[Original by Mariko OMURA, Cambodia Project (July 21, 2020); Translated by J. Tsuchiya/A. Taguchi] I am Mariko Omura, the JVC Cambodia Office Representative. First, I would like to write about the novel coronavirus in Cambodia. Recently, new cases of infections were confirmed only at the airport quarantine stations and there has been no case of community transmission. In July, amusement facilities such as karaoke bars were allowed to open if they are registered as restaurants. Selected schools may also be able to reopen if they are eligible for early reopening. So far, the total number of confirmed cases is 141. Little by little, people are trying to return to normal…
2nd Term of literacy action for the villagers by the villagers completed!
[Original by Maki KATO, Afghanistan Project (June 30, 2020); Translated by E. Miyazaki /M. Olagoke] The 2nd term of the literacy class, which is supported by JVC, was completed in March! We finished all classes just before the outbreak of COVID-19 as if we were trying to escape from it, and a total of 250 men and women from the village have learned how to write. Seeing the proud faces of the participants with their diplomas in their hands is the biggest accomplishment of this past year. At the beginning of this year, there were many requests from the village asking us to organize another year of the literacy course…
Report about urgent aid for novel coronavirus (COVID-19) @ Cambodia Part 2
[Original by Mariko OMURA, Cambodia Project (May 28, 2020); Translated by J. Tsuchiya/M. Olagoke] I am Mariko Omura, the JVC Cambodia Office Representative. I continue to work remotely from Japan in collaboration with the staff in Cambodia. Today, I’d like to tell you about our food assistance project, following the previous urgent aid on hygiene products. Two new infected cases reported from April 13 to May 25 According to the Cambodian Ministry of Health, there are no longer any COVID-19 patients in hospital after the last one (at that time) of the total 122 infected persons was discharged on May 16. On May 20, a new countermeasure became public: all…
Report about urgent aid for novel coronavirus (COVID-19) @ Cambodia
[Original by Mariko OMURA, Cambodia Project (May 7, 2020); Translated by J. Tsuchiya/M. Olagoke] I am Mariko Omura, the JVC Cambodia Office Representative. I continue to work remotely from Japan in concert with the staff in Cambodia. For more than 3 weeks, no new COVID-19 infections! The Cambodian Ministry of Health reported on May 4 that there has been no new infected person since April 13 up till today. The total number of cases is 122 with 120 recovered and 2 still remaining in hospital. Most infections were imported. I really hope the decreasing trend will continue. A survey in our operation villages and the results Currently, the local staff…
In Response to the New Coronavirus Epidemic: Status of our Activity Areas and Message to Everyone (April 24, 2020)
To everyone who has always supported JVC’s activities in various ways. We know that you are worried because of the outbreak of the new coronavirus (COVID-19). We sincerely hope for the safety of all of you and your loved ones. On behalf of the entire staff, I would like to express my gratitude to all those who, even under these circumstances, have sent their words of sympathy to the staff and expressed their support by saying, “We support you in times like these.” Thank you so much for sharing your sympathy with JVC and the people of the world during this difficult time. JVC is concerned that, in addition to…
A follow-up report about the COVID-19 Prevention Campaign in Afghanistan!
[Original by Maki KATO, Afghanistan Project (April 9, 2020); Translated by J. Tsuchiya/A. Taguchi] As I have written in my previous article, YVO, our partner organization in Afghanistan, has launched an activity to prevent the spread of COVID-19 infection. In Afghanistan, Herat Province, which borders Iran has the largest number of cases, followed by Kabul, the capital. Nangarhar Province, our operation site, has recorded only a few confirmed cases, but the situation is unpredictable because there are patients who haven’t yet been tested, and hygiene and medical facilities in the region are scarce and difficult to access. The villagers who take part in the volunteer work for the prevention activities…
Extension of the temporary closure of the JVC Tokyo office due to COVID-19
In view of the current situation of COVID-19 infections and the request by the government on the activities of citizens, we have decided to extend the temporary closure of our office to May 31, 2020 (as of April 24, 2020).
YVO, our partner organization in Afghanistan, has started prevention activities against the spread of COVID-19 infection!
[Original by Maki KATO, Afghanistan Project (April 2, 2020); Translated by J. Tsuchiya/A. Taguchi] On the 1st of April, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that Afghanistan has seen 196 cases of COVID-19 and 5 deaths nationwide. It is urgent to prevent the spread of the infection. Especially in rural areas far from big cities, people bear more psychological burdens because they have less access to information. Many people are very anxious that they might be infected. Afghanistan faces a high risk from a pandemic, especially because the long-standing conflicts have prevented the country from organizing public health and sanitation. It also has a border with Iran which is reported…
A daughter’s dream, a mother’s dream – Voices of the first graduates from the literacy classroom –
[Original by Maki KATO, Afghanistan Project (March 10, 2020); Translated by K. Adachi/M. Olagoke] JVC works for the educational activities in Afghanistan together with a local partner organization YVO. Men and women over 15 years old learn reading and writing of a local major language; Pashto, and mathematics for 9 months. They aim for the educational level equivalent to the third grade of public elementary schools in Afghanistan. We have a system to cooperate with whole villages, where villagers also participate in selecting teachers and the location of classrooms. What is unique to this is that we do not call teachers from outside but select them from among villagers. This…
We have conducted a Peace Yard Activity. The situation in Iraq is still unstable.
[Original by Emi NAKANO, Iraq Project Team Assistant (March 3, 2020); Translated by E. Miyazaki/A. Taguchi] Fighting continues with the remnants of the “Islamic State” (ISIS) in some areas of Iraq. Also, there have been riots between demonstrators who opposed corruption and the government. Approximately 500 people have become victims so far. Under these circumstances, we conducted a Peace Yard program with the support of INSAN, a local NGO. A total of 57 children from the age of 7 to 13 participated in the program from October 7 to December 14. Many children participated, such as locals of the Kirkuk area, evacuees from other regions, Arabs, Kurds, and other ethnic…