UNFPA Japanese Goodwill Ambassador (GWA), Yuko Arimori, has been working to raise awareness of and support for UNFPA among the Japanese public since 2002. She has made visits to Cambodia, Thailand and India to observe firsthand and report on the health situation of adolescents and women in developing rural areas.

From 12th to 24th February, Arimori visited Tanzania and Kenya with Sumie Ishii, Executive Director, JOICFP, and members of the media, including from the Yomiuri Shimbun, Japan's largest daily newspaper. The visit aimed to increase Japanese support for UNFPA, focusing on ICPD +10 to Beijing + 10 (2004 to 2005).

Although Tanzania is politically and economically stable, it remains one of the poorest countries in the world, with per capita income of $290 in 2004. It is estimated that 35.7% of the population live below the poverty line. Unemployment stands at 12.9%, and is worse among youths, especially girls.

The mission members first visited Dar es Salaam, where they met with government and embassy officials before observing an African Medical and Research Foundation (AMREF)-led African Youth Alliance (AYA) multi-purpose youth center. One activity observed at the center was judo, and informing the Japanese public of this can help build links between the two countries at the grassroots level.

Learning about the AYA Youth Center in Dar es Salaam

(see http://www.unfpa.org/news/coverage/february5-18-2005.htm)

The UNFPA Assistant Representative took the mission to Himo village to observe community-based volunteers deliver a presentation of the JOICFP-Family Planning Association of Tanzania (UMATI) produced HIV/AIDS related "picture drama" The Endless Goodbye, which Arimori found poignant and moving. It was also newsworthy for the media representatives that a health worker paid a visit to the village on a bicycle donated through the Japanese MCCOBA scheme.

The mission also went to Samanga Primary School, Himo, an 'AIDS orphanage' that had benefited from the generosity of a tourist who had seen a picture drama presentation and then provided funding to the school.

These AIDS orphans at Samanga Primary School,
Himo, received stationery donated by Arakawa City, Tokyo

Kilimanjaro

The coffee industry in Tanzania is nearly entirely comprised of small-scale farmers, and the UNFPA mission observed technology transfer and training by the Tanzanian Coffee Research Institute, which promotes and disseminates appropriate technologies to farmers and associated agencies. Community-based Service Providers are motivated by UMATI giving them hybrid coffee seedlings for their own income generation.

Arimori took part in coffee planting, and she intends to sell Kilimanjaro coffee in her hometown in Japan to help provide income for health activities for Tanzanian farmers.

(see also http://www.joicfp.or.jp/eng/i_campaign/item/kili_coffee/index.html)

Tanzanian journalists followed Arimori and the mission, thereby raising the profile of UMATI and UNFPA activities domestically.

Kenya

The Tasaru Ntomonok Initiative (TNI) in Narok District operates a safe haven for 58 girls who have run away to escape female genital cutting/mutilation (FGC/M) and early marriage. TNI facilitates the community to design sustainable mechanisms for eliminating FGC/M, provides counseling, and sensitizes and mobilizes religious and community leaders, teachers and traditional circumcisers to support and advocate for the elimination of FGC/M and the rehabilitation of survivors of FGC/M and forced marriages. In addition, TNI promotes basic reproductive health (RH) services and carries out HIV/AIDS prevention campaigns.

(see http://www.unfpa.org/news/coverage/january15-21-2005.htm)

On 19th February, Arimori officially opened the TNI safe house for girls in Tasaru, and the event was also attended by Paul Tergat, UN WFP Global Ambassador against hunger, and the men's marathon world record holder. Tergat spoke about his shock at learning the truth of FGC/M, and vowed to lend his assistance to eradicate the practice.

Two ambassadors together;
Arimori with Tergat at the safe house in Tasaru

FPAK youth program

UNFPA Kenya, led by Country Representative Kemal Mustafa, is playing a leading role in advocating population and development issues. Supported by the UNFPA, the Family Planning Association of Kenya's (FPAK) Youth program responds to the RH needs of youth by developing youth-friendly IEC materials and strategies. Current activities promote abstinence and behavior change among adolescents and young people to prevent STIs and HIV infections, behavior change communication (BCC), and reaching out to street children.

Arimori visited the FPAK Eastleigh Youth Center in Nairobi to observe activities, such as health education delivered by peer educators for in- and out-of-school youth. The center provides HIV voluntary counseling and testing (VCT), vocational training, including computer and beautician skills, sewing and cooking classes.

At the FPAK Eastleigh Youth Center in Nairobi

Outreach activities take place in community halls and schools, and football matches are staged during which sexual and RH information is delivered.

Arimori also attended the launch of "ICPD + 10; Where are we now?" by the National Coordinating Agency for Population and Development, Kenya.

(click here to read the minister's speech on progress in implementing the ICPD Program of Action in Kenya)

Arimori's comments

Arimori is keen proponent of using sports events through which to deliver RH information, saying that "80% fun can balance 20% serious information."

Arimori has been concerned with the rights of athletes, and she now considers gender issues such as FGC/M as those of human rights. As a Goodwill Ambassador, she recognizes her influence in tackling burgeoning problems. In addition, she sees Kenya and Tanzania as countries that will be able to tackle their own problems and be countries in which youth take an active role in its development.

Media coverage in Japan of the visit to Tanzania and Kenya has already included an article in the Yomiuri Shimbun, one of a planned series.