Habitat Japan participated the biggest annual international cooperation event in Japan, "Global Festa Japan 2010." held on October 2nd and 3rd. Marking the year of due for the United Nation's Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), some 106,000 people has gathered at Hibiya Koen Park in Tokyo under the sunny autumn sky for a common cause.

MDGs contain eight Millennium Development Goals and detail out 18 specific development targets to achieve the goals. Habitat for Humanity is contributing to achieve one of the targets; Achieve significant improvement in lives of at least 100 million slum dwellers, by 2020.
On the event, student volunteers at the Habitat booth asked a question to all visitors; "What does a house mean to you ? " The booth exhibition was designed to raise awareness on the global poverty housing issue and Habitat's efforts to overcome it as it is an essential to a decent human living. Along with the photos and panels on the walls, the visitors had plenty opportunities to hear the voices of the student volunteers of CCs/ CClubs in person who had experienced Global Village Program (GV) .
The visitors also enjoyed writing the brick-shaped cards with their answers to the question above, to fill the walls of a model box house. Sharing words like "relaxation", "necessity", "rest" and so on, they formed a house of hope. (This model house will be used as a donation box at upcoming events.)
This fruitful two-day event also gave opportunities for student volunteers to meet and exchange thoughts with the fellow volunteers, young and old visitors who share a common interest in international cooperation. (Toshiyuki Sugawara, student volunteer)
=======================Proceeds at the Global Festa Japan 2010 ========================
Total of 13,200 yen was raised by sales of Habitat USB, T-shirts and Calendars.
* This proceeds will be used towards the house building projects by Habitat for Humanity.
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◆Reports on the past Global Festa Japan:
Global Festa Japan 2009
Global Festa Japan 2008
Global Festa Japan 2007