Area of Operation：Republic of Kenya
Free The Children Japan
Introduction of group activities
Free children from water drawing labor and provide them with educational opportunities
Free children from water drawing labor and provide them with educational opportunities
Free The Children Japan is conducting activities in cooperation with the people of local communities based on the consideration of what is best for the children in order to change the harsh environment for children shaped by poverty all over the world, even if just little by little.
In the Philippines, India, and Kenya, we are working to develop learning environments for children, as well as to support the self-reliance of the people. Adding to that, in Japan, we are also organizing leadership education workshops for children, as well as support activities for children affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake.
In the Philippines, India, and Kenya, we are working to develop learning environments for children, as well as to support the self-reliance of the people. Adding to that, in Japan, we are also organizing leadership education workshops for children, as well as support activities for children affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake.
Installing wells and establishing water supply system in Kenya
In Kenya, 80% of the country’s land area is arid or semiarid. As such, there are many areas in the country that suffer from water shortages or do not have easy access to safe water in the dry season. The village of Esinoni, a target of our support activities, did not have water supply facilities, and women and children there were spending many hours every day to get water because they had to go very far to draw water.
In order to free women and children from this water drawing labor, we built a water supply facility on the elementary school site and provided education and training so that villagers could maintain and manage the facility by themselves. As a result, safe water became available at the elementary school , shortening drastically the time for water drawing, and thereby the quality of life has been improved.
In order to free women and children from this water drawing labor, we built a water supply facility on the elementary school site and provided education and training so that villagers could maintain and manage the facility by themselves. As a result, safe water became available at the elementary school , shortening drastically the time for water drawing, and thereby the quality of life has been improved.
・It required a large amount of money to get clean, safe water, so we could not do it alone. Thanks to the newly built water storage tower and water station, and to the training we received to maintain them by ourselves, now we can think about the future of our village and solve problems ourselves. I am very pleased about that. (Local resident)
・The burden of drawing water has been so big that many women could not do any other tasks. Now that we have a water station at the elementary school, we can draw water when taking children to school, using more time for other tasks. I really appreciate that with clean water my health has improved. (Local resident)
Organization history
Free The Children was founded in 1995 by Craig Kielburger who lived in Canada and was only 12 years old then. Kielburger created the organization because he found the poverty and forced labor of children massively problematic and thought that children should be able to tackle their own problems.
In 1999, Sanae Nakajima, who agreed to the idea of international cooperation for children to support children, established Free The Children Japan as the Japanese branch of Free The Children. Currently, it has as many as 1,500 children and young people as active members.
In 1999, Sanae Nakajima, who agreed to the idea of international cooperation for children to support children, established Free The Children Japan as the Japanese branch of Free The Children. Currently, it has as many as 1,500 children and young people as active members.
Training surrounding a water pump meter
Leadership education for junior-high and high school students in Japan
Water supply facility newly established in an elementary school site
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