Jambo now has original, organic cotton made T-shirts for sale (2000 yen) with this design on the back and “JAMBO INTERNATIONAL INC. have fun doing good” on the front. We currently have S, M and L sizes. Contact David if you want one.

JAMBO reached another peak year in 2016, with about 90 programs and an increasing number of participants, thanks to meetup (See https://www.meetup.com/Tokyo-Day-Trips-Meetup/  and  https://www.meetup.com/Jambo-Volunteer-Networking/

). We strongly believe that transparency is important to maintain an organisation’s credibility, so we post the Jambo financial information every year. Please take a look at the 2 statements below concerning 2016:

JAMBO 2016 Donation Statement

Jambo 2016 Financial Statement

While 2016 was a very strong year, we still are on the lookout for event leaders and people who would like to help out (helping with accounting, suggesting new programs, etc). JAMBO International Inc (http://www.jambo.ngo) is still slowly developing in the US and more time and effort is needed to make it go as well.

Anyone who is interested in taking a closer look at our finances or getting more involved with JAMBO is requested to contact David (contact@jambointernational.org). There is so much we can do when we work together.

Thank you all for your enthusiastic participation. The various organisations that we support and the fun-filled programs we hold are indebted to you.

Many of us want to do something good for others or for nature – something fun and meaningful. Here’s what you can do with Jambo.

The simplest thing you can do is join our events. Jambo has frequent hiking trips (to appreciate the natural environment while raising money for groups which help the environment and disadvantaged people),volunteer activities once or twice a month, and other events periodically.

If you wish to get more involved, become a leader. As a grass roots organization, JAMBO depends on local people for support. JAMBO especially needs event organizers/leaders to carry out the “Having Fun, Doing Good” concept. Current leaders hold events where participants pay (with a portion of the funds going to the leader and the rest going to the charity of that month), suc as leading hikes and holding cooking events. However anything is fine as long as it fits in with the Having Fun, Doing Good idea.

Leaders of specifically volunteer events are also needed. These are events that help the environment or the disadvantaged, and are completely volunteer (no payment for leaders or from participants, except possibly insurance). Currently, Jambo holds river/ocean clean-ups and periodic collections for disadvantaged children, but we are open to other ideas.

The hiking programs are, at present, the most popular so hiking leaders are especially welcomed. It’s a great way to get some income for yourself and raise money to help others as the same time.

If you are interested in any of these positions please contact David at contact@jambointernational.org

In the northern hemisphere, December is the month with the shortest days (that is, days with the least number of daylight hours). Perhaps because of this, many of the religious and cultural events there focus on increasing the light with candles and illuminations.

In today’s world, we can see an expanding dimness as more and more people with increasing worries and fear vote to close themselves off from outsiders. Too often, we naively blame one person or small group for this demise; however, we are all responsible in that we have not appropriately addressed the sufferings of so many people.

By living in the light, with hope and good will, we become agents in reversing the encroaching darkness. Each and every act of kindness, opening up to strangers and the disadvantaged, listening to those who are not heard, and proclamation of hope and faith  makes a crack in the falling curtain which keeps out the light. With enough of us committed to such actions, the individual rays of light will become a flood and return our world towards more glorious days.

Now is the time to stop blaming others and take charge by doing good to yourself and others, helping to move the world towards a more hopeful future. We can make it happen.

An Inspiration for JAMBO

“Is there anything worse than blindness? Yes! Eyesight … but no vision!”? (Helen Keller)

One of the organisations which JAMBO works with is Kobakokai, a group for the visually impaired. The proactive spirit of Kobakokai serves as an inspiration for me, and I feel that we (people in Jambo) have much to learn from them. Throughout the years, they have actively participated in Jambo Live Houses and donated time and money to Jambo. In today’s world, with so many places turning inward, discriminating towards those who are different, and isolating themselves from others, here is a group of people who rise above the darkness imposed upon them and choose to live in the light, reaching out and making connections with others (like JAMBO). They provide a beacon of hope and positive energy to those fortunate enough to make their acquaintance. It is my wish that JAMBO too lives in that spirit.

The members of Kobakokai will be special guests at JAMBO’s Christmas Party on December 9. Give yourself a treat and join us for a night of fun, living in the Christmas spirit of peace, openness and hope.

Everything that is truly worthwhile takes time and so it is with the recently completed eco-house near Kawaguchi Lake. JAMBO made an investment of 300,000 yen for this project many years ago, and the result is this eco-friendly house which can grow food year round. Please take a look at these websites for information about the house:
https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/14163909?preview
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/eden-grow-home-portable-sustainable-living#/

Jake Reiner, longtime friend of JAMBO and Director of Earth Embassy (near Mt. Fuji), was the primary designer for the house. Guests are welcome to stay overnight in this “house of the future” and enjoy the many natural wonders in the area. Reservations may be made on 1st website above.

JAMBO is trying to move towards more support of this kind of small, creative endeavour which betters the environment and the community. Thank you, Jake, for giving us this opportunity. Any suggestions for such inspirational projects are welcome.
エコハウス、完成しました！

JAMBO is always on the lookout for a project which combines environmental protection with human development, and it is particularly difficult to find such endeavours in Japan. Fortunately, JAMBO has been presented with the opportunity to give half of the funds for an ideal project in Tohoku, supporting the expansion of bee colonies (which are in steady decline around the world) to pollinate the newly planted Yuzu orchard, a win-win situation which helps improve the natural environment while supporting people’s (who had been devastated by the 2011 earthquake and Tsunami) livelihoods. It’s because of your support that such wonderful projects can happen. Here is description of the project which you made possible.

On Ajishima (Tohoku), the islanders are in the process of developing a yuzu (Japanese citrus fruit) grove as part of their larger effort to grow and produce items that can highlight Ajishima and be utilized in souvenirs and other island specialities. They already have the trees organised and will be planting them this coming autumn. As yuzu is pollinated by bees, which are in decline everywhere, they want to add a bee hive to the yuzu grove to ensure a healthy ecosystem. They are committed to not using harmful chemicals or pesticides that contribute to the bee colonies’ demise, and have already planted many herbs and flowers in the grove that are known to benefit bees. If they can establish the bee colony before planting the yuzu trees, then the longevity of both can be ensured. Half of the funding required for the bee hive will be provided by a kind donation from JAMBO, who have also already supported other projects on Oshika.

Unlike other charitable organizations, JAMBO does not require membership fees or send frequent mailings asking for donations. Having now become an official volunteer organization in Koto Ward and a US NPO, we have been asked to make a membership list. We would greatly appreciate it if you would become an “official” member. There is no obligation. All you have to do is write “I want to be a JAMBO member” and send your name, postal address, phone number and email address. We promise not to pass this information on to other groups.

Kijin Higashibaba will come to Japan for 2-3 months (from June 23) from the US as a Jambo intern. One of her projects is to interview “The People of JAMBO” (mainly in English). We would like to make a page of active JAMBO participants and volunteers. Please help us out and let Kijin interview you for our Facebook and website. It will really help us out, and help others understand better what JAMBO is all about. If you kindly accept, Kijin will contact you and set up an interview time and place.

Contact for either of the above can be made to David at contact@jambointernational.org.

Any other suggestions on how we can better market JAMBO would also be much appreciated. And hope you all get a chance to meet Kijin at the welcome party, which is on June 24 (on the JAMBO schedule).

People have always dreamed of telling the future by looking at the sky. The mystery of how clouds and stars move has always been appealing. Predicting the weather and how it affects crops was our first lesson but, with the progress of technology, we have learned to look deeper and further. We now know that stars are giant balls of burning gas, and that our own Sun is one of them.

We later learned that the “wandering stars” were actually planets orbiting around the Sun and that the Earth, in turn, was one of them. Not many decades ago, we were wondering if there were creatures living on them but, as technology progressed again, we were disappointed to find vast deserts, or endless oceans of boiling, poisonous gasses. We now know that Mars used to have a lot more water, but it evaporated. We know that Venus is suffering from extreme temperatures because her atmosphere is keeping radiation in. We also know that a similar effect is happening in our atmosphere, causing more and more extreme weather each year. Most likely, it’s our fault and, most certainly, it’s up to us to try and fix it.

Could it be that looking at the sky has actually given us a glimpse of the future? One that we didn’t really hope to see, but maybe one that we needed to see right now. With recent findings of planets belonging to other stars, we, again, become more conscious of our place in the Universe. Sun, Earth and the family of planets may be more of a rule than the exception, but we still haven’t found another planet that may support life. And even if we do, even if we find the Universe is full of life, this planet is ours. And it would be quite a bummer to us if it were to go out of balance.

Have a nice summer. It’s going to be hot.

GIVE ME, GIVE ME, GIVE ME!!! What a strange thing these little pieces of metal and paper are, granted with a magical power which is dependent on the faith of its users. Money is just a tool – it becomes good or bad only because of our thoughts about it. What do you think about money and how does it effect your life? Can you change your mind about it so it has a more positive influence?

Many charities and NPOs which are doing fantastic work in Japan have problems getting funds because it isn’t part of the culture to give to such groups Yet, we all “ask” for money in our everyday work, and receive it as payment – because it is a requested service? But aren’t NPO’s services even more necessary to maintain a good society and environment? What happens when NPOs stop preserving the environment or helping the disadvantaged because of lack of money? Our world would quickly worsen. Why are some non-profits seen as beggars when asking for money for good works which people want to support? At the same time, someone who builds bombs which will hopefully never be used “deserves” a high salary?

What a strange world we live in! You work hard for your money. Make your money work for you by supporting those people and groups which make your life better, creating a fulfilling, mutually beneficial relationship.