Note: This website was automatically translated, so some terms or nuances may not be completely accurate.
Unused New Year's cards and other forgotten treasures in your closet can save education around the world.
Year-end means New Year's card season. Mistakes happen—wrong addresses written, printing errors made. This year, the UNESCO World Terakoya Movement's"Wrongly Addressed Postcard Campaign" has begun again, using such misprinted cards to expand learning opportunities for people in developing countries.
Worldwide, approximately 58 million children lack access to education due to war, poverty, and other reasons. It is said that one in six people aged 15 and older cannot read or write. This movement aims to expand "learning spaces = terakoya" globally for such individuals.
As part of supporting this activity, the "Wasted Postcard Campaign" converts unused items lying around your home into donations. Launched in 1990, this year marks its 26th year. Starting in December, the New Year's card season, we are calling for cooperation nationwide to intensify the collection of unused New Year's cards.
※Unused postal postcards, surplus New Year's cards, unused stamps, prepaid cards, shareholder benefit coupons, etc., that are lying unused in homes and can be converted to cash.
Unposted 52-yen postcards become 47-yen donations, unused 52-yen stamps become 52-yen donations, and 500-yen prepaid cards become 460-yen donations. In Cambodia, 11 postcards can support one person's schooling for one month.
World Terakoya Movement Public Relations Ambassador Junko Kubo introduces the activities
Next, Junko Kubo, Public Relations Ambassador "Manabi Gater" for the World Terakoya Movement, will introduce the "26th Year of Activities," the "Discarded Postcard Ranking," and the "Discarded Postcard Collection Award."
Kubo: This year marks the 26th year of the UNESCO World Terakoya Movement's "Wasted Postcard Campaign." Cumulatively through last year, we surpassed an incredible 11 million postcards, providing learning opportunities to over 1.3 million children and adults who cannot attend school.
I think the idea itself is wonderful: converting unused "treasure troves" lying around the house—like misprinted postcards, surplus New Year's cards, unused stamps, prepaid cards, or shareholder benefit coupons—into cash for donation.
*The tally is calculated by converting the total amount raised by the campaign into the equivalent number of postcards.
Since last year, we've also announced rankings of collected postcard numbers by prefecture nationwide. The rankings are: 1st place Kagoshima Prefecture, 2nd place Toyama Prefecture, 3rd place Yamaguchi Prefecture.
Additionally, "local collection ideas" implemented by UNESCO associations and municipalities across the country contributed to the increase in postcard collection numbers.
Example 1) County-wide, school-wide scale! (Kagoshima Prefecture)
Example 2) Handmade promotional tools unique to each region! (Chiba Prefecture, Shiga Prefecture, Nagano Prefecture, etc.)
Example 3) Outreach by Student Councils and Children! (Osaka Prefecture, Kagoshima Prefecture, Chiba Prefecture, Shiga Prefecture, Tochigi Prefecture, Toyama Prefecture, etc.)
Case 4) Post Box Installation Through Promotion to Local Governments and Public Facilities! (Ehime Prefecture, Yamanashi Prefecture, Yamaguchi Prefecture, etc.)
Case 5) Media promotions and event tie-ups! (Gunma Prefecture, Toyama Prefecture, etc.)
*The above are examples of initiatives by UNESCO Clubs nationwide.
To further energize collection activities, we have decided to launch an award this year to recognize the efforts of local participants. We look forward to seeing everyone enjoy themselves while taking on various new challenges.
We plan to hold the "Discarded Postcard Collection Awards" after the 2017 campaign concludes.
We are planning an award project to recognize UNESCO Associations that contributed outstanding collection ideas or high collection numbers.
Regarding award categories, we want to recognize not just the number of cards collected, but also, for example, interesting ideas for collection.
Thanks to the cooperation of many people, including donations through discarded postcards, we have supported 43 countries and 1 region. Approximately 520 terakoya (traditional Japanese schools) have been built, and the number of people who have studied at these terakoya has grown to about 1.3 million. Here are some messages of "thank you."
|
Daneshwari Yadav (Nepal, post-literacy class learner) |
"Before attending class, I couldn't express my feelings or thoughts in front of my family. After joining the class, I became able to explain my thoughts in public. I learned to read, and I can now use a mobile phone. My life has changed significantly in this way. I am grateful to the Terakoya and everyone in Japan."
|
Fatima (Afghanistan, Literacy Class Learner) |
"I am grateful to everyone for holding literacy classes in my area. I couldn't read or write before, but now I can."
Public Interest Incorporated Association, Japan UNESCO Association
"Since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defenses of peace must be constructed." Based on this principle from the UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) Charter, this NGO was founded in 1948 as a federation of private UNESCO associations. It carries out activities alongside 288 volunteer-based UNESCO associations nationwide.
Was this article helpful?
Share this article
