“Through volunteering and donations, individuals can express their will on what kind of society they want and what issues they think are crucial. In the matter of volunteerism, Japan still has much to learn from the United States about how to promote volunteerism.”
Motoko Imai, lecturer at Tokiwa University in Japan, Hearts and Minds Volunteer website
Weston United’s experience with a group of volunteers from Japan in the last few years has belied the notion that Japan has much to learn from the US in this area. How they became involved is another story, but out of the association with that fine group of women who regularly volunteered in Weston’s Bob Newburg Computer Room, came an article recently published in the Japanese publication, Insight. The article, “Supporting the Vulnerable by Community,” was written by journalist Kaoru Domutu, known to Weston as “KD”, who was introduced to the organization by the volunteers from her homeland.
The article, which reports on Weston United’s work with the mentally ill homeless, describes KD’s visit to one of the agency’s housing sites, TLC, located on Seventh Avenue in Harlem. She writes, “A handsome tall young man is standing in front of the building. A woman in a black T-shirt, holding a container of juice talking with a receptionist at the lobby. Nothing special happening, no strange people in sight. However, this is a shelter only for homeless with mental illness.” The writer was interested to learn from CEO, Jean Newburg, that “5% of the population anywhere in the world has mental illness.
Below is a page from the original article. The photograph is of Weston United’s CEO, Jean Newburg. Many thanks to our Japanese volunteers who have given so much of their hearts to us – from Japan to Manhattan.
News
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From One Island to Another With Love
“Through volunteering and donations, individuals can express their will on what kind of society they want and what issues they think are crucial. In the matter of volunteerism, Japan still has much to learn from the United States about how to promote volunteerism.”
Motoko Imai, lecturer at Tokiwa University in Japan, Hearts and Minds Volunteer website
Weston United’s experience with a group of volunteers from Japan in the last few years has belied the notion that Japan has much to learn from the US in this area. How they became involved is another story, but out of the association with that fine group of women who regularly volunteered in Weston’s Bob Newburg Computer Room, came an article recently published in the Japanese publication, Insight. The article, “Supporting the Vulnerable by Community,” was written by journalist Kaoru Domutu, known to Weston as “KD”, who was introduced to the organization by the volunteers from her homeland.
The article, which reports on Weston United’s work with the mentally ill homeless, describes KD’s visit to one of the agency’s housing sites, TLC, located on Seventh Avenue in Harlem. She writes, “A handsome tall young man is standing in front of the building. A woman in a black T-shirt, holding a container of juice talking with a receptionist at the lobby. Nothing special happening, no strange people in sight. However, this is a shelter only for homeless with mental illness.” The writer was interested to learn from CEO, Jean Newburg, that “5% of the population anywhere in the world has mental illness.
Below is a page from the original article. The photograph is of Weston United’s CEO, Jean Newburg. Many thanks to our Japanese volunteers who have given so much of their hearts to us – from Japan to Manhattan.