Donation to Mindanao Children’s Library Foundation, Inc. (MCLF)

Date：November 24, 2022

Staff：Ms. Imamura, Ms. Isobe, Ms. Okumura (Ms. Watanabe participated in up until last year)

About Mindanao Children’s Library Foundation (MCLF)

MCLF is a locally established corporation founded in 2002 by Mr. Matsui on the farmland at the foot of Mt. Apo, a suburb of Kidapawan City, located in the center of Mindanao Island, the Philippines.  Their main activities are as follows:

• Storytelling and reading to local children and to indigenous, Muslin, and refugee children
• Support for scholarship students
• Medical support
• Construction support of nursery
• Afforestation support, and others

　Scholarship students and young children from different religions and different tribes live and study together and participate in various activities. These activities are made possible by donations from a large number of supporters from Japan.

Relationship between Minato UNESCO Association（MUA） and MCLF

In October 2005, Mr. Matsui gave a lecture at the International Scientific Council on the theme of “MCLF Operations and Medical Activities in Mindanao, where Terrorism and Fighting Continue”.  It was the first time that we learned about the reality of conflicts and dire poverty in Mindanao. Immediately, we started supporting activities. Some of the MUA members contributed money. Some members brought donated items to the MUA office. Some even asked their friends and sent donated items in boxes to the MUA office. 

　Regarding the shipping, we pack shoes, stationery, clothes, daily necessities in the designated cardboard boxes, and then, we ship boxes to Mindanao by sea. At the beginning, Ms. Nagai who introduced Mr. Matsui to us, and Ms. Takai, former President of MUA, donated the shipping costs. Later we in charge of packaging donated items shared some shipping costs. We considered this donation activity as a part of our core MUA activities. Since 2022, the shipping cost has been allocated in the annual MUA budget. It is a relief to receive a thank-you letter for donated items from MCLF about a month later.

Young people from MCLF visited MUA

In June 2018, Mr. & Mrs. Matsui visited Japan with scholarship students.  Following Mr. Matsui’s lecture, the young people performed ethnic dances and songs. Also, they gave speeches about “My family and my way of life in the future”.  We were impressed to know that they have grown up fine.  We saw in the movie the task of covering the blown-up roofs with blue vinal sheets. It showed the harshness of the reality which made us aware of the need for assistance. We believe that we must continue the donation activity. To keep this activity, we need your support. The weather there is summer all year round, so we need to ask summer clothes, and old curtains, which can be used as bedding. There are children with no shoes, so we need shoes as well.We appreciate for your understanding and support.    

(Written by Ms. Okumura, Standing Director：Some contents were taken from Ms. Takai’s article in the newsletter, and translated by NAKAZAWA M, the PR & Internet Committee)