High School Students in Toyama Pass the 'Learning' Torch to South Africa
Approximately 250 English children's books and donations collected by high school students in Toyama arrived in South Africa. Through SAPESI-Japan, the books will support local mobile libraries and improve literacy for children.
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- 📰 Published: April 28, 2026 at 17:30
- 🔍 Collected: April 28, 2026 at 09:01
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SAPESI-Japan (Minato-ku, Tokyo; Chairperson: Kenichi Ikezawa), a non-profit organization supporting primary education in South Africa, is pleased to announce that books sent from Japan have safely arrived in the Eastern Cape Province, Republic of South Africa, as part of the 'English Children's Book Donation Project' voluntarily planned and implemented by high school students in Toyama Prefecture.
■ Project Background: One student's action led to school-wide and overseas support
This project was voluntarily launched by a female student attending a high school in Toyama Prefecture (at the time) with a strong desire to 'fill the world's educational gap even a little.' The founder created a proposal and requested cooperation from the school. Along with student council members, they called for donations within the school, collected unused English picture books and children's books from homes, and actively raised funds to cover shipping costs. As a result, approximately 250 books and over 42,000 yen in donations were collected in a short period. The students' sincere attitude of 'what can we do' resonated with many and led to this donation.
■ Overview of Donation and Local Situation
The books collected in this project arrived safely in South Africa and were donated to the Provincial Department of Education in Port Elizabeth, the central city of the Eastern Cape. While mobile library cars have been introduced in the recipient area, they faced the challenge of not being fully operational due to a shortage of books. This donation directly addresses these on-site needs. Local staff commented, 'It's very heartening to know that high school students in far-off Japan are thinking about South African children; it's truly encouraging for us.' The colorful picture books are expected to contribute significantly to improving children's literacy rates and reading comprehension.
■ Comment from Kenichi Ikezawa, Chairperson of SAPESI-Japan
'I am deeply impressed by this project where Japan's younger generation identified a challenge themselves and turned it into concrete action. This activity, which started from one student's thought, will be a major step in opening the doors of knowledge for South African children. I sincerely thank everyone who cooperated.'
■ About 'South Africa Mobile Library Project'
This activity provides educational support by donating retired used mobile library vehicles from various parts of Japan to children in South Africa who lack books. Since its establishment in 2008, vehicles received from local governments across Japan have been transported by sea and operated in cooperation with the local Ministry of Education.
■ Project Background: One student's action led to school-wide and overseas support
This project was voluntarily launched by a female student attending a high school in Toyama Prefecture (at the time) with a strong desire to 'fill the world's educational gap even a little.' The founder created a proposal and requested cooperation from the school. Along with student council members, they called for donations within the school, collected unused English picture books and children's books from homes, and actively raised funds to cover shipping costs. As a result, approximately 250 books and over 42,000 yen in donations were collected in a short period. The students' sincere attitude of 'what can we do' resonated with many and led to this donation.
■ Overview of Donation and Local Situation
The books collected in this project arrived safely in South Africa and were donated to the Provincial Department of Education in Port Elizabeth, the central city of the Eastern Cape. While mobile library cars have been introduced in the recipient area, they faced the challenge of not being fully operational due to a shortage of books. This donation directly addresses these on-site needs. Local staff commented, 'It's very heartening to know that high school students in far-off Japan are thinking about South African children; it's truly encouraging for us.' The colorful picture books are expected to contribute significantly to improving children's literacy rates and reading comprehension.
■ Comment from Kenichi Ikezawa, Chairperson of SAPESI-Japan
'I am deeply impressed by this project where Japan's younger generation identified a challenge themselves and turned it into concrete action. This activity, which started from one student's thought, will be a major step in opening the doors of knowledge for South African children. I sincerely thank everyone who cooperated.'
■ About 'South Africa Mobile Library Project'
This activity provides educational support by donating retired used mobile library vehicles from various parts of Japan to children in South Africa who lack books. Since its establishment in 2008, vehicles received from local governments across Japan have been transported by sea and operated in cooperation with the local Ministry of Education.