ARAKAWA RIVER CLEAN UP (Volunteer Activity), RIVERSIDE WALK, and colorful Sakura Grass (hopefully in bloom?) Park FUN!

Meeting Place and Time: The ticket gate of Toda Kouen Station (Saikyou Line) at 9:30AM (People going from Ikebukuro can take the 9:13 JR Saikyou Line train (going towards Oomiya), which arrives at Toda Kouen Station at 9:29)

SCHEDULE
9:30AM – Meet at Toda Kouen Station (Saikyou Line) ticket gate
10:00AM – 12:00 – Do a Garbage Clean-up downstream from Todabashi bridge (Please bring work gloves if you have them).
12:00 – 14:00 – Walk along the Arakawa River and up to Sakura Grass Park
14:00 – 16:30PM – Fun in the Park (playing frisbee or whatever games people bring, eating, drinking)

Do something good for the environment and join the garbage pick-up. Or join us at Sakuraso Park anytime after 2:00PM. Bring food/drinks/games.

For those joining along the way or coming to the park later, please contact David at 080-6546-7688.
http://www.go2park.net/photo/sakuraso_sakuraso.html　

(A bit difficult)
(Bring your own beverages and lunch box)
 
Meet at the JR Ohme Line’s Okutama Station’s Ticket Gate at 10:25AM.  From Shinjuku, take the Chuo Line Holiday Special Express going towards Okutama at 8:47. This goes all the way to Okutama Station, arriving at 10:23AM (but be sure to get on the right part of the train which goes to Okutama, and beware that the platform may not be the regular Chuo Line Platform at Shinjuku).  Be sure to arrive on this train as we will be unable to wait for the next one. 
 
The hike will be Okutama Station – Anjizawa – Mt. Honida – Mt. Kobutaka – Mt. One Shrine – Hatonosu Station 
 
The hiking time is about 5 hours.
 
Hiking Leader: Leszek Rybicki 070-6572-2537 
 
Please don’t forget to have your rucksack and exercise or tracking shoes to avoid  injury. 
Wearing sandals is not permitted.
  
Leszek will be waiting at Okutama Station.

This is a monthly JAMBO International Environmental/Social Issues English Class. Like with other JAMBO International events, half of the fees will be given to the charity of the month, so you can learn English, learn (and talk) about a current issue, and help the cause (which is discussed) all at the same time. This month’s collection will be donated to:
Rainforest Alliance, a group that promotes sustainability in farming, trade, tourism and areas of finance. http://www.rainforest-alliance.org/

The cost is 2000 yen per person and attendance is limited to 12. Reservations will be taken on a first come, first serve basis (by writing to jambodave@green.email.ne.jp). The class is held at JAMBO school in MonzenNakacho (See Map – http://www.jamboschool.jp/en/contact.html).

After the class, interested participants can stay and have some eats and drinks in the school while socializing.

David Howenstein is the teacher and the class format is as follows. First, David will teach vocabulary which will be used during the lesson. He will then give a presentation about the topic. There will then be a discussion about the topic, during which time David will write good vocabulary and sentences (which come up in the discussion) on the whiteboard. The class is open to all – from beginners to advanced. You can come just to listen (if you don’t wish to talk) and David will give each participant (who wishes to talk) time to speak.   This is on April 26 (Saturday) from 6:00PM (the door opens at 5:45). The topic is “Ideas for Eco-Living.” David will present some interesting statistics and facts about this topic as well.  

Afterwards, we will have a social hour in JAMBO School with the participants who want to join, so you are welcome to buy food and drink beforehand, or go out to a nearby store to get some with David after the class.

(Participation Fee 1000 yen + Temple Entrances)

We will meet at the east ticket gate of Kita Kamakura　Station (on the Yokosuka Line) at 9:40AM.　From Yokohama Station, take the 9:18AM JRShounanShinjuku Line train (towards Zushi). This arrives at KitaKamakura at 9:38AM.
 
If you’d like to go with David, please meet at the front of the JRShounanShinjuku Line train at Yokohama Station at 9:18AM.

Hiking Course:  Kita Kamakura – Tokeiji Temple – Jochiji Temple – Kaizoji – Meigetsuin – Ten-en Hiking Course – Kamakura Station 
The selected temples and shrine are well-known for the Fringed Iris and Magnolia blooming this season!!!

After the hike, we will go to a BYO Party in a large, 11F riverside apt. in Tsurumi, where David’s friend Clyde lives. We will have a lot of fun there. Party fee – 500 yen (includes veggies, meat, fish for the BBQ).
If you’re only joining the party (not the hike), meet at the JR Tsurumi east exit ticket gate at 4:50PM
Please bring whatever snacks and drinks you want. We can buy food and drink near Tsurumi Sta.

Africa Weekends NEW!
(As a part of 「I Can Project」 No.1)

A workshop on April 5 (Sat) and a talk event on April 19 (Sat) will be held as charity events in order to support Hiro’s Organic Farming Group (http://hiroorganicshop.kbo.co.ke/home).

(2) April 19 (Saturday) – Talk event!
(It was rescheduled from March 22)

Guest speaker ：Kevin Markowitz

Hello, my name is Kevin and I’m a 44 year old South African who’s been living and working in Japan for 15+ years. I recently visited two South African cities (Johannesburg and Cape Town) to meet with family and spend some time back in my beautiful country. Part of this visit was spent volunteering for, and learning about, an organization called Abilimi Bezekhaya (アバリミ・ベザカヤ). Their mission is to help combat poverty in the Western Cape and support impoverished communities through growing food, and planting indigenous trees and flora. I will be giving a short and interesting presentation about my home country and the organization along with many pictures taken during my journey. Please come to watch and listen while you learn more about South Africa, it’s people, and their daily lives.

This talk event will be held in English.

●Place: Jambo school (Monzennakacho)
●Time：18:30～20:00 (90 minutes) Talk event
20：00～21：00　 Informal social hour among the participants
●Participation fee：￥1,000　
●Reservations：up to 20 people
●Please make a reservation at ：seitansai1225@yahoo.co.jp ( MIKI )

(Personal donation)
We also accept personal donations, 100% which will be passed on to the Nagatas. Your generous and kind donation will be included in the donation we make to this organization.

If you’re interested, please come and join these events!!!
Participants are welcomed to join one or the other (are not required to join both) as they please.
If you have further questions, please contact MIKI at
seitansai1225@yahoo.co.jp

(Bring your own beverages and lunch box)

We will meet at the Chichibu Railway’s BushuuNakagawa Station’s ticket gate at 10:10AM or on the front car of the Seibu Ikebukuro Line at Ikebukuro Station at 8:05AM. Take the 8:05AM Seibu Ikebukuro Line express train (going towards MitsumineGuchi) at Ikebukuro Station. This arrives at Chichibu Station at 9:48 and becomes the Chichibu Railway. Stay on this train, leaving at 9:57 and arriving at BushuuNakagawa Station at 10:07. Be sure to arrive by this time since we will be unable to wait for the next train.

Actual walking time is about 4.5 hours.

Course: BushuuNakagawa Station – Seiunji Temple (Weeping Cherry Tree) – Gokoku Goddess of Mercy Statue – Chosha Mansion Remains – Hitsujiyama Park (Ground Pink Blossom Viewing) – Chichibu Station
 
Meet on the front of the 8:05 train at Ikebukuro if you want to go from there.

http://www.mapple.net/sp_sakura/details.asp?NEWSID=98245　- HitsujiYama Park Cherry Tree Festival
http://www.mapple.net/sp_sakura/details.asp?NEWSID=98244 – Seiunji Temple Weeping Cherry Trees

From 6:30-9:30pm at the Polygon (behind the Oriental Bazaar on Omotesando) For JAMBO members, the cost is 3,500 yen for men and 3,000 yen for women w/reservation (foreigners get a 1000 yen discount)(or plus 500 yen if you go directly without making a reservation). All beer, wine, cocktails, soft drinks + sushi buffet, garden salad, veggies, cheeses, breads, and pies for dessert included.

Reservations can be made with David at jambodave@green.email.ne.jp or phone (03-6599-8112) by April 11.

Half of your admission fee will be donated to
Rainforest Alliance, a group that promotes sustainability in farming, trade, tourism and areas of finance. http://www.rainforest-alliance.org/

So you can have an enjoyable evening and help a good cause at the same time.

If you’d like to go with David, please meet at Exit A1 of Omotesando Station at 6:15PM on the 12th.

Meet at the ticket gate of Higashi-akiru Station (on the Itsukaichi Line) at 10:37AM.
  
From Shinjuku, take the Chuo Line (Express going towards Takao) at 9:38 , arriving at Tachikawa Station at 10:12AM.  Change to the 10:15 Oume Line train (which changes into the JR Itsukaichi line at Haijima), arriving at Higashi-akiru Station at 10:35.
David will get on the front of the Chuo Line train at Nakano at 9:42AM.

Course:　Higashi-akiru Station – Mt. Daichou Hiking Course – Hamura Tulip Field – Tamagawa cherry tree festival – Fussa Station
Walking Time: about 4 hours

http://www.city.hamura.tokyo.jp/0000000957.html – Hamura Flower and Water Festival
http://www.enjoytokyo.jp/life/event/574905/ – Fussa Cherry Tree Festival

Africa Weekends NEW!
(As a part of 「I Can Project」 No.1)

A workshop on April 5 (Sat) and a talk event on April 19 (Sat) will be held as charity events in order to support Hiro’s Organic Farming Group (http://hiroorganicshop.kbo.co.ke/home).

A Japanese couple (Mr. and Mrs. Nagata) have been running an NPO called Hiro’s Organic Farming Group in Kenya since 2011.　They’ve facilitated a variety of projects to help local people live more independently based on agriculture and to help the community become more sustainable through teaching organic farming to them.

（1）April 5 (Saturday) Let’s write letters to children in Kenya!!!

Mr. and Mrs. Nagata not only instruct local people organic farming techniques, but also support 15 HIV children in Kenya. In order for the 15 children to go to school for a year, it costs 23,000 yen. The participation fee will be donated as the school tuition for these 15 children!

●Workshop：Let’s write letters to children (HIV orphans) in Kenya
●Place: Jambo school (Monzennakacho)
●Time：18：30−20：30
●Participation fee: ￥1,200　（￥1,200×15 people ＝￥23,000）　
With this ￥23,000, 15 children can go to a school for ONE YEAR!
●Number of reservations: 15 people (reservation necessary)

★Each participant will be assigned to write a letter to one child. When making a reservation, let me know if you’d like to write to a girl, boy, or either. When I assign you which child to write to, please bring nice letters and an envelope with you!

★In case of cancelling, please do so ASAP since there might be some people on the waiting list. I appreciate your understanding.

●Please make a reservation at : seitansai1225@yahoo.co.jp ( MIKI )

（Donation for goods）
On April 5, we will be accepting goods for donation.
Since Kenya’s postal service is not so well-organized (high tax is charged upon receiving a postal package), Mr. and Mrs. Nagata will hand carry these goods as well as the letters to the children when they head back to Africa at the beginning of April.

For those who are coming to the event on April 5, goods donation are also appreciated! (No home delivery or postal is accepted)

(Request for goods )
●For men：ties and shirts (to go to a church)
●For women: skirts, towels and handkerchiefs
●For children ：stationary (erasers, pens and pencils, pencil-sharpeners, color pencils and notebooks, etc)
●For babies : second-hand clothes and shoes.
●Flashlights (which are wound up to recharge, not using batteries) (to go around in the dark at night since there are no street lights)
● Small toys (paper balloons etc), Japanese things (postcards, handkerchiefs, etc)

(2) April 19 (Saturday) – Talk event!
(It was rescheduled from March 22)

Guest speaker ：Kevin Markowitz

Hello, my name is Kevin and I’m a 44 year old South African who’s been living and working in Japan for 15+ years. I recently visited two South African cities (Johannesburg and Cape Town) to meet with family and spend some time back in my beautiful country. Part of this visit was spent volunteering for, and learning about, an organization called Abilimi Bezekhaya (アバリミ・ベザカヤ). Their mission is to help combat poverty in the Western Cape and support impoverished communities through growing food, and planting indigenous trees and flora. I will be giving a short and interesting presentation about my home country and the organization along with many pictures taken during my journey. Please come to watch and listen while you learn more about South Africa, it’s people, and their daily lives.

This talk event will be held in English.

●Place: Jambo school (Monzennakacho)
●Time：18:30～20:00 (90 minutes) Talk event
20：00～21：00　 Informal social hour among the participants
●Participation fee：￥1,000　
●Reservations：up to 20 people
●Please make a reservation at ：seitansai1225@yahoo.co.jp ( MIKI )

(Personal donation)
We also accept personal donations, 100% which will be passed on to the Nagatas. Your generous and kind donation will be included in the donation we make to this organization.

If you’re interested, please come and join these events!!!
Participants are welcomed to join one or the other (are not required to join both) as they please.
If you have further questions, please contact MIKI at
seitansai1225@yahoo.co.jp

Meet at MonzenNakaCho Station’s (on the Tozai Line) A4 Exit at 13:00
 
13:00 – 14:00 – Ooyoko Canal Cherry Blossom walk, Fukagawa Shrine

14:00 – 15:00 –  Kiyosumi Japanese Garden

15:00 – 17:00 – Koto Ward “Full of Cherry Blossoms” Sumida River and Ecchuujima Park Walk

The course is about 5 Kilometers.