August 6, 2007

 

For Immediate Release¡¡

100¡¡Orphans from Iraq, New York and other nations are in Japan now!

8/9¡ÊThurs.¡ËChildren¡Çs Conference and Shinjuku Donation Drive

 

ASHINAGA, a leading nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to assuring all bereaved children be afforded equal opportunities, is holding its 8^th annual International Camp from Aug 1 through Aug 16. Over 100 orphaned children, representing 18 nations, have gathered from around the world to join hands in Japan. In attendance again this year are children from New York who¡Çve lost parents in the 9.11 terrorist attack, war orphans from Iraq and Afghanistan and children suffering losses in the tsunami that struck the coastal nations of the Indian Ocean in 2004.

 

The children will participate in a variety of inter-cultural activities to promote peace, understanding and healing. The centerpieces of this year¡Çs Camp will be the Children¡Çs Conference and the Donation Drive in Shinjuku. The money collected from the donation drive will be used to purchase airline tickets so that representatives from this year¡Çs Camp can deliver a thousand origami cranes to the UN Secretary General and/or US Presidential Candidate Hillary Clinton in early September. An ancient Japanese legend promises anyone who folds a thousand origami cranes a wish and we hope to deliver the dreams of these children to those who can make a difference.

 

The International Children¡Çs Conference

Launching the Voice of the Children to the Leaders of the World

 

Date and Time:       August 9, 2007 (Thurs.), 10:00 to 12:00

Participants:           Orphan representatives from 18 nations (including the US, Iraq and Afghanistan)

Contents:               Sharing of loss experiences and summarization of the Children¡Çs message to the world¡Çs leaders

Venue:                   National Youth Olympic Center (International Conference Room)

                            There is NO CHARGE for entry

 

Donation Drive in Shinjuku

¡ÁDelivering the Children¡Çs  Message to New York¡Á

 

Date and Time:       August 9, 2007 (Thurs.), 14:00 to 15:00

Contents:               Orphan representatives from 18 nations (including the US, Iraq and Afghanistan) call for donations

Venue:                   In front of the Odakyu Department Store (Shinjuku Station West Exit) and Keio Department Store

Donations:            Donations are being accepted at: Postal Account 00190 - 9 – 59337 ¡ÈAshinaga Support for Overseas Orphans Window¡É

 

Please address any questions or inquiries to:

Yukichi Okazaki, International Section (Ashinaga Ikueikai)

¢©102-8639 Tokyo-to, Chiyoda-ku, Hirakawa-cho 1-6-8 Kaizaka Bldg.

Tel: 03-3221-0888

Cell: 090-2434-3274

E-mail: okazaki@ashinaga.org

HP: www.ashinaga.org

 

The 8th Ashinaga International Summer Camp

 

Schedule:              Aug. 1, 2007 (Wed.) to Aug. 16, 2007 (Thurs.)

 

Participants:          [Orphans from 18 nations/100 domestic orphans] 1. Civil War, Terrorism, AIDS etc. (Iraq, Afghanistan, New York, Uganda, New Orleans, Niger) 2. Tsunami Orphans (Banda Aceh, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Malaysia) 3. Earthquake Orphans (Turkey, Taiwan, Columbia, Algeria, India, Iran, Pakistan, Yogyakarta)

                            [1000 Japanese orphans] 1. 350 Ashinaga (University and Technical/Vocational College) students 2. 650 Ashinaga (High School) students: 200 Norikura (Gifu), 200 (Shimane) and 250 (Aso)

 

Programs:            

Aug. 1                 Opening Ceremony (Tokyo Olympic Center) 13:00 to 14:00

Aug. 2-4              Children from overseas join Ashinaga¡Çs Annual Summer Camp for University students (Lake Yamanaka, Yamanashi Pref.)

                            The first lady Mrs. Akio Abe and Iraqi Ambassador to Japan join

Aug. 8                 Care program at the Rainbow House (Hino City)

Aug. 9                  The 18 Nation Children¡Çs Conference (Tokyo Olympic Center, 10:00 to 12:00)

Donation Drive in Shinjuku (14:00 to 15:00)

Aug. 10-13          Camp for High School Students (overseas orphans will split into 3 groups and join Camps in various parts of Japan)

Aug. 16 ¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Closing Ceremony (Sanyo Training Center, Kobe 18:00-20:00)