JICA SPENDS A MEMORABLE 67 MINUTES AT OCH
On 17 July 2015, a day before “Mandela Day 2015”, the South African branch of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), promoting people and institutional development through multisectoral technical assistance, visited the Orlando Children’s Home (OCH) in Orlando East, Soweto. Efforts from the development community, including the Japanese Government, are aimed at creating peace and prosperity for the next generation, today’s children. If we ensure that our children understand the value of development, they will feel compelled to bring about a return on investment when they themselves become fathers and mothers.
JICA staff and affiliates, extending to alumni trained in Japan, attended and participated in the event aimed at brightening the day of some 80 creche and school-going children, whom we believe are destined for greatness given encouragement from OCH.
Activities included remarks from both Mrs Mirriam Mazibuko, Director of OCH, and Mr Hiroyuki Kinomoto, Chief Representative of the JICA South Africa Office, presentations on the beauty of South Africa and Japan, with a special focus on similarities and differences, story-telling, and musical pieces played on an Okinawa traditional guitar. Songs which tucked at heart strings of young and old, included “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star”, Tata Madiba’s favourite, “Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika”, South Africa’s national anthem, and “Happy Birthday, Dear Tata”, followed by a balloon release and free-style casual play. The presence of Japanese children from JICA staff, peers of OCH’s children, added a special touch of cultural fusion. The event was concluded with an unofficial donation of goods collected by visitors, and the signing of a painted world map by all those in attendance.
Japan is no stranger to OCH. There are traces of Japan everywhere, even from the famous Japanese artist Katsuhiko Hibino, who painted one of the walls in the playground area. To date, over a thousand Japanese people have visited OCH. Some of their photos are pasted onto a hand-painted Japanese flag.
In 2014, Mrs Mazibuko, or “Ma Mazibuko” as she’s affectionately referred to, was presented with the “Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays”, by the Japanese Government for her contribution to promoting friendly relations between South Africa and Japan, and between communities of these two countries. Mrs Mazibuko has helped Japanese people to better understand the spirit of “Ubuntu”. She’s been the Director of OCH since 1992. In 2015, OCH is celebrating its 75th year of existence. Coincidence or not, but in OCH’s logo, the “O” in “Orlando” is presented by the sun, whilst Japan is known as the country of the rising sun, a red dot.
JICA IN South Africa