August 2009
Niwano Peace Foundation Announces Financial Support Plan in First Half of Fiscal 2009
On July 31 the Niwano Peace Foundation announced its semiannual financial support plan for the first half of fiscal 2009. The foundation awarded about five million Japanese yen in grants for ten programs.
Seventy-six applications for grants were received from organizations in Japan and other countries during the application period (mid-March to April 30). The selection committee chose the ten recipients on July 6 after strict and fair judgment.
The grants are made to encourage mutual understanding and cooperation among different religions and to strengthen ties among people striving for social harmony in the spirit of religion.
Social welfare and peace programs based on a religious spirit, and programs for regional improvement are the two main criteria for selecting grant recipients. In particular, concrete as well as inspirational and creative programs for peace are highly valued.
The foundation's grant program is administered by the Rissho Kosei-kai Donate-a-Meal Fund for Peace.
The following are the ten recipients in the first half of 2009:
1. Services for the Health in Asian and African Religions (SHARE): 700,000 yen for lectures and seminars for foreign residents in Japan on medical treatment.
2. The Japan NGO Center for International Cooperation (JANIC): 730,000 yen for education about world poverty.
3. Bali Biodiversitas: 470,600 yen for the preservation of sustainable water supply and protection of the diversity of species.
4. Mie Kodomo NPF Support Center: 200,000 yen for a forum on children's rights.
5. Amnesty International Japan: 700,000 yen for medical consultations for refugee applicants in Japan and public educational programs on the plight of refugees.
6. Asia Press International: 400,000 yen for workshops on the plight of North Koreans and their possible relief.
7. The Asian Rural Institute (ARI): 394,940 yen for the Asian Rural Institute's second Peace Symposium.
8. Kansai NGO Council: 200,000 yen for the joint campaign with JANIC Kansai "My One Step in the History of Earth."
9. The Pacific Asia Resource Center Interpeoples' Cooperation: 700,000 yen to study the possibility of support projects for workers on Sri Lanka's tea plantations.
10. Centro de Acción para el Desarrollo y el Derecho: 500,000 yen to promote public understanding of legislation protecting the rights of aboriginal peoples.
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