FEW March Meeting / “Business tackling poverty: The Big Issue Japan” March 10, 2011

March speaker: Miku Sanno, Big Issue Japan, Tokyo Office General Manager

The Big Issue Japan is socially responsible business response to a social problem: homelessness. Established in 2003, The Big Issue Japan publishes a high-quality magazine that is sold by homeless people. From September 2003 to March 2009, 829 homeless people had registered with the Big Issue Japan as vendors. By March 2009, 3.09 million copies of the Big Issue Japan were sold in Japan which provided a total of 379 million yen in income to homeless vendors.

Sanno will introduce how BIJ works and some of the key issues they face. She will also introduce the work of the Big Issues Foundation - the recently founded nonprofit organization which provides access to health services and job training to allow the vendors to take advantage of their new-won independence and move on with their lives. Sanno will also introduce how FEW members can support the foundation in its work.

Get more information: http://www.fewjapan.com, RSVP at few@gol.com

At this meeting we will be accepting clothing donations on behalf of the Big Issue Japan Foundation.

The Big Issue Japan Foundation can use your help! The Big Issue Japan Vendors are in need of men’s causal warm clothing:
gloves, scarves, jackets ,coats, socks, sweat pants/shirts, under wear,

clothing that is gently worn is fine but All items should be clean and without holes or stains. * if you know any man who is size 7L, one homeless gentleman would welcome his used clothing as it is very hard to find large sizes here in Japan. no suits please. (except for sweat suits!) sorry but at this time we will only accept men’s clothing.

Please bring your items to the March 10 FEW meeting
Or send directly to Big issue Japan Foudnation HQ
2-3-2 Dokita Building 401, Dojima, Kita-ku, Osaka 530-0003