Giving Food to schools in Africa

(Oita Godo Newspaper,May 26^th 2010, morning paper, Page 4)

Giving Food to schools in Africa  

This is a menu made from healthy tofu. Part of the proceeds will be donated to the children's food fund in Africa.

In a busy business street in Taiwan,Tapei, at the top level of a high class departmental store, in a Japanese restaurant, Washoku no en, the staff explained to the locals. In the same shop, Japanese NPO, deburu off tsu, or TFT, as part of the donation program that is going to be held out in June. At the cashier, there is a explanation written in Chinese.

1 meal is about 20 yen

People without any special skill or knowledge are still able to contribute to developing countries with their own act of imagination, helping with the day to day overseas assistance. Originated from Japan, TFT program expanded at fast pace, and this program also shows part of the expansion.

The company cafeteria and restaurant shows the calories and nutritional balanced are considered when the customers are ordering the food. Moreover, eating a meal in the restaurant contributes 20 yen to the Africa children's food fund. The starvation in developing countries is not reflected in the richness and lifestyle of the developed countries. Apart from contributing to food, Japan would also like to appeal itself more to Africa, that's one of the reasons for joining this program.

Even eating healthily has merits

The program received good comments from the customers. A male staff, Kyosho zou said that Japanese cuisine is very popular in Taiwan, and the combination of charity and food is new.

TFT spokesman, a staff from Meiotei consulting, Kogure Masahisa(age 37) said that the reason why many organization agree to this program is that using ones individual strength, the joy that one receive from the donation, it is not only a one sided donation, but you also receive healthy merits from it.

In India, there is already 2 companies providing food for the starving, in America, from June, there will be a high class restaurant joining the program. The school that President Obama was from, Columbia university cafeteria is also joining the program.

The funds that TFT had gathered, will be able to feed 3,330, 000 people. The united nations have carried out measures to combat poverty in Africa, the millennium vision project. The countries involved are Uganda, Rwanda, Malawi, school in these countries will receive aid.

The importance of making new challenges  

According to the local coordinator, Roance Senkufuge, people living near the primary schools engage in growing bananas. Some of the students work in the plantation and as a result, are absence for class and they survive on eating bananas.

Senkufuge also said that after the donation started, there have been an increase of 45% of students going to school and that the nutrition of the students has also improved. Before, in order to have lunch, many students have to commute between the schools and their house, but after the donation, the students are able to study together in a longer time span.   

Comments

After reading this article, I felt that Japan is doing a great job helping the less fortunate. I studied about Africa and knew that most of the students go to school so that they could have a meal. The schools should be the place that the students study, not some banana plantation. I felt very ashamed that I was giving a chance to study, but I did not put in my best effort to study, on the other hand, the children in Africa want to study but could not study because they are too poor or if they study, they will miss out an opportunity to work.

I felt that we should try to work hard, do our best in studies, as we have the comfort of a shelter, food and basic necessities. We should try our best and should be a useful person in future.

Tay Zhong Jie Edwin

Singapore

Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University, APM 4