Reduce / Reuse / Recycle

June 25, 2011

 

JEN's Book Magic Changes Dust Collecting Books on Shelf into Schools

Keywords: NGO / Citizen Reduce / Reuse / Recycle 

JEN, a Japanese non-profit organization providing international humanitarian assistance, announced that the total donations under its "Book Magic" project exceeded 15 million yen (US$180,723) as of the end of September 2010. The Book Magic is a fund-raising project launched in May 2004 for conflict- or disaster-affected areas in developing countries through recycling used books.

A cardboard box filled with 30 or more unneeded books or CDs at home or the office is picked up free of charge by Sagawa Express Co., a leading Japanese delivery company, and purchased by Book Off Corporation, a leading Japanese used-book retailer. The earnings are used for JEN's school-building projects in Afghanistan, Sudan and other developing countries. Books will turn into schools! That's the book magic. A boxful of books is worth 1,400 yen (US$17) on average. More than 320,000 items have been collected under the project. Those items which cannot be priced will be turned into recycled paper by paper collection traders.

Part of the proceeds are used for JEN's "School Support Program." In Afghanistan, 80 boxes of books can provide 40 chairs and desks in a classroom, and in Sudan 71 boxes of books can provide health education at an elementary school.

The Book Magic is an easy-to-start international cooperative project under which people can utilize limited natural resources effectively and also keep their rooms tidy. The project can make children's dream to study come true.

Posted: 2011/06/25 06:00:15 AM

Japanese  

Reference

JEN official website
http://www.jen-npo.org/en/


 

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