NYK Ships School Satchels to Children in Afghanistan

 Used school satchels collected from all over Japan are first checked for excessive wear, and the ones that can continue to be used are then packed by volunteers, who also add notepads and pencils to the shipments. After about three weeks by sea and a few more by truck, the school satchels reach their final destination and to the hands of excited Afghan children eager to learn.

 

As a result of a long-lasting civil war, about 50 percent of school-aged children do not attend any formal school. In many towns, school buildings do not even exist, and it is not uncommon to see students participating in classes outside. After receiving the school satchels, some students use them as a desk on which they can write using the newly provided stationary. Moreover, for children who must walk over 10 kilometers through rough mountain passages, the satchel allows them to keep both hands free and thus better avoid falls that can result in injuries.

 

In the community, parents and residents have started to give more attention to education as they see children making use of their school satchels when attending school. In fact, meetings about school buildings and educational environments have recently taken place, and the importance of education is spreading among adults. The school satchel has become a symbol of education in Afghanistan,

 

NYK hopes that its continued support of JOICFP will lead to a better future for these Afghan children.