe. In 2011, when I was working at Nomura, we raised over 20,000 USD from employees' pockets to donate to the Japanese Red Cross after the 2011 earthquake and tsunami. In 2013, through Living Dreams (Note: at that time, Michael was the director of partnerships, the NPO is focusing on building digital literacy for Japan’s orphans and foster children), we established the Digital Citizenship Program and bought 350 PCs for children as it became a requirement for people to be connected. Donors had donated over 50 million JPY to the Tohoku Region for Living Dreams, and the money was used to clean radiated soil and to continuously monitor radiation levels in the region with the remaining balance for the computers. I always had something in myself to look after kids who couldn’t defend themselves. A bit of figures In Japan, over 3 million children live below the poverty line. Despite having 600 orphanages in the country, only 5% of them had access to Wifi, and only 9% of the children in these orphanages were attending university. Moreover, 33% of these children are behind their educational level due to various reasons stemming from their unstable living conditions. Now 100% of the homes have Wifi, over 30% go to university yet the 33% who are behind remains. With YouMeWe, we were founded to provide support to 33,000 children in orphanages and 14,000 children in foster care. However, there are still 2,953,000 children in Japan living below the poverty line who need assistance. In 1990, Japan changed its laws regarding child abuse. Failure to report witnessed child abuse is now considered complicity. The number of reported child abuse cases surged from 1,500 in 1990 to 250,000 cases in 2022. YouMeWe was officially founded in 2018 YouMeWe is focused on providing a foster home in a safe environment. We work with a program in Nagoya called YouKiKai  where we train parents who lost their child due to abuse. They can undergo training and, under supervision, regain custody of their children. "The Empower Village” is a place like home for youth who are beginning to live independently. YouMeWe offers them technical support, supplies, and a place to study. Even after turning 18, the kids are always welcome to the Empower Village whenever they need it. www.empower-village.com The kids have control over the future and if they don’t know what they want clearly, I tell them that, what they want is the opposite of what they don’t. And then work to have a clear direction. How do you balance your job/family /YouMeWe? As a stockbroker, my day always starts at 4 or 5 AM. During the day, my kids are in school, which is their responsibility, and since they are doing well in school, I can focus on my job. The kids know that nothing comes for free; this is my vision, and I make sure to share this with them. I was surprised to discover that one of my daughters is interested in single mothers; she spends a lot of time watching YouTube videos about this topic. The other one wants to help people in situations similar to Helen Keller's. I have a passionate lifestyle, but I am constantly looking at my calendar as time is precious. It’s like managing a "time wallet." It takes a lot of discipline to maintain a strict, organized schedule. How many people are working on YouMeWe right now? The “Diplomats” consist of 4-5 people working daily. A total of 300 people are registered, especially during COVID-19, but the recurring volunteers are typically around a dozen. Roles include Area Managers and Home Coordinators. If you want to know more about YouMeWe and how to help us, there is the YouMeWe Clubhouse, an online event platform where discussions on upcoming events take place. It provides an opportunity for people to learn about how they can contribute and help the community. Conclusion 🧭 What advice would you give to someone interested in starting their NPO? Do it, but it's important to have a dedicated board that is committed to raising awareness and funds, aligned with your objectives. You also need to find people who are seeking solutions alongside you. How can people get involved to support YouMeWe? Internal Roles: Volunteer Management /Financial Management / Communication Coordination / Project Management / Liaison with Donors External Roles:  Area Managers / Home Coordinators / Dedicated Volunteers for Each Home Skill Development: Encourage individuals to learn various skill sets and become super users. Provide certification to enable them to train others effectively. Any upcoming events you want to promote? We are collaborating with a couple of NPOs and organizations The Beads of Courage with Shine On Walk around the Imperial Palace with Mirai no Mori Juneteenth Gala on June 14th. The FULL interview in video: (In English)

Dear WannaGonners, Can you believe it's already the end of February? Time flies when you're having fun, and speaking of fun, it's time for our second edition of WannaGo News! So much has happened in just a few short weeks 🏃‍♂️ First of all, we would like to give a warm welcome to all the new members on the platform ! You've made the right choice and we hope that you'll get part to meaningful volunteering activities this year ! Now get cozy, grab your favorite beverage ☕, and let's dive into the highlights together! 📢 Previously on Wanna Gonna Wanna Gonna is officially globetrotting! ✈️ Wanna Gonna is reaching new frontiers, seeking ambassadors worldwide to expand our NPO network. Ambassadors in France and Sweden are already engaged in our missions. Our newly onboarded ambassadors have already made some concrete contributions to Wanna Gonna: Developing new resources to support our NPOs Shared our mission with their personal network Contacting several NPOs sharing Wanna Gonna ambitions and values Bringing fresh perspectives to the team Empowering Change Globally! Let's keep up the momentum and make a global impact 🌎 ↑Olivier, our French Ambassador who joined us this year ! Welcome to the team Olivier !↑ 🔎 Want to make a difference and help NGOs? Check out our latest listings. ✨ What’s Up NGOs? #1 Founder Interview: Neko Ten House For some of you who didn't know, Wanna Gonna launched its Founders Interview segment last month, where we discuss with the inspiring minds behind various NPOs. Our goal is to dig into their personal stories—finding out what motivated them to start their NPO, the challenges they faced, and what keeps them going. Last month, we discussed with Sachiko MIZOHATA, founder of Neko Ten House. Check out her story 🍏 Green Snack News Have you heard about this awesome App called Mymizu? It's seriously changing the game when it comes to staying hydrated and helping out the planet at the same time – talk about a win-win! Basically, Mymizu is like your trusty sidekick for finding places to refill your water bottle all across Japan. Although more 80% of PET bottles are recycled in Japan, 1 person per year could consumer to about 180 bottles! With Mymizu you can help decrease the waste from plastic bottles. With just a few taps on your phone, you can locate refill spots nearby and fill up your bottle for free! Plus, the app is super easy to use and actually kind of fun. You can and track how much plastic you're drinking with every refill. It's like a little eco-friendly game that keeps you in check. But here's the best part – Mymizu isn't just an app, it's a whole movement. They're teaming up with businesses and local communities to spread the word and make it even easier to find refill stations. It's all about coming together to make a positive impact on the planet. So, if you're all about staying hydrated, saving money, and doing your part for Mother Earth, then Mymizu is definitely the app for you. Let's hydrate, save the planet, and spread some good vibes along the way! 🌍💧 Audrey Stay tuned for next month Wanna GoNews !

Hello Wanna Gonners! We are happy to announce that Wanna Gonna is launching its very own newsletter 🎉 Don’t worry, we are not planning to spam you. Or maybe just a little but it’s for the greater cause because after reading our newsletter, you will be on page with our latest activities. We will also be sharing news from our super cool NGOs! Last but not least, every month, one of our team members will select a “green snack news” for you to conclude the newsletter on a positive note. What’s green snack news? Well, it’s a short news highlighting actions undertaken to achieve the SDGs in the world. So all you want for 2024 is to become a better person? Start by subscribing to our newsletter 😉 📢 Previously on Wanna Gonna We wanted to let you know that our annual report for 2023 is now available and can be accessed by anyone! If you want to know more about all our accomplishments and have a deep dive into our amazing Transition Toolkit project, everything is right here 😉. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions or comments, we are always happy to hear from you! 🔎 Looking for a volunteering activity? Check out our latest listings ✨ What’s Up NGOs? AnimO is currently fundraising! AnimO Sanctuary is working to improve the lives of animals in Japan. With the support of people all over the world, they make a difference in the lives of dogs, cats, monkeys, birds, and much more... They seek help to expand their activities, please have a look at their GoFundMe campaign! Kawakuji Animal Rescue has joined our platform! Founded in 2019 in Ibaraki, Kawakuji is a network of fosters and volunteers whose goal is to care for neonatal kittens, sick, injured, and senior animals until they are ready to be placed into forever homes. They are looking for volunteers to help them manage their events and social media accounts. Take a deeper look into their activities! 🍏 Green Snack News January 24th International Mobile Phone Recycling Day Did you know that January 24th is the International Mobile Phone Recycling Day? Did you also know that our mobile phones and other electronic devices contain minerals, mostly extracted from mines in eastern DRC? And that the extraction areas are located in the habitat of great apes. AND over 4.6 billion smartphones were in circulation around the world in 2023, which means, half of the global population is equipped with one. The Jane Goodall Institute, an NPO specializing in wildlife and environment conservation has launched in 2019 the “International Mobile Phone Recycling Day” to inspire actions around recycling and extending the life of electronic devices. 65% to 85% of the materials can be recycled. Got an old smartphone? Take it to a recycling center, and help out! 🌍📱♻️ Stéphanie Stay tuned for next month Wanna GoNews !

Our Mission Kawakuji Animal Rescue was founded in 2019 in Ibaraki, Japan by a small group of like-minded individuals to be a safe haven for the most vulnerable populations of animals. We are a network of fosters and volunteers whose goal is to care for neonatal kittens, sick and injured animals, or seniors until they are ready to be placed into forever homes. In addition, we give back to our community by stopping the cycle of newborn kittens being born on the street by maintaining a TNR (Trap, Neuter, Release) program. By teaching our community the significance of TNR and continuing to grow our network, we hope to improve the lives of all pets and animals in Ibaraki. Ways You Can Help Foster. Donate. Adopt. Email address: kawakujirescue@gmail.com Website: https://www.kawakujirescue.org/

I'd like to share a success story that perfectly embodies the vision behind Wanna Gonna. On one hand, we have SEGO, the first non-profit organization to partner with us in their search for skilled volunteers, and they ended up helping us as much as we helped them, but I'll save that story for another post. SEGO is based in Fujisawa, Japan. On the other hand, we have Guillaume, a French architect living in Hong Kong. SEGO was hosting a large-scale beach cleaning event, expecting around 300 participants. This was their most significant event since the onset of Covid-19. It also featured a free art exhibition showcasing artwork from various artists focused on ocean conservation. To obtain the necessary permits for the event, SEGO had to provide details such as the event layout, the number and size of tents, their orientation, and more. The timing couldn't have been better for online volunteering, as Guillaume had just returned to Hong Kong, which required him to quarantine in a business hotel for a few days. This quarantine period gave him the perfect opportunity to create the required layouts (after some exchange with SEGO). I'll let you be the judge of the request drawing, Guillaume's output (which is literally art within art !), and the actual installation. I think this was amazing output and amazing event as I was fortunate to be there on that special day. The initial draft: The output from Guillaume : And the installation of the event itself !