My call for donation running the marathon, scheduled for March 1, 2020 in Tokyo, was canceled due to the global pandemic COVID-19 (Corona virus).

But yet we are very happy to support financially several projects out of regular donations:

BONN LIGHTHOUSE e.V. – Association for Hospice Work
The outpatient hospice association with the special feature that its residential project accommodate up to 16 people who need support to cope with their everyday life with severe chronic, life-shortening illnesses such as HIV/AIDS, cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or advanced liver diseases. Psychosocial specialists provide counselling, support and care. They are supported by volunteers.
bonn-lighthouse.de

HORIZONT e.V. Initiative for homeless children and their mothers
HORIZONT e.V.is a registered charity founded in 1997 by the well-known actress Jutta Speidel. The objective is to help homeless mothers and their children in Munich by providing shelter and intense support. There are many complex reasons why a woman and her kids might become homeless. One of them we have to deal with most often is domestic violence. HORIZONT e.V. runs two houses for concerned mothers and their kids: One safe house with 26 apartments and one house with 48 apartments and several programs to achieve the sustainable integration of the socially disadvantaged families.
horizont-muenchen.org


PLAN INTERNATIONAL JAPAN
supports some projects with main beneficiary of all are vulnarable girls and young women. Plan International Japan support girls’ access to education and say “NO” to early forced marriage. 41,000 girls under 18 are married around the world every day. 200 million girls and women still undergo Female Genital Mutilation. Women occupy two third of illiterate population of the world. Plan International believe girls shouldn’t be discriminated against just for being girls. Plan International Japan support girls’ rights and gender equality through projects with different approaches. Donations go to the projects below:

Risk the girl’s body – Prevention of early marriage (Nepal)
In Nepal, 52% of women are still married under the age of 18 in rural areas, even though “child marriage” is prohibited by law (*1). In addition, more than 100,000 girls were married before the age of 10 (*2), and about 17% of girls aged 15 to 19 experienced “premature pregnancy / birthing” that had a large physical burden. (* 3)
Not only girls are forced to withdraw from school, but also because their health is affected by adolescent pregnancy and childbirth. The effects of “early marriage” are too huge, it close the path to independence. Furthermore, it is also a problem that these girls suffer from violence and abuse from her husband and his family.
Plan International Japan raises awareness to avoid “child marriage” and violence in the area and works with local government and girls themselves.
*1 UNICEF, Nepal Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (2014)
*2 Government of Nepal, National Population and Housing Census 2011: Health Survey (2016)
*3 Ministry of Health, Nepal, Nepal Demographic and

Customs that can lead to death
Treatment and advocacy on Female Genital Mutilation (Ethiopia)
“Female genital mutilation” (FGM / C) is the custom which last for about 2000 years in about 30 countries in Africa and the Middle East. As a condition of passage ritual and marriage for becoming an adult woman, it cuts off a part of the genitals of girls from infancy to about 15 years old. It is often operated without anesthesia in an unsanitary place and tools, and some girls are fatal with severe pain and bleeding. Even if it does not lead to death, it causes adverse effects on infections and births, and it is a harmful practice in which strong fear remains as a heart wound.
According to the statistics, 74% of women aged 15 to 49 got treated* in Ethiopia. This rate is one of the highest in the world. The government banned this practice by law in 2004, however this harmful effect on the girl’s body and her mind are not known to the general in public, and are still widespread.
In Ethiopia, there are statistics that 74% of women aged 15 to 49 are operated*, which is one of the highest in the world. The government banned it by law in 2004, but the harmful effects on the mind and body are hardly known to the general public, and are still widespread.
Plan International Japan performs mental and physical care of the affected girls and work to eradicate FGM / C towards families, local residents and government.
* UNICEF, Female Genital Mutilation/ Cutting: A Global Concern (2016)

In the poorest prefecture where any indigenous people live
Provision of girl-friendly school (Guatemala)
Alta Velapaz is the poorest area in Guatemala. More than 80% of people in this area belong to Indigenous of Q’eqchi. There are very little supports by the governments.
Culture, called as machismo (thinking of male dominant) which favour men and boys strongly remains in Latin America. Girls are forced to drop out because of farming, house chores and caring siblings. They also easy to be targeted for violence and becomes young single mother. Girls have lesser rights and opportunity than boys in various situations.
Plan International Japan will provision of girl-friendly school and areas where girls can live with peace of mind. Raise awareness for gender equality for children, teachers and residents aged 10 to 15 years through the project. The construction of girl-friendly bathrooms is also included.
plan-international.jp

(All information provided by Plan International Japan.)