MODE for Charity: Reaching out to expectant mothers and women in developing countries and Japan’s earthquake disaster zone
2011/11/29 [Japan Earthquake and Tsunami, News]
MODE for Charity was initiated in 2010 to promote the White Ribbon campaign, a campaign to raise awareness of the situation of pregnant women in developing countries and to provide support for mothers and babies all around the world by showcasing fashion and holding entertaining events.
In addition to continuing to support pregnant women in Africa, in 2011, MODE for Charity has worked to help pregnant women affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake. Events have been organized to raise awareness about and gain support for the project, including the following:
Talk Session and Live Acoustic Show (in Japanese only)
December 10 (Sat.) 3-5pm
Venue: La Foret Museum Harajuku (6F)
Talk Session: Model Ai Tominaga and architect Mikiko Endo
Live Music: Anna Tsuchiya, Hitomi and more
Mother’s Chat Session: Ai Tominaga, Anna Tsuchiya, Hiroko Omichi (representing mothers in earthquake disaster area) and JOICFP staff discuss what mothers can do to help
**Reservation required due to limited seating. Contact JOICFP for tickets (3,500-4,000 yen, with proceeds divided evenly towards JOICFP’s projects in the Japan disaster zone and in developing countries)
Mother’s Party for Mothers (Charity Gala)
December 19 (Mon.) 4-6pm
Venue: Iwasaki Koyata Memorial Hall, International House of Japan
** Contact JOICFP for tickets (15,000 yen)
About the White Ribbon Alliance
The White Ribbon campaign is a global grassroots movement to protect the lives and health of pregnant women. The White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood (WRA) was established in 1999 and is comprised of groups and individuals in 148 countries working towards a world where all expectant mothers can go through pregnancy and childbirth safely. The white ribbon can symbolize mourning, or hope and life. It is thus dedicated to the memory of all women who have died needlessly in pregnancy and childbirth, and also symbolizes hope for a better future.
Helping expectant mothers in Tanzania
In Tanzania, women risk their lives to give birth: the risk of dying while pregnant or in childbirth is one in 23. Contributing factors include giving birth in unsanitary conditions without the presence of experts, as well as the lack of postnatal care. In the Shinyanga Region in particular, a recipient of MODE for Charity 2011’s support, there is a lack of knowledge about pregnancy and childbirth among the community, as well as not enough family planning information and services. MODE for Charity 2011 aims to raise 5 million yen to contribute towards building a maternal and child health wing at a medical clinic, among other projects.
Helping women and expectant mothers affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake
JOICFP has been helping women and pregnant mothers, and newborns, mostly in Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima prefectures, as well as affected areas in Ibaraki prefecture. The situation in these areas is constantly changing, and various needs have emerged, including the need to provide emergency supplies for women, expectant mothers and babies, to support midwives working there, to provide family planning services, to provide relief money to expectant mothers, to provide materials needed for medical check-ups offered by municipalities, and to run programs to bring smiles to the faces of the women there. MODE for Charity 2011 aims to raise 5 million yen to provide expectant mothers in the disaster area with relief money (50,000/person for 100 expectant mothers).
