On 1st November, Habitat for Humanity Japan held its annual charity gala, Homecoming at the KKR Hotel Tokyo. The event was sponsored by the Aditya Birla Group.
This year, the event theme is inspired by Diwali, the Indian Festival of Lights. With the funds and resources raised through the event, Habitat Japan will bring light and joy to people’s lives in India and Japan, mainly through the implementation of the following housing-related interventions:
Building Homes and Hope in India: It is estimated that more than 73 million families in India do not have access to decent shelter and nearly half of the population defecate in the open. To eliminate these inadequate housing issues, Habitat Japan (in partnership with Habitat India) will be building homes and toilet for Indian families.
Improving Lives with Project Homeworks: Project Homeworks is Habitat Japan’s domestic program, which mobilizes and empowers volunteers to conduct cleaning and minor repair home for elderly or persons with disabilities in Japan.
Over 100 guests joined together to celebrate Diwali and the programs of Habitat, including some of Habitat Japan’s corporate partners such as Bank of America and MetLife, participants of the Food for the Soul restaurant campaign and other supporters. Guest of honor HE Sanjay Kumar Verma, Ambassador of India in Japan, shared some thoughts around housing for all in India, and Mark Clifford, Executive Director of the Asia Business Council shared some remarks about housing issues in India as well. Guests also enjoyed traditional Indian entertainment, including traditional dancing and a sitar performance.
Thanks to the generosity of our guests who donated during our charity auction and raffle, we raised funds to build houses, toilets and provide safe water for families in India, as well as funds for our domestic Project Homeworks program.
