～ With people from Nikko Asset Management Co., Ltd. and
Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group, Inc. ～
It was a cold winter work day. The morning was clear, but a light rain began to fall before noon, forcing us to stop our work. However, thanks to the hard work of all the participants, we were able to carry out the activities as scheduled.
Along with the work, the annual year-end rice-cake pounding event was held, creating a festive atmosphere that made the meeting enjoyable.
The participants were Nikko Asset Management and Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group members (including three children), Ethiopian Group, Vietnamese group, Sagami Women’s University group, general volunteers, and staff, 39 in total.
In addition to their participation in these meeting activities, the members of Nikko Asset Management Co. support our NGO with donations from their employees and the company.
With such participants, work has begun on a new project. As for the shipping destination, Nepal is currently the most promising. The results of the day’s work were 10 wheelchairs completed packed, and 9 wheelchairs cleaned and maintained to completion.
A radio program production staff from NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation) came to cover this activity, which is scheduled to be broadcast on December 13. We will provide more details as soon as they are available.
Thank you all for your support over the year. I look forward to working with you again next year.
December 10, 2024 Secretariat
(How to see the photos)Click on the photos to enlarge them.
Tatami mats and plywood arranged around a warm, sunny area and wheelchairs for cleaning placed on top of them. Now ready to receive volunteers.
Vietnamese group taking temperatures and filling out name and contact information for ongoing corona control on arrival. The Ethiopian flag, which Mr. Abebe raises first each time, welcomes everyone.
(Left) Members of Nikko AM and SMTG have arrived.
(Right) Abebe and his group getting to work.
Members of Nikko AM and SMTG. The children did a good job of wheelchair cleaning with their mothers.
Vietnamese group did a great job, including some beginners.
〇Mochi-tsuki(rice cake poundng)
Sounds of “Pettan, pettan” echoes through the air, reminding us of the end of the year.
Everyone enjoyed freshly pounded mochi into ankoro (red bean paste), grated daikon (grated radish), and yolk powder rice cakes. Children also participated in making ankoro. We also prepared pork miso soup with rice cake inside. It was delicious.
〇Photos after the work.
(Left) Vietnamese group. They always participate in the meeting without fail.
(Right) Nikko AM and SMTG. This is the first time since April 2, 2023 that they joined our activities. Thank you for your support both through participation in the activities and donations!
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Finally, Chairperson Morita thanked everyone for their participation. He also reported that it was the 20th anniversary and that we had reached 10,000 units, and introduced the T-shirts. |
Thank you very much for participating in our last meeting of the year.
Please join us again next year.