On 7th November, the Ebara Business Enterprise Association held its 13th annual fundraising event in support of JOICFP. Around 550 people attended a traditional story-telling performance by Japan's most popular story-teller, Shunputei Koasa.

The association, comprising 2,000 small and medium member companies in the Ebara area of Tokyo, believes in JOICFP and has continued its support for JOICFP for 13 years. Often, corporate social responsibility (CSR) undertaken by big companies in Japan ends after a few planned few years, usually resulting in a lack of sustainability of CSR and negatively affecting the capacity development of NGOs.

In July 2006, Yoshio Matsuura, chairperson and Toshio Miyahara, executive director of the association took part in a JOICFP-organized study tour to the community-based integrated safe motherhood project in Bac Ninh province. Their visit to Vietnam was highly instrumental in the continued support of the member companies.

In addition, the Vietnam Family Planning Association (VINAFPA) realized who are the Japanese stakeholders actually assisting the Vietnamese community people in collaboration with JOICFP.

Prior to the performance, Mr. Matsuura explained JOICFP's project in Vietnam to the audience in simple terms. He also clearly explained the concepts of reproductive health (RH) as many members of the public had little idea about RH or its importance, and he urged the audience to continue their support.

It is still rare to see senior business executives presenting the idea of the JOICFP's projects with safe motherhood and RH components to a large audience. This performance also enormously stimulated the business sector to expand the support to improve the people's quality of lives in developing countries.

The chairperson of Ebara Business Enterprise Association
informs the audience of JOICFP's project
and activities in Vietnam

Hideyuki Takahashi, Director, Resource Development and Campaign, JOICFP, gave thanks to Ebara for their continued support of JOICFP, as well.

In addition to the performance, JOICFP exhibited photographs from the Vietnam study tour, providing further motivation for Ebara members and the public.

JOICFP has found that providing donors with feedback on the results of funding helps to ensure future support and motivates donors to talk to others about it.