Celebrating 10th Anniversary
By Takashi Hagiwara, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Heartsof Gold
We Shall “Not be Defeated by the Rain or Wind” and Continue toProceed our Courageous Path
We welcomed 2010, dragging the depressed economy of previous
year that contagiously affected the entire world. Such a drastic economic shock on a global
level is said to occur once in every 100 years, but in despite of the continuing heavy deficit
experienced by monster enterprises and job losses by millions of people worldwide, let’s
continue our courageous efforts with the spirit of “Ame ni mo makezu, Kaze ni mo makeze”.
(English translation is “I will not be defeated by the rain or wind”, a line from a famous poem
written by Kenji Miyazawa which is read by all Japanese primary school students.)
Hearts of Gold (HG), established in 1998 and represented by Yuko Arimori, has been
actively involved in providing educational training in sports, supporting the disabled to gain
independence with the provision of artificial limbs, and providing education for the orphans of
AIDS victims in Cambodia. Since 2006, we have been working together with JICA to create
health and physical education program manual for the public primary schools which wascompleted a year before last and is currently in execution. Additionally, the Angkor Wat Half
Marathon (AWHM), symbolizing HG’s international aid activity, is growing year by year. In
2008, the number of entrants for the 13th AWHM reached the highest at 2,964.
The idea to initiate the AWHM was proposed by Mr. Hajime Yuki of Sankei Sports
Newspaper, a peerless marathon director who created Osaka International Ladies Marathon
and most of the citizen’s marathon races in Kyoto, Osaka, and Kobe area. Initially AWHM
was proposed as a compilation of the runners’ aid programs in Japan to raise funds for the
purpose of presenting artificial limbs for the children in Cambodia victimized by thelandmines. It started out as a citizens’ movement in 1994 in which the National Citizens’
Marathon Liaison Council appealed to local marathon race organizers. However, Mr. Yuki
then thought he can create a bigger impact on the world if the marathon race was held in
Cambodia instead of organizing a charity marathon in Japan.
Organizing a marathon race require many staff. Even if everyone at Sankei Sports
Newspaper were to work on the marathon race, it would still be understaffed. Somehow, wewere able to recruit several dozens of volunteers outside the company who became
members of the “Yuki Family.” As one of the “family” members, I would often visit Sankei

Sports with other members for “family gatherings.”
In 1996, 3 Sankei Sports employees visited Cambodia for a site visit and received an
approval from the government to acknowledge the proposed marathon race as a “national
event”. This is how the first AWHM was held in Siem Reap on December 22, 1996, only ayear after the internal war ended. The starting gate was positioned at the front gate of the
Angkor Wat ruins and the course extended counterclockwise along the outer walls of theruins and then through the historic site and finish at the starting point. This course remains
the same even today, but where there were many young children, students, police, andsoldiers with hand guns at the first AWHM, no one carries guns today. The guest runners at
the first AWHM were Kenji Kimihara and Yuko Arimori, and Yuko has continued to participate
in the race ever since. There are many obstacles to overcome in undertaking the activities to
aid the developing countries with economical and political instabilities, but as the old saying
goes, “perseverance will win in the end,” and the fact that we have continued our efforts forover ten years, the public interest in our activities are increasing year by year. This is, ofcourse, credited to the continued support of HG members, sponsoring companies, andmany volunteers. I would like to thank everyone for supporting our organization for the pastten years and I take this opportunity to ask for your continued support for many years to
come.

“Do What You Can, As Long As You Can”
By Yuko Arimori, Representative Director of Hearts of GoldLet us continue for a long time as an organization with each one of us holding onto own
hopes and courage through sports.
In 1996 after the Atlanta Olympics, the invitation to run in a charity marathon gave me achance to find another “course” to proceed in life as a runner. It was a natural path to take torealize my childhood dream of wishing to contribute to the society, and if what I do best canmake a difference, then there was nothing more that would make me happier. I have taken
steps forward with the people who share my goal to solve problems that arise every year by
doing what we can. We focused on the issues facing the people of Cambodia and placed thepriority based on the viewpoints of the local people and how they can become leaders to
re-build their country in the future. To do this it was important that I visit the country, see andfeel the situation, and discuss their needs.
Angkor Wat Half Marathon (AWHM) started out with 654 runners from 14 counties and 1
region in Cambodia. Since then, the participation grew year by year to reach 2,964 runners
from 43 countries in the 13th AWHM in 2008 to become one of the largest sporting events in
Cambodia. By running through the world heritage site, we could express our hope forabolishing landmines and gain world peace by capturing strong support from many people.
Since the beginning of the AWHM, US$218,817 has been donated over the 13-year period
to various NGOs and the Red Cross for reconstructing Cambodia. The United Nations has
stated from many years back that “sports is not only for enjoyment and competition, it is topromote respect for other people and learning the meaning of teamwork, to build courage tosurvive in society, and to help develop good citizens by learning to respect opponents andobeying the rules and judgments of referees.” Actually, this theory of sports and physicaleducation playing an important role in promoting education, health, development, and peace
was proven by AWHM.
For the first 5 years we made great efforts to promote the growth of AWHM, and thenconcentrated on projects to develop human resources in the field of education with theCambodian Ministry of Education for the next 5 years to create health and physicaleducation programs in primary schools. Needless to say that the execution of this projects
could not have been possible without the tireless work of Taku Yamaguchi, HG’s staff both inJapan and on site, Cambodian Ministry of Education and the kind support of everyone
involved. The support for the Japanese class and children at childcare center is gradually
under way, thanks to the on-site staff and those people supporting their efforts.

As for me, meeting many invaluable people has nurtured me as a person. I am sure that ourworld will continue to face ecological, poverty, infectious diseases, wars and other problems;
however, taking advantage of this 10-year anniversary to reconfirm the stance of HG, I would
like to restate our goal to gather as much human wisdom and hearts as possible and accreteas an organization that can nurture people, as well as myself, to exert courage and strong
will to challenge these problems. I take this opportunity to ask whoever that can to contributewhatever one can as much as one can to share with us in achieving our goal, as well asasking those of you who have supported us over the years to continue giving us yourvaluable support and guidance.

Congratulatory Messages in Liu of the 10th Anniversary of Hearts of Gold
From: Katsuhiro Shinohara, Ambassador of Japan (Previous Ambassador to Cambodia)
To Ms. Arimori and her team, I extend my heartfelt congratulations on the occasion of the10th Anniversary of the establishment of your organization. The opportunity to meet
members of HG for the first time came during the inaugural AWHM. It is a half-marathon
race held at Angkor Wat historical site with 10 and 5-kilometer race categories toaccommodate participation of small children to elderly. It is truly a fun race with most of theparticipants running for enjoyment rather than for time.
Since the first event in 1996, the number of participants is growing year by year. In addition
to the Cambodians, runners from other countries have increased over the years, and in 2008
the number of participants had grown to nearly 3,000.
Many years ago, sports flourished in Cambodia, especially soccer being their national sport.
When Japan’s noted player, Kamamoto, visited Cambodia for a friendship match with his
Yanmar team in 1969, Cambodian team gave them a good fight. However, the country
launched into internal war the following year and any forms of organized sports wereabandoned for the next 20 years.
Through the activities of HG, Cambodian people recalled the enjoyment of sports andreconfirmed the importance of including it in the education programs. Not until HG
developed and executed Physical Education programs in the education system, P.E. was
not included in the curriculum of primary and secondary schools. Currently in Cambodia,
more people are focusing on health and I believe it is a matter of time that regional
competitions will lead to National Competitions.
I wish Ms. Arimori and her team the best of luck from the bottom of my heart in continuing
their great work and in their future endeavors.

Dr. Thong Khon
Cambodian Minister of Tourism/Cambodia Olympic Committee Chairman
On behalf of Cambodia, National Olympic Committee, and Ministry of Tourism, I would like toexpress my deep appreciation to your organization for organizing the AWHM for the past 14
years in cooperation with our National Olympic Committee.
AWHM is held to give aid to the victims of landmines, to protect the youth from AIDS, andhas played an important role in the promotion of tourism in Cambodia. It is my great hope to
see that your activities will continue to flourish and that your goals will be achieved.
As a representative of the Kingdom of Cambodia, allow me to continue to support yourorganizational activities for the development of our nation.
In closing, I would like to wish all of you good health and pray for the success of every
benevolent activity your organization has created in Cambodia.

Sem Phalla
AWHM Organizing Committee Member/Secretary General of Cambodia
Having been asked to write a message on the occasion of the 10th Anniversary of Hearts ofGold, the first things that come to my mind are Angkor Wat Half Marathon and the Olympic
Medalist, Yuko Arimori, who has continued to support this international sporting project since1996 with sincere concern to aid the landmine victims of Cambodia.
HG was established 2 years after the 1st AWHM and has been the most influential supporterof the event ever since. HG celebrated its 10th Anniversary in 2009 and the AWHM is
expected to celebrate its 15th Anniversary in 2010.
As a member of the Organizing Committee, I have witnessed the success of the AWHM andhave experienced wonderful and surprising events. The AWHM Organizing Committee andthe Cambodian Olympic Committee have always cooperated with HG for the success of this
sporting event with “aid the landmine victims” as a slogan to help these survivors become
self-sustaining and be able to assimilate into the society.
Being involved in this project, I have personally gained a valuable experience, and I holdgreatest respect for Ms. Arimori and the HG members for their untiring efforts in promoting
goodwill and executing charitable and health related activities for the people of Cambodia.
On behalf of the AWHM Organizing Committee, I extend my utmost appreciation to Ms.
Arimori and the members of HG. It is my hope that our sports related projects and thecharitable activities will continue to spread throughout Cambodia.

Masahiro Ishii
Governor of Okayama Prefecture
I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to Hearts of Gold on their 10th Anniversary.
Since its establishment, HG has continued to provide support to the developing countries byorganizing programs for the people to gain necessary social skills to become self-reliance.
Especially in Cambodia, you have developed a wide-range of activities in the field of sports
and education including hosting of Angkor Wat Half Marathon, creating teachers’ manuals
for physical education programs, creating Japanese language courses in public schools, andnurturing human resources, applying the overseas technical skill training system developedby our prefecture and have gained high reputation for contributing greatly to the growth ofCambodia. Also within our prefecture, your organization has provided opportunities to our
citizens to contribute to the Cambodian causes by gaining first-hand understanding of thereal situation through such programs as children and students’ mail-pals program and study
tours for college students, which have influenced young adults to think from a global point ofview with consideration for others.
Having recognized these achievements, we selected HG as a recipient for the Okayama
Miki Memorial Grant Award in 2005.
Based on the proposal of “International Aid Committee,” of which Ms. Arimori is one of thefounding members, Okayama Prefectural Government created in 2004, “Regulations to
Promote International Aid Programs,” the first of its kind in Japan. Under this regulation, weare developing international aid programs by working jointly with the prefectural citizens,
NGOs, and business corporations.
I have high hopes for the continued development of HG to lead us in our future efforts to aid
the developing countries with their know-how and advice. At the same time, I wish HG
continued success and congratulate everyone involved in the HG activities for doing such agreat job.

Chapter 1 - International Cooperation Through Sports
Angkor Wat Half Marathon
Taku Yamaguchi, Director of Hearts of Gold/Project Manager of JICA
I wonder if you know the new charity program known as the “Runner’s Aid?” It is a system
where the proceeds from marathon entry fees go toward some selected charity. It began in
1994 based on the original movement of donating part of the proceeds from citizens’
marathon races to make artificial limbs for the victims of landmines in the developing
countries.
In the following year, in response to some of the people wishing to donate artificial limbs
directly to the landmine victims, the first Angkor Wat Half Marathon (AWHM) took place on
December 22, 1996 with the sanction ofInternational Road Race Association.
The Cambodian government recognized
the need of this type of support for theirpeople and saw this as an opportunity toappeal to the world that Cambodia wasnow at peace and to promote themagnificent Angkor Wat which had been
designated as a world heritage. Since
then AWHM has continued to transmit themessage to stop the usage of landmines
and to apply the entry fee for the victimsof landmines to become self-sustaining
and become active members of thesociety.
After the 3rd AWHM in 1997 in which Yuko Arimori participated as a guest runner, Hearts ofGold (HG) was established to take over the operation of AWHM with Yuko as therepresentative director, Lorraine Moller as the vice-representative director, and Taku
Hagiwara, General Secretary of Japan Medical Doctors’ Joggers Federation, as thechairman of the board of directors.
In the First Phase from 1998-2002 (5-year term), while organizing AWHM, HG supported theCambodian Olympic Committee (NOCC) and Cambodian Athletics Federation (K-AAF) insecuring sponsorship and offering technical know-how of organizing international marathon
event. Some of the major responsibilities of HG in the AWHM were:1. Organizing the event with the local travel agencies and other local companies.
2. Advising and training on how to organize an event by Kimiaki Nishikawa and Toru Ikeda
of Hyogo T&F Association.
3. Managing the volunteers by HG’s volunteer leaders, K. Muto and K. Shizawa.
A few other projects also took place during this time including managing a school to produce
artificial limbs; launching “Cambodian Trust”, an organization that produces and provides
artificial limbs; and providing physical and financial supports to “Handicap International” and“Cambodia’s Disabled Athletic Federation (CDAF)”.
In the Second Phase from 2003-2007 (the developing phase), the HG Asian Office wasestablished with the Japanese staff managing the on-site projects. It is at this phase whenstrengthening of AWHM operations with the developments in all aspects of financial andmanpower support, including event marketing took place on an international level.
Necessary operational funding was secured, managed, and budgeted; entrants wererecruited, creating technological innovation and networking of registered runners; conductedtraining of risk management; and anything else necessary in building the foundation for theorganization.
This was a period when sporting activities to promote the enjoyment of sports developed intoa larger event such as the “Youth and Leaders Training through Sports (YLTS).” It was also asprouting period for specialized activities such as the “International Development throughSport (IDS).”We are now currently in the 3rd Phrase which began in 2008 and will continue to 2012. It is
those local Cambodians who were educated and trained during the Phase 2 that make up
80% of the Angkor Wat Half Marathon Organizing Committee (AMC). Designing and editing,managing the printing schedule, dispatching and distributing all published and printed
materials; dealing with entry applications; and conducting the final confirmation of registering
the runners are now done by the local staff. During the current phase, HG intends to takefurther steps to assist in nurturing the local people according to the individual’s potential.
2008 AWHM recorded the highest number of entry up to date with a total of 2,964 from 43
countries (runners 2,593 – bikers 173 – walkers 198). It included men, women, children, andthose with physical/mental disabilities. Categories also increased with 10 running events, 4bike events, and 2 walking course events, hosted by HG.
The total of entrants in the 13 AWHM races up until 2008 totaled 21,124. Besides theentrants, there were countless volunteers who have supported this event over the years by
joining the official tour. They helped to hand out water to the runners, served as ushers,
helped in the preparation, worked as interpreters, accompanied the runners, and were on
stand-by to give first-aid treatments.
In addition to funds raised through Runner’s Aid, the total amount of money donated by the“Pledge Donation” program that began in 2006 surpassed JPY22,000,000. This monetarycontribution was distributed to cover manufacturing costs of artificial limbs, financial aid forthe people in poverty, and for the educational programs such as IDS. However, in the past
couple of years, we have been facing difficulties in securing enough funding even toorganize AWHM. In order to continue the programs and activities we have started throughsupports and donations generated by the AWHM, we must secure new cooperators and findeffective ways to solve this problem.
Graph1 The Number of AWHM Participants

Graph2 The Number of Countries

* Cambodia, China, Indonesia, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand,
Vietnam, Australia, New Zealand, Austria, Al veneer, Belgium, Belarus, Bolivia, Denmark, Finland, France, theU.K., Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Holland, Norway, Serbia, Slovenia, Switzerland, Sweden, Russia,
Ethiopia, the Republic of South Africa, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Canada, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama, the UnitedStates of America

With A Bib On Our Chest And Pride On Our Shoulders, We Stood At The Starting Gate In
1996
Kimiaki Nishikawa
Advisor of Hearts of Gold/Chief Manager of AWHM Organizing Committee
In 1996, an international half marathon was held in Cambodia for the first time in 30 years.
One of the reasons for holding this event was to prove that the country was now “at peace”.
The following message appeared in the first event pamphlet: “Pol Pot Regime that began in
1975 forced the country into isolation, destroyed cities, and eliminated all cultural andeducational activities. 2 million people, mostly the highly educated, were killed in the great
massacre executed by the Pol Pot Regime. After years of internal war, Cambodia regained
peace in 1993 with the help of the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia.
However, the tragedy still lingers on. The largest cause is the landmines that are scatteredmainly along the border of Thailand, many of which can detonate at any time when being
stepped on. We understand that one little landmine that costs merely 80 yen to produce
have killed and injured millions of people over the years.”
There are more than 100
millions of landmines planted
around the world, andthrough this “international
volunteer event,” we wanted
the world to realize thehorrible effect they produce
and to make an appeal tostop the production, sales, and utilization of landmines immediately. This event is also a tool
to gather money to buy artificial limbs for the victims of landmines, both adults and children.
It is also an event that symbolizes peace and where people cooperate with one another withthe slogan of “bib on our chest and pride on our shoulders”.
We ran up against many unexpected obstacles in the inaugural race. All of the local officials
were inexperienced in operating a marathon race, so we had to ask the people from Japanto help out. There were project members from Sankei Sports Newspaper, medical staff fromJapan Red Cross, volunteers from Japan, and even the tour conductors were dragged into
assist in the operations. The inaugural race recorded 654 total entrants in all racecategories.
In 1998, HG was established and by having repeated discussions with the CambodianAthletic Federation, the event operations improved year by year. What hasn’t change fromthe inaugural event is my duty to wake up at 3:00am and take my position at the watersupply area. I understand that there were over 3,500 entries in the 2009 AWHM, so I am
looking forward to seeing how many people will participate next year for its 15th year
anniversary race.

Katsuyuki Muto
Volunteer Leader of Western Japan HG Branch
I have made13 visits to Cambodia since 1997. It all began when I volunteered to work as astaff in the 2nd AWHM. Meeting and working with other volunteers with the same goals duringthat visit, led to the establishment of NPO Hearts of Gold. AWHM today is mainly organized
and run by the local staff and it gives me much pleasure to see the developmental progressof the local staff involved in the event.
Of course, the local staff has not reached the level of the organizational staff running the
marathon events in Japan, however, they are slowly but surely improving. The planning andorganizational work has shifted from Japan to Cambodia and in the near future, thismarathon race will be entirely organized and operated by the people of Cambodia.
Once the seeds have been planted, it is natural that they will sprout, and no longer needingoutside support. Until the day the people of Cambodia no longer need the support of HG,
those of us who are able will continue to contribute as much as we can, as much as we are
comfortably able to.
Kouichi Shizawa
Volunteer Leader of Eastern Japan HG Branch
There are various NGOs from numerous countries around the world providing support torestore Cambodia because of the great damage and sorrow the country and its people had
experienced. HG is no exception, but we are unique in that our activities concentrate mainlyin sports. With the key word being “sports,” we have been developing “new” forms ofinternational cooperation activities which, unprecedented by the other NGOs, recently grew
into a national project. We take pride in our efforts and I believe that the development of
Cambodia mirrors the development of HG and I would like to celebrate the 10th Year
Anniversary of HG with all the members who havemade the difference.

Taku Yamaguchi
Director of HG and Project Manager of JICA
“International Development through Sports”
Providing support through the program of “International Development through Sports” (IDS)
has been attracting interests in recent years. The recognition of sports as a tool forinternational development, in addition to its role of providing international goodwill, is
growing. The joint projects hosted by the United Nations (UN) and International Olympic
Committee (IOC) represent this concept. In 2001 Special Committee for Peace andDevelopment through Sports was created as a special medium of the General Secretary ofUN, and UN/IOC’s co-operative system was ready for execution.
Also in Japan, IDS activities were put into practice by dispatching physical education/sports
teachers/instructors through Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteer (JOCV) and NGOs,
however, most of them were single events or volunteer projects and did not develop into
specialized and long-term sports oriented activities.
The main reason for this was due to the support providing nations’ point of view that
financially poor countries need financial support to meet the countries’ immediate needs forlivelihood. But I challenge this reasoning. Through sports, physical and mental health can beattained. Not only an outward effect of gaining healthier and stronger body; such internal
strength to have self-confidence, team work, leadership, communicational and social skills,
following rules, learning respect, and sense of fair-play can be acquired from sports to give
positive outlook to people so that they can endure and fight against hardship and distress.
“Youth and Leader Training through Sports” (YLTS)
There are still many problems in the educational system in Cambodia. According to the
Cambodian Cooperative Committee, international NGO activities concentrate mainly in thearea of nurturing specialists (239 programs) and in public health and medical care (235
programs). This is in consideration of the need to educate people in all social aspects for thecountry to become self-functioning and to protect children’s rights. However, in reality,
educational programs concentrate mainly in languages, mathematics, science, andsociology and small portion is set aside for sports, music, and arts which are allindispensable in children’s development. In addition, student body activities, class and club
activities, and extracurricular activities have not been introduced.
In the rural areas most children are expected to work and they have no “time for play.” They
also have developmental problems either from lack of protein in their diet or have growthdisorder from laboring at early ages. On the other hand, people in the cities use cheap
bike-taxies for going to places and eat predominantly meat which causes diseases
commonly found in elderly people having high-calorie diet with no exercise. Healthconditions increasingly worsened under these circumstances and the Siem Reap
Department of Education recognized the need to implement some programs to improve thissituation and requested HG whom they had established a cooperative relationship through
AWHM to create some physical exercise programs. In 2001 HG launched their first programthat included three most important elements to health improvement - “play,” “exercise,” and“learn.”The first program executed was a large scale recreational sports festival held at the Siem
Reap Athletic Stadium which is now replaced by a hotel, museum, and condominium
complex for foreigners. Local children were invited to experience the fun and joy of sports
and physical exercises. Top class athletes and sports instructors participated as Sports
Ambassadors (SA) as a part of their social responsibility activity. (See chart 2 for details)
Surveys were conducted and the responses were employed the following year to make
improvements. As a result, 2-stage program was implemented to train instructors. First, a“learning” course for the teachers was conducted, and then a training course for the local
teachers on how to teach children to “play” and “exercise” were held. New SAs and a team
to measure children’s physical strength also came into the scene. Not only the fun andenjoyment of sports were taught, the festive event developed into a physical education
program on how to teach children the importance of exercise and sports with the motive ofimproving training skills of teachers.
In 2003 the Central Government came to observe the festival and requested HG to develop
further specialized training programs. The naming of the festival changed to “Youth andLeader Training through Sports” (YLTS) and became a traveling event as a life-long sporting
event recognized by the Department of Education. In addition, because 2003 marked the50th anniversary of Japan and Cambodia’s goodwill relationship, Japanese Embassy
sanctioned the event, JICA provided manpower, NGO planned and organize the event, andprivate corporations gave financial support to the event.
It was around this time that the marching band of Japanese school children (JHP) performedin the opening ceremony and other NGOs such as the Cambodian Health Education Media
Service (CHEMS) and Community of Poverty Retrench (CPR) became involved in
conducting educational programs related to the prevention of HIV/AIDS.

One of the biggest problems was the inability to confirm booking of the venue we had beenrequesting until the last-minute due to the public offices being occupied with the national
election, however with the help of the Japanese ambassador at the time, we were given
permission to use the Olympic stadium just 3 days prior to the event. This was just one of thenumerous problems we had to overcome, but on the day of the event, there were 17 SAs,
150 Cambodian participating educators and 1,800 participating students, and over 100
volunteers from Japan with the majority being Okayama University students involved in
sports. The presence of Vice Prime Minister Soken and the temporary ambassador of Japan
at the time, Ambassador Shinohara, attending the opening ceremony added prestige to theevent, making this a very successful event. Also, one of the most valuable outcomes fromthis event was creating Teacher’s Manual by one of our Youth Ambassadors with theguidance from SAs.
In the following years, 2004 and 2005, we searched together with the person in charge at the
Ministry of Education and decided on the location to hold YLTS; conducted training sessions
to prepare the local public official in charge of physical education and sports on how to
improve the conditions of the public sports stadium; and to plan, organize, manage, andoperate sporting events. As a result, the year after YLTS was held, the same stadium wasselected as the venue for the National Primary School Sports Festival organized by the
Ministry of Education.
Period
Event
Name
Site
No. ofschools
participatedNo. ofteachers
participatedNo. ofstudents
participatedCambodianvolunteers
Japanesevolunteers

Dec. 2001
1st Youth
Recreation
Event
Siem Reap
16

Nov. 2002
2nd Youth
Recreation
Event
Siem Reap
16

Dec. 2003

Dec. 2004

Dec. 2005

3rd YLTS
Event

4th YLTS
Event

5th YLTS
Event

Phnom Penh20

Kompun
16

28

0

60

150

80

56

500

872

1600

856

890

N/A

N/A

50

80

100

50

92

100

90

70

NGSs
participatedCambodian
Disabled
Athletic
Federation

Cambodian
Disabled
Athletic
Federation

JHP/CPRCHEMS
HA CYA-JYA

JHP/KYACHEMSHA CYA-JYA

JHP/JMASCHEMS/KYA
HA
CYA-JYA

Athletes Who Participated in the YLTS
Year
2001
Yuko Arimori (athletics), Kazumi Nakamura/Kiyoko Fukuda (volleyball), Yuka
Harada (basketball), Norio Sasaki/Akihiro Kameda (soccer), Ryoichi Hiraoka(recreation), Katsuyuki Muto (disabled sports), Koichi Shizawa
2002
Norio Sasaki (soccer), Mariko Nakano/Chiho Torii (volleyball), Yuka Harada(basketball), Yuko Arimori/
Masako Matsumura (athletics), Katsuyuki Muto (disabled sports), Koichi
Shizawa
2003
Yuko Arimori/Masako Matsumura/Komei Nishikawa (athletics), Norio Sasaki(soccer), Kazumi Nakamura/Kiyoko Fukuda (volleyball), Yuka Harada(basketball), Hironobu Hagiwara/Nobuyuki Kohara(tennis), Tsuguo
Yamamoto (badminton), Makoto Inokuma/Masakazu Ota (judo), Katsuyuki
Muto (disabled sports), Koichi Shizawa, Kaoru Kitada
2004
Lorraine Moller (athletics), Kiyoko Fukuda/Shinako Tanaka (volleyball), Yuka
Harada (basketball), Norio Sasaki (soccer), Kichinosuke Sugimori/Koichi
Shizawa (karate), Makoto Inokuma/Masakazu Ota (judo), Tetsuyoshi
Watanabe (badminton), Katsuyuki Muto (disabled sports), Tsuguo Yamamoto(badminton), Hironobu Shinosaki/Nobuyuki Ohara (tennis)
2005
Yuko Arimori (athletics), Toshihiko Aoyama (recreation), Mariko
Nakano/Kiyoko Fukuda (volleyball), Yuka Harada (basketball),Norio Sasaki(soccer), Tetsuyoshi Watanabe (badminton), /Masakazu Ota (judo), Katsuyuki
Muto (disabled sports), Koichi Shizawa

Conveying the 3 Enjoyments of Sports – “Finding out that you can do it,” “Mingling withothers,” and “Learning”
Norio Sasaki
Manager of Japan Women’s Olympic Soccer TeamI have visited Cambodia 5 times in the past as an instructor to promote sports for HG. Initially,
I held children’s sports clinics which eventually evolved into a new activity of training physicaleducation teachers and youth to become sports instructors to teach children. It was a trial
and error thing, and we made constant changes in our activity to meet the needs of the local
people. It makes me very happy to hear that the program is still continuing.
As a soccer instructor, in addition to teaching technical skills, my motto was to teach children
and those training to become instructors the 3 enjoyments of sports which are “to find outthat you can do it,” “to mingle with others,” and “to learn about the sport.”
Looking back at the enthusiastic faces of children and instructors and the passion of Yuko
Arimori, HG staff, and the Japanese volunteers; I think it was I who gained power from themand the 3 enjoyments of sports. It turned out to be a great asset for me as a sports instructor.
Japan Soccer Association has dispatched many instructors to various Asian countries toimprove the level of soccer and to promote the sport. In Japan,
there are soccer players and instructors we refer to as “Dream
Teacher” who give lectures to soccer kids about “the power ofthe dream” based on their experiences.
Not only the listeners are gaining “the power of the dream” but
often the lecturers receive the power as well through these
activities. I have also learned many things through sports as aplayer and an instructor and also grew as a person. As a result,
we, the instructors, hold social responsibility of contributing to the society through sports. It is
my wish to spread further the 3 enjoyments of sports and open doors wider for players andinstructors to participate in sports, including acquisition of athlete coaching license, not only
in soccer, but for the entire sports categories under the Japan Olympic Committee.

National Team Member
Article written by Taku Yamaguchi
Director of HG/Project Manager of JICA
Story told by Tetsuyoshi Watanabe
President of NPO Osaka Tricky Pandas/Ex-Manager of NTT
Western Japan Badminton Team
“Although I did not recall the Jr. High school student participating in the 2005 YLTS held in
Svay Rieng, he remembered me when he saw me at the badminton tournament held in Laos
in 2009. I took some students to compete in the top-level Asian tournament and wasapproached by a Cambodian national team member asking me if I was Tetsuyoshi
Watanabe who taught badminton at the 2005 YLTS held in Svay Rieng. To my surprise, he
had continued playing badminton seriously while working as a police officer.
I have been to many international competitions and sporting events, but to see a boy I had
taught becoming a national team member was my first-time experience. He said proudly,‘Don’t you think I’ve gotten good?’ as he waited for my appraisal.”
In most projects we are involved in, “concrete result”, is sought after, however, there arecases such as this where the result of our support is not achieved immediately. Of course, it
is important to produce immediate results, but I cherish the slow nurturing process ofeducating children so that the result of our support will gradually show after the strong roots
have been implanted.

Teacher’s Manual for Teaching Physical Education inPrimary Schools
Taku Yamaguchi
Director, HG / JICA Project Manager
Department of Physical Education and Sports forStudents (DPESS) was newly established in 2004 within
the Ministry of Education under the ideology of“meaningful sports to promote peace, development,
health, and education”. In the initial year’s plan,“reinforcement of physical education in schools,”“enrichment of extra-curriculum activities,” and“improvement in the participation of P.E. and sports” were set out as goals for achievement.
The goal was clear, but DPESS did not have the experience in achieving this goal andconsulted HG, whom they had worked with in organizing AWHM and YLTS.
In order to accomplish this goal, a teacher’s manual and proper training of primary school
P.E. teachers were indispensable for enriching and reinforcing the field of education. We felt
this project would not be possible without the cooperation of Tsukuba University that had theexperience of creating teacher’s manual for Japan and JICA that have been working closelywith the Ministry of Education in Cambodia. There were many critical opinions in the
beginning, but with the dedicated guidance and cooperation of JICA Cambodian office and
JICA China Center, the project to draft up “Teacher’s Manual for Physical Education inPrimary Schools” was launched in February of 2006.
The first step was to establish a special project committee within the Ministry of Education,
Youth and Sports (MoEYS) to draft a manual. Then the drafted manual was implemented at
a few model schools as test cases and reports and results of surveys were to be considered
as revisions for improvements. The final draft was then drawn up, reflecting the opinions ofteachers and surveys taken at the model schools. The completion of the manual was a big
accomplishment of the Central Committee as well as for the Steering Committee that
supported the project. However, this was only the beginning. There was still a big concern
about the utilization of the manual.
In order to avoid the worst case of the manual being neglected, at the end of the 1st year,
Administrative Vice-Minister of Education, Chief of Youth Sports, and Chief of Physical
Education discussed ways to promote the manual. They pointed out the need for further
revision of the manual and educating teachers, as well as establishing a system that will
become the foundation of spreading the physical education curriculum. In addition, they
pointed out the difficulties in securing a large budget and human resources.
In the 2nd year, we concluded that technical support for educating the on-the-job teachers
and instructors at the teacher training schools were vital, however we made it clear to ourcounterparts in Cambodia that their effort to secure budget for the 3rd year wasindispensable. In October 2008, MoEYS approved the project as a continued grass-root
project of JICA (Phase 2) and in June 2009, the project to promote physical education inprimary schools was reinforced.

Working with JICA
Hiroshi Tsujino
Manager of JICA China International Center
When JICA received the proposal for involvement in the project tocreate teacher’s manual for primary school teachers from HG in 2005,
I was working at the Asian District 1 Section of JICA in charge ofCambodia. TRithhfully, I was reluctant about the success of the project at first, but 3 years
later when I saw the message from the Cambodian Minister of Education in the manual
thanking HG for their cooperation, I felt ashamed about having been pessimistic about the
project initially.
Characteristic of international cooperation provided by JICA focuses on supporting
developing countries in educating administrative personnel in mid to long terms onnationwide basis, but NGOs and NPOs pinpoint on direct support to targeted group ofpeople in shorter time span. In this project to produce teacher’s manual for P.E. teachers
combines NGO/NPOs ways of executing grass-root activities to build human resources inlong-term means to foster administrative personnel.
It is common for developing countries to receive support in the areas of health and medicalcare, agriculture, environment, education in math, science and chemistry; but receiving
support in the area of “sports” is quite unique. For this reason, I believe it was possible towork closely with MoEYS to develop a substantial program.
Currently, we are in Phase 2 of the project which is to encourage all public primary schools
to make use of the manual. There are many obstacles to clear, but I am hoping that myconcern is a groundless apprehension and that the project will achieve a great success in 3
years’ time.

Prior to the Launching of Physical Education in Cambodia
Takeo Takahashi
Professor at Nippon Sports Science University
Head of Research Center at Nippon Sports Science
University’s Graduate School
Honorary Professor at the University of Tsukuba
I became involved in HG projects 5 years ago when I was a
Vice-Chancellor of University of Tsukuba. As we were working on improving the existing
domestic teacher’s manual at the time, I was concern whether we had the time to cooperatewith HG on their project and whether we would be able to satisfy the responsibility ofcreating effective manual for use in a different environment.
While I was hesitating to commit our involvement, the Representing Director of HG, Yuko
Arimori, came to see me in person and talked enthusiastically about Japan’s involvement in
Cambodia and how the marathon event had given the young people of Cambodia hopes fortheir future. I was soon drawn into her world and felt embarrassed for hesitating to give mycommitment. If my expertise in creating teacher’s manual and educational textbooks can beof help, I was more than happy to offer my knowhow. The problem was my time. There were
too many miscellaneous administration duties that needed my attention. Consequently, I
asked Dr. Okade, one of my most trusted colleagues for cooperation.
After the curriculum was developed, we produced the textbook based on the developed plan,
however we faced problems in implementing it into the actual program and we decided tohold lecture seminars with the Cambodian teachers. It was my first time to visit Cambodia.
The view from the taxi on my way to downtown Phnom Penh reminded me of Japan when I
was a child in the 1940’s. It was the time of American Occupation Army Forces in Japan andour educational curriculum guidelines were under the direction of GHQ. It was a transition
time from militaristic physical education programs to that of democratic one. But we are notan occupation army and our mission is to provide maximum support to Cambodia toestablish their own educational system based on the program we are proposing.
In the parking lots adjacent to our lecture halls and in empty lots in the suburbs, I saw many
children playing soccer, basketball and volleyball. I got the feeling that sports were enrooted
deeply in the lives of the children even though physical education in schools did not exist
and I realized the power of sports. However, when I heard that kids were betting on soccer, I
realized the need to incorporate this culture into the education system as soon as possible. I
felt that by teaching these children the splendor of authentic sports through education inschools, it will become a strong driving force for the development of the nation.
The lecture seminar did not go smoothly as I had expected. It was difficult to erase the image
that all sports are competitive. After demonstrating the need for developing teachingmaterials which were pertinent to the learning potential of young children by using an
example of particular sport, the teachers seemed to have understood.
We also had a chance to visit JICA office in Phenom Pen to explain about our project. As
there are many charitable organizations providing material goods, they were impressed with
our project which supported MoEYS in building national guidelines for educational
curriculum. Material goods are perishable, but the children who receive education will growup and contribute to the society to make improvements for the future of their children.
The role of HG to strive for international contribution through sports and physical educationis enormous and their efforts and achievements deserve utmost praise. I have great
expectations for their continued achievements under the enthusiastic leadership of Yuko
Arimori. Hats off to Yuko and the people of Hearts of Gold!

Individual and Social Values Direct the Course for Ones “Practice”
Yoshinori Okade
Professor at the University of Tsukuba’s Graduate School
It has been pointed out that the courses taught in universities have very
little use, and we can pursue the cause for this through research and waysof relaying the outcome. Only when we can understand this point, theachievement of productive research is possible. Our involvement in international aid
provided a perfect condition to prove this case. It was a great opportunity for us to test thevalidity of our research and to refine it.
Having been requested for involvement in this project, the point I was mostly concerned
about was the theory on “value orientation,” meaning that the worth of each individual andsociety directs the course for ones practice. In reality, I sensed the influence of Pol Pot
Regime with relations to creating human relationships and self-expression on one side,
however on the other side, I saw the enthusiasm of local people trying to put physicaleducation curriculum into practice. Over the past 4 visits to Cambodia, I saw the progress of
Cambodians gaining confidence which has become one of the energy sources of my current
research. This energy is then supported by new network of people. Because of myinvolvement in this project, I have the opportunity to experience the growth of this network ofpeople having interest in this project.
At the Japan Sports Science Conference, 3 years after we held the press conference on asnowing day at the University of Tsukuba to announce our involvement in the project, a
symposium titled “Japanese Sports make a great progress to the world” was held on August28, 2009. For Dr. Yamaguchi to appear as one of the panelists with the Chairman of theTokyo Olympic and Paralympics Invitation Committee and a staff from the Information
Department of National Sports Science Center was quite important. Dr. Yamaguchi spoke
about how people told him initially that this type of project will never succeed. I believe thatas long as you continue to say it will never succeed, you will not take any initiatives.
Therefore, start from whatever you can and then you would be able to build a network ofpeople who can make the difference.

Support For
Resources

IndependenceAnd

Fostering

HumanJapanese Language Class
Mutsumi Hinokio
Teacher of HG Mutsumi Japanese Language Class at Chai
Primary School
HG Mutsumi Japanese Language Class at Chai Primary School began in June 2001 with 27
students ranging in ages from 10 to 17 selected by the school principal. Looking back, I am
amazed how we were able to start the program since I didn’t speak Khmer and, of course,
the children had no knowledge of any languages other than Khmer. We began the programwith no common language for communication, and if I were to teach the children tounderstand Japanese, I had to learn Khmer.
We started by providing the children with notebooks, pencils, and erasers and were limited
to 1 hour a day for learning between 11:00 and 12:00nn when the classroom was not in use.
While the learning environment was severe, there were children determined to takeadvantage of free opportunity to learn Japanese.
Chun Sreimi, who was 10 at the time sat in the front row and repeated the Japanesesyllables, often with smiles on her face. The willingness for these children to learn gave meenergy and sense of happiness. In November of the same year, 2nd-term students, including
Son Sokea, joined the class. Unlike the 1st term, it started off smoothly with the help of
Sreimi and other 1st-term students helping out.
There are 4 Japanese language classes presently with 67 students. We can now use theclassroom from 8-10:00am and 12:30-2:30pm Mondays through Fridays. Children know thatstudying Japanese will help them in getting jobs in the future and it is the biggest incentive
for them to continue. The 1st-term students now understand Japanese quite well and they
have matured tremendously both mentally and physically.
From 2007, we were able to start a study abroad program with the support of Okayama
Gakugeikan High School. Sreimi from the 1st term, Sokea from the 2nd term, and Ngek
Champa from the 3rd term were selected for a 1-year study abroad program in the initial year.
After returning to Cambodia, they began to show leadership qualities. I am hoping that theirexperience will someday help them to play an important role in bridging the relationshipbetween 2 nations.
We have also maintained a good relationship with primary, Jr. High, and High school
students from Japan. We received many handmade goods in response to our needs such as
Japanese language materials, games, calendars, bags, etc. from primary school students inOkayama. These items are very much appreciated by the students of Japanese language
classes and are put into good use. We have also received monetary donation from anotherschool in Japan which is used for the maintenance of our school. Through these interactions,the children from both nations developed a strong tie and sense of compassion for one
another.
Realities in Cambodia are severe, but I will continue to do my best as long as there arechildren here who are making efforts in hopes for their future. It is my dream that someday

one of my students will take over my job of teaching Japanese here at Chei Primary School
and carry on the task of teaching Japanese to the next generation of children.

International Education of Okayama GakugeikanHigh School
Through the Interview of Haruki Mori, Chairman of
the Board and Headmaster
And Michiko Mori, Councilor
Okayama Gakugeikan High School promotes
understanding of international education throughworking with HG. Since 2007, they have been inviting
1 student from HG Mutsumi Japanese Language
Class for a year study in Japan. Gakugeikan pays foreducation, food, and board while HG pays for airfare
and allowances.
One of the core programs of Gakugeikan is“EducationofInternational
Understanding.”
International Education Center was established in 1991 and has connections with manyeducational institutions worldwide as a base for international exchange. 150 students fromabout 20 nations in 5 continents have visited Gakugeikan each year, including short stay.
Around 20 study abroad students ranging from 10th to 13th years are accepted annually, andamong them is a student from HG Mutsumi Japanese Class - Sreimi in 2007, Sokea in 2008,
and Champa in 2009.
In order to understand the “ideology” of Mr. and Mrs. Mori for establishing this special school,
we have asked them the following questions.
Q: What do you think about the Japanese students?
A:
Japanese high school students live most luxuriously economically and in emotionally.
They need to realize how fortunate they are and only when they realize this, they can begin
to consider about others. They will realize that the greatest happiness a human being canexperience is “giving” instead of “receiving.”
Q: Why do you think it is necessary to visit Cambodia and Thailand and accept students
from these countries to study in Japan?
A:
It is very important to foster the “spirit of volunteering” from experiences of doing
something for the sake of others. For the Japanese students, visit to Cambodia is a chance
to “light fire in their hearts.” They can learn from seeing the actual situation of developing
countries and to realize it is possible to have “rich feelings” while living in economical poverty,
to feel nature, think about the meaning of family and how to “live.” We also want them tothink about the meaning of happiness, enrichment, and what is really necessary in life andwhether convenience is something truly beneficial to us or not. We want to provide theopportunity for the Japanese children to think about how to live their lives and think over theirvalues.
Q: What do you think about the children of Cambodia?
A: Even if some children have dreams and hopes, these tend to be very small. The
children will one day grow up to run the nation and they should hold a big dream to make abrighter future for their succeeding generation.

In Hopes of Becoming a Nightingale of Cambodia
Son Sokea, Graduate Student of HG Mutsumi Japanese Class of Chei Primary
SchoolI began studying in the HG Mutsumi Japanese Class from 6th grade with hopesof learning Japanese to support my family by working in jobs that required Japanese
language. I had difficulties remembering long sentences in Japanese, but I studied very
hard.
One day, I was asked by the teacher what my future goal was and this gave me a chance tothink seriously about my future. Since then, I held a dream of becoming a nurse.
I was given an opportunity in the 12th year of high school to study at Gakugeikan HighSchool in Okayama for 1 year. I wanted to learn about the Japanese customs andexperience the life in Japan. There were so many things I did not understand, but many of
the insecurities I had were removed by kind people I met and soon I got used to thedormitory life. I made close friends. I joined a choir and challenged playing the “koto” andperformed at homes for the elderly. I was also given a chance to be an intern nurse for 10
days at Tokushukai Hospital in Kobe.
I could experience many things which I cannot in Cambodia and improved my Japanese bytalking to teachers and friends. I hope to make the best use of this valuable experience in the
future.
After returning to Cambodia in middle of my 13th year in high school, I was able to graduate
in July and became a college student at Chenla College in Phnom Penh from October. I will
study there for 3 years to become a nurse. I think that by working as a nurse to help people
is the best way for me to show my gratitude for all the opportunities I was given. No matter
how big of a wall I must encounter, I am determined to accomplish my goal to become the“nightingale of Cambodia.” I want to make it my life’s work to save the lives of Cambodian
people. Please be my guardian angel to watch over me.

Precious Memories
Chun Sreimi, Graduate Student of HG Mutsumi Japanese Class of Chei
Primary School
2007 was a year I will always remember. I was selected as the first student
from HG Mutsumi Japanese Class to study at Gakugeikan in Okayama for 1 year. I arrived in
Okayama on August 21, 2007 and was astonished with everything I saw. I shared adormitory room with a Japanese student and all the people I met there were very kind. At
times, the dorm mother scolded me like a true mother when I did something wrong.
Besides studying Japanese, I joined the chorus group and learned how to play “koto”. I also
participated in many extra-curriculum and inter-active activities on and off campus. I sang
Japanese songs with the chorus group everyday and talked to primary and high school
students about Cambodia at our inter-active gatherings. Every day during my stay in Japanwas filled with excitement, and I think I have matured in many ways during that year.
The most important thing I learned during that year is the sense of appreciation. During mystudies in Japan and after coming back to Cambodia, I met countless of people who cared
for me, and I’m sure there will be many more in the future that I would be indebted to, andthe least I can do in return is to hold a feeling of appreciation for these people. I could neverforget all the people I met in Japan and will do my best not to waste the valuable experience
I had and keep the precious memory in my heart at all times.

Heart Parents and Child Care Center
Kuniko Tashiro
Director and Secretary General of HG

Graph4 The Number of Heart Parent Members

Street children often survive by begging, and in manycases, they are victims of drugs, diseases, violence,and “human traffic.”*Child Care Center (CCC) was established in 2000
when we were approached by Mr. Matsumoto of NGO
Leucaena Communication Japonesia to help in theestablishment of a center to help these street children. At CCC, there are 20 children whothemselves or their parents are infected by HIV/AIDS, victimized by domestic violence,
without parents, or with various family problems. Many of these children are from the farming
villages, and within months after living at the center, they begin to show changes. They laugha lot, work hard, and become healthy.
We could not ignore these children who are the ones to carry the nation on their shoulders.
Instead of waiting until we can gather enough funds, as our Managing Director Hagiwara
says it, “put good deeds into immediate action” or as our Representative Director Arimori
puts it, “whoever that can, do as much as they can, as long as they can.”In 2000, a seminar on “International Volunteering” at Notre Dame Women’s College washeld. This seminar included on-site volunteering in addition to learning and discussing about
the situation in the developing countries of Cambodia and Thailand. The students searched
for the best activity they can volunteer to do and came up with a program of foster parenting.
This was how our program of Heart Parent got started in 2001.
These college students created bylaws and recruited Heart Parents. They visited Cambodia
during summer holidays to meet children and discuss procedures with the local staff. As aresult of their efforts, 8 Heart Parents were recruited in 2001. These Heart Parents received
reports 3 times annually about the development of their “Heart Children,” conditions at Child
Care Center, and overall situation of Cambodia from the students. The program at Notre
Dame lasted 7 years and has now been taken over by Mr. Genji Arimori.
Heart Parent must contribute JPY3,500 a month (JPY42,000 annually) of which JPY3,000
will go toward the actual support and JPY500 per month goes toward administration
expenses. Approximately JPY1,500,000 annually to cover the expenses is necessary toprovide care for 20 children. To operate the program sufficiently, 40-50 Heart Parent arenecessary, however there are only 30-35 Heart Parents at this time, and we are making
every effort to recruit another 5-10 Heart Parents.
Child Care Center, initially erected in Battambang, was moved to Siem Reap in 2003. Boys’dormitory was completed in 2007 and the girls’ in 2008, and the name of the center was
revised to New Child Care Center (NCCC). These dormitories were constructed by children
themselves with the instruction of a Japanese carpenter, Yuichiro Osumi, who taught the artof carpentry to children. Financial support was provided by organizations such as JICA,
Okayama Asahi Lion’s Club, and Urayasu Rotary Club.

Supporting Children Cross the Borders
Kiyoshi Matsumoto
Representing Director of Leucaena Communication Japonesia
Leucaena Communication Japonesia (Leucaena) has been conducting community
development activities mainly in the rural areas since 1994 under the ideology that if
community skills are strengthened in local areas, Cambodians will be able to deal withvarious problems within their local communities.
Currently, 60 “co-op” unions (approx. 9,000 households) are managing the union funds andoperating their own union. However, not all problems can be dealt by the union. For
example, a child who has lost both or one of his/her parents by contaminating disease not
only will have difficulties for survival but may become a target of discrimination by his
relatives and community. Even if a child can live a normal life, he still has to deal with thedifficulties of living in the “present.” A child born in poverty, or has lost his/her parents andunable to get education, must survive somehow with threefold handicap.
Normally it is the responsibility of the national and regional governments to deal with thesocial problems of its people, but the government of Cambodia has no power to deal with the
problems and must rely on NGOs and U.N. organizations to take on the task. In order to casta light of hope in the hearts of children, it may be our duty as adults to reach out beyond theborders to take on the responsibility.
At NCCC, children can live with hopes because of the warm support of Heart Parent
program. When children realize that they are “protected,” they feel secured and can live theirlives with courage. I believe supporting these children and sharing with them the courageand hope they discover, is our joy as adults and a very meaningful experience for us.

New Child Care Center – A House for “Learning”
Yuichiro Osumi
Project Manager of NCCC
The first concept that came to mind when considering thestructural design of NCCC, was “nurturing.” I tried to create animage of “nurturing” and “parenting” over and over in my mind.
Before deriving at this concept, I wrote down on paper images
that came to mind such as “importance of life”, “how family
should be”, “human as part of nature”, “good aspects of old
tradition”, “recycle”, “food chain”, and so forth, but every image I came up with all led to thebasic human act of “parenting” and this is how I derived at the theme for our new center.
The actual starting point was asking myself the question, “what is a family?” and finding theanswer. Does the family have to consist of blood relatives like grandparents, parents, andsiblings? What are the qualifications to becoming a family? None of these conditions applied
to the children who will live at the center, so I decided to define family as “everyone who lives
under one roof and many others who are involved in supporting them.”
Next step was to think about “what this house means to the children.” With very little
information about the children, I was asking myself whether they will be happy with thishouse which they have no choice but to live in. Will they be proud? Then I thought about how
wonderful it would be to build the house together with the children to make sure it getsenough sunlight, nice breeze, be comfortable, and when necessary, to be a shelter to protect
the children from danger.
Complicated structures were avoided for everyone to contribute to the best of their ability.
The structure was simple yet dynamic in appearance and contained detailed functional
elements. The outer appearance was designed to blend in with the environment. The roof ofthe main building, which serves as the common area with the traditional roof, is surroundedby smaller structures to give a feeling of a small village. Consideration is taken not to hinder
the convenience of having lake and river nearby.
In addition to the building structures, open space has been carefully designed to provide anarea for learning and to breathe in knowledge. Underneath the terrace is an open-doorclassroom which, at times, becomes a theater for staging dance performances to exhibit theresult of daily practice. The structure adjacent to the dining area is an open-style kitchen forchildren to actively be involved in the preparation of meals and clean up. The pergola overthe main entrance steps serves as a reminder that we are blessed with the gift of nature andto live in harmony and at peace in the environment. The sleeping quarters for boys and girls
are separate building structures with the same concept of one room style without walls or
partitions. This is to create closeness among the roommates, to establish open relationships,
to make mutually agreeable rules, and to learn management within their small society.
There’s also a great pain in consideration taken to avoid endangering the health andphysical conditions of the residents. Drainage sanitation is controlled as much as possible. 4
stalls are available each for toilet and shower and excrement is drained to the lake whilewater containing soaps and other forms of chemical detergent is drained to the purification
tank. To protect the safety of residents, the property is fenced with natural materials such asbamboo fences, trees, plants, and pebbles (for making noises to alert intruders). We haveselected fruit trees and plants that bear beautiful flowers to create a cheerful atmosphere.
To saw a piece of wood, to hammer a single nail, is all part of the learning process for thesechildren. I have confidence that their experiences in helping to build the center can benefit
them when they become adults. Who knows? They may want to pursue some of the skills
they learned to decide their future careers.

For The Sake Of Children’s Self-Sufficiency
Kuniko Tashiro
Director and General Secretary of HG
In Siem Reap where Angkor Wat is attracting many foreign visitors, hotels to accommodate
these visitors are increasing day by day. It is also becoming a city of opportunity to earn
income from tourism and businesses catering to the needs of foreign visitors are rapidly
growing. There is a rise in the standard of living and the area is losing the characteristics ofslow rural life, typical of Cambodia. Facing the current situation, without a doubt, the childrenin NCCC without parents or land, must learn some kind of skills to become self-sustaining.
The residents of NCCC are children who lost their parents from contaminating diseases orare victims of domestic violence. In any case, they were street children when we took themin and have deep wounds in their heart. Normally they don’t show it, so it’s hard to imagine
what they have gone through when you see them at the center. Although they are poor, they
are receiving love and care and the necessary education for them to mature as proud
Cambodian and eventually support their country.
Operation of NCCC is impossible without the help from Japan. Japanese “Heart Parents”
receive 3 reports a year and a letter from their foster child. Knowing that they have foster
parents who care about them even from a distant foreign country gives them tremendous
hope and incentives to live.
The children often wish their foster parents good health and happiness and hope to meetthem someday. In December 2009, one of the first children to have Heart Parent met her
foster parents in Tokyo for the first time in 9 years of being supported by this program. Theirmeeting was very touching. They spent the whole day holding hands and trying to get toknow each other. This reminded us that although there are many sad and unfortunate
situations in the world, we can be blessing with happy and touching moments if we continue
to live with hope. It is most rewarding for us to see the children at the center grow up healthy
and with positive outlook in life.
I would like to thank each and every one of the Heart Parents for supporting our program,and I hope you will continue to keep this program on-going so that you can give the children
in Cambodia a fair chance in life. Thank you.

Smiling Faces of Children
Chihiro Kurosaki
HG CYA-JYA 2007/ Student at Notre Dame Women’s University
I found the children of NCCC energetic and full of life! And they were all so friendly!
During our recent visit, we made some flowerpots. We dug pits along the edges of theproperty grounds and filled them with colorful tiles that had been cracked and mixed withcement. We could not communicate in words, but no one looked puzzled. We set an
example and the children followed, and when they wanted to express their opinion aboutsomething, we sensed it and words were unnecessary to understand what they wanted tosay.
A sudden rain shower stopped us temporarily from working on the flowerpots and we took
covers. Normally in Japan, most of us just sit around with doing nothing but to wait for therain to stop, but one of the children said, “let’s sing!” and we all sang and danced to therhythm of an accompanying guitar!
Cambodia is still a developing country with many unsolved problems, but we wereastonished with children’s smiling faces and cheerful characters. Their facial expressions
and disposition changed the image I had of Cambodia and the gloomy outlook about their
future. As long as these children are able to maintain their smiles and energy to face
obstacles, they can make the difference in the future of their nation. But in order to realize
this goal, the support the children received through NCCC is a must. I would like to see
these children graduate from the center, go out into the society, and fill their social
responsibility to support the next generation of children become self-sustaining.

TECHNICAL TRAINING IN AGRICULTURE
This project aims to support farmers become self-sustained by providing technical training in
agriculture. Utilizing the funds for the project from the distribution of “Post Office Volunteer
Savings” from Japan, HG worked in conjunction with the Cambodian NGO Snadai Khmer.
(2000-2004)
In Cambodia 80-90% of the nationals are farmers, however it is impossible to make a living
on farming alone. The reason is that only 10-30% of the potential farming land is utilized due
to obscurity of farming techniques and marketing system so that farmers cannot sell enoughvegetables to sustain their livelihood.
First of all, cultivation training took place at a model farm to teach the farmers how to
cultivate the land, lay seedlings, make fertilizers, look after the vegetations so that they canutilize all of their farmland effectively. At the same time, trainers visited each farm to provide
individual technical training and guidance. Growing in greenhouses was also tested, but as it
did not prove to be cost effective, agricultural method which best suited the environmental
conditions was employed to obtain the best economic result.
For those farmers who could not buy seeds and seedlings received them without cost. As aresult, every farmer could grow vegetables best suited to their land conditions and was able
to utilize almost 100% of their farmland. Furthermore, they gained confidence to earn
income from selling vegetables and showed motivation in various aspects. Those farmers
who sought other jobs to make a living were now able to provide for their family by farming
alone, and their children could have a chance to go to school. Another good news is the fact
the farmers now were hopeful about the future. This sprouted a sense of rivalry among thefarmers for economic success, creating a favorable environment in the farming villages.
After 5 years and seeing that the prospects of the project looked bright, HG faded out of thescene and left everything to Snadai Khmer to carry on the project.

EAST TIMOR PROJECT
Taku Yamaguchi
Director/JICA Project Manager, HG
East Timor was under the political control of Indonesia until international pressure increased
and finally persuaded Indonesia to allow an independence referendum in 1999, but when
the referendum showed overwhelming support for independence, the Indonesian militia
went on the rampage, murdering hundreds of people and reducing towns to ruins. With theguidance and aid of various international peacekeeping forces, the country became an
independent nation and could employ the modern political system with the desperate effortsof the people. From April 22 to June 12, 2002, the nation celebrated its independence andheld various events.
During a month of independence celebration, 5 grand official ceremonies took place - topromote peace, to spotlight the national heroes who contributed greatly to the independence,and to encourage nurturing of human resources. It also aimed to achieve internationalrecognition as a successful effort made by UN for world peace.
As a symbol of peace, and to invigorate the nationals and to animate the newly independent
nation, the new government selected “sporting event” as one of the official celebration
events. However, the newly formed nation had no manpower or expertise in organizing andmanaging events and sought outside sources.
Australian Sports Commission (ASC) representative, Mr. William Glenwright became thecommittee leader to organize the sporting events and I served as the sub-leader. I was
assigned this role by HG Advisor Mr. Hideki Ogawa, who was in East Timor to supervise theindependence referendum.
ASC managed the total scheduling of the event, press releases, and other aspects of event
organization while HG was responsible for the preparations and actual operations. Out of thetotal 18 sport categories, JICA Sports Inquiry Commission and HG worked jointly indeveloping events for marathon, soccer, basketball, volleyball and athletic competitions. Our
responsibilities covered provision of sporting goods (T-shirts, stopwatches, whistles, lawn
mowers, etc.), setting up preparation and operation committees for each sport event,conducting training workshops, and operating and managing each competition. The opening
ceremony of the half-marathon and 10/5km road races was attended by the late Mr. Sergio
Vieira de Mello (ex-president of UNTAET) and Mr. Jose Ramos-Horta (Nobel Peace Prizewinner/Prime Minister of East Timor) with the previous Minister of Finance and General
Secretary of JICA in East Timor participating in the 5km road race. It was a successful eventwith the number of participants exceeding 800 in total.
This grand celebration began on April 30 with the Opening Ceremony followed by the Final
Match of national soccer championships. The Closing Ceremony was also held in a grandfashion with the attendances of the First President Xanana Gusmao, Prime Minister
Ramos-Horta, the late Mr. de Mello of UNTAET, IOC Vice-President Mr. Kevin Gosper, andmany other top officials from the newly founded nation.
The most unique feature of this event was the working relationship of ASC and HG staff withvarious international institutions. We had organizational support of UNTAET; medical andfirst-aid support of UNTAET Medical Cell; publicity and PR support of UNTAET Radio and
TVTL; security and medical support of PKF; repair and maintenance support of AustralianGovernment; supplies from IOC; dispatch of Sports Inquiry Commission and supplies from
JICA; funding from Japanese Government; supplies from Portuguese Government; among
others. Working with JICA was especially productive and we were able to exert our special
skills fully and most effectively. Needless to say, that the long celebration came to an end
with a great success on May 20, 2002.
Following this grand celebration, HG continued to dispatch volunteers for 4 years. In 2003,
while helping with the national independence anniversary ceremony, we worked inconjunction with Mr. Decardo from Portugal who was dispatched by IOC to help East Timor
establish their Olympic Committee. Once the ETOC had been established, we moved on towork on the youth education projects with the financial support of the grass-root citizen’s
funds. We launched student commission of St. Joseph High School in 2004 and supported
its peer education programs. In 2005, using the “Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications
Volunteer Funds,” we supported the Student Commission to successfully organize“improvements in public health and sanitation,” “goodwill sports matches,” “opera,” and“local newspaper club” programs. Just when the activities were beginning to run smoothly
and the Student Commission of St. Joseph High School started to encourage other schools
to form its own Student Commission, the national turbulence recurred and we were forced towithdraw from the country. Although the situation has now settled down, unfortunately,
various activities have not resumed practices.

What We Can See through the Activities in Cambodia and East Timor
Hideki Ogawa
Professor at Okayama University International Center
My first contact with HG was when Ms. Tashiro was working alone with a single phone in a
rented space inside NGO AMDA (specializing in the medical field) head office in Okayama. I
have a close working relationship with NGO AMDA since I am from Okayama and haveexperienced working in Asia and Middle East for U.N. and Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Of
course, I knew of Yuko Arimori, but I didn’t know about her NGO activities until I met her
through AMDA.
Being engaged with HG was inevitable more than by chance because I began to visit
Cambodia through my work in 1992 when the nation regained peace, but even before I
became a professor, I took my students to Cambodia every year. The activity of contributing
to the world peace by the general public in Japan initiated in Cambodia. This was the casefor me as well.
Hence, it was a natural course and inevitable for me to meet the members of HG, but thisdoes not mean that I am involved in the activities of HG. We are both involved in theactivities of Cambodia, but separately. Our path just happened to meet.
Although having established a connection with HG and later met Ms. Yuko Arimori, I had noopportunity to participate in AWHM or any other sporting events in Cambodia. An opportunity
to work together emerged in 2001 when I was consulted by Ms. Tashiro if I can recommend
another nation that may be in need of their support. It was the year I returned to Japan fromJICA assignment in Thailand and without contemplation, I recommended East Timor. I had
visited East Timor many times within the 2 years during its uproar for independence
referendum, and told Ms. Tashiro without hesitation, “This time, I will assist you in every
way.”
Soon after, Taku Yamaguchi was dispatched to East Timor and took full advantage of theinformation and contacts I had provided him to successfully accomplish his job of organizing
sporting events for the independence celebration. He was then dispatched to Cambodia tohead a project of developing physical education system in primary schools, applying theexperiences he had acquired in East Timor. This is how the gist in developing sports
instructors of East Timor and Cambodia were connected.
I am currently teaching at Okayama University International Center and working tointernationalize Okayama University while advising students’ foreign exchange program. I
often lecture on international contributions and speak on the activities of U.N. and JICA,
some of which Mr. Yamaguchi has taken.
Now that 10 years have passed since HG’s involvement in Cambodia, I wonder how theyrate their activities efforts in Cambodia and East Timor.
Cambodia is a country that greatly influenced present day Japan. General public of Japanbegan to support humanitarian causes around the end of 1979 when Cambodian refugees
were trying to cross the national border to Thailand. Many of today’s NGO were formed
around this time. As you already know, the country regained peace in1992, making a bigimpact on Japan’s contribution for international welfare. Cambodia is the cradle of Japan’sinterests in foreign concerns.
In the spring of 1999, during the Kosovo War, while the Japanese government hesitated to
get involved in peace building even under the NATO’s military actions, the Japanese NGOs
went into the country boldly to bring peace.
Perhaps it was out of regret or shame, the Japanese government began to prepare forpeacemaking in East Timor the autumn of the same year. It was the first time Japan eversent its U.N., defense force, JICA, and NGOs to support the efforts for peacemaking.
HG’s activities in Cambodia include teaching Japanese in addition to organizing AWHM
which led to unprecedented development of physical education system and teacher’smanual for primary schools. In East Timor, HG organized sporting events for the occasion ofnation’s celebration for independence. This is also unprecedented by any other NGO.
Although the organization is not very large, it is rare to see an organization successfully
accomplish such effective and unique projects.
It is under question what this organization will do for the next 10 years in phase 2. Will it
expand its activities? Will it continue to develop the current projects in depth and become
specialists? It’s a big question!

JAPANESE YOUTH AMBASSADORSTokihiko Fujimoto
HG Youth Ambassador Leader
HG Youth Ambassadors (HG CYA-JYA) refer to youth
volunteers from Cambodia and Japan who are involved ininternational cooperative activities. Japanese HG JYA iscalled “Haguja” and HG CYA is called “Hagucha”.
We are currently living in the age when globalization is
occurring at the same time as localization, causing
international inequality. On the other hand, due to thetechnical development in informational tools andtransportation systems, international exchanges on
individual basis are now possible, and we felt the need totake actions to resolve international issues while learning
to work cooperatively, based on international exchanges.
When YLTS program began in 2001, it was supported bymany Japanese students, however when Cambodianstudents began to participate in 2003, the program started to take the form that was initiallyintended. HG CYA-JYA original flag was created, and ball toss and 3-legged race wereintroduced in the primary and middle schools.
In 2006, HG CYA-JYA was treated as an independent program with OB/OG taking theinitiatives. Event planning, recruiting ambassadors, planning and executing activities,
organizational management and operation were done mainly by HG CYA-JYA. In the same
year, stage plays and games were created mainly by HG CYA to educate the middle school
children (in Battambang) on HIV/AIDS and preventive measures for misuse of drugs.
In 2007, Notre Dame Seishin University executed two programs as part of their international
volunteer seminar – one was on the theme of “Connection between natural environment andlifestyle” (in Siem Reap) and the other was “Lacrosse makes friends in Cambodia” based on
the ideas of HG JYA .
Furthermore in 2008, activity based on the theme on “necessity of sanitation for health” wascooperatively planned and executed by HG CYA and JYA. The success of the program wasaccredited to Sayuri Tanaka, a Yamagata University student who worked on site as an internfrom April to October.
Over 100 youths has participated in HG CYA-JYA program to date. The first year HG JYA
leader, Kana Komoto is now working in Cambodia as JICA member, and HG CYA leader Keo
Sochetora is currently working in the HG Asia office. Furthermore, Junichi Hiraishi wasdispatched to Uganda as JICA member in 2008-2009. Some have gone off to study abroador to graduate schools or have sought jobs in global companies after working as HG
CYA-JYA. Many OB/OGs are now active leaders in the international scene. With such agreat outcome, I believe HG CYA-JYA program will continue to expand as a human resourcebank.

Active Role of Local Interns and Post-Internship
Taku Yamaguchi
Director of HG/Project Manager of JICA
NGOs in Japan are supported by many volunteers. They handle anything from collecting
donations, sorting and packing goods to be sent abroad, translations, among other jobs toeven managing our website. As the representative of HG always says, “do whatever one can,whoever that can, and as much as one can.” In Cambodia, volunteers of all ages help in
running the AWHM and other on-site activities of HG. It’s not an overstatement to say that“without the volunteers, it is impossible to provide activities.”
However, it is not easy to become paid employees. In order to enter the field of international
development, it is necessary to complete an internship program with either JICA or someNGO. HG has, in the past, accepted short-term (1-3 months), middle-term (3-12 months),
and long-term (over 1 years) internships. I completed internship at HG after volunteeringwith JICA and then worked as a registered temporary staff before becoming an employee of
HG. The office in Cambodia was set up in 2004 and now that I am responsible in teaching
the interns, I take into consideration individual talents to make full use of them in the projects
they are assigned.
As the range of activities widens, the need for manpower increases and the strengthening of
personnel capabilities becomes imperative. In some cases, battle-ready personnel isneeded to deal with the political issues. Internship system is an effective means of securing
capable human resources and a good chance to pick out highly talented staff.
On the other hand, in recent years, there is an increasing number of young people who wish
to satisfy their sense of global responsibility, and measure their capacity building by taking
advantage of the internship programs with the NGO. Among those who completed internshipat HG, have found jobs as teachers, development consultants, hotel staff, think tank staff,
start-up company staff, and company employees in Japan. Others are working globally for
JICA and UN and international development agencies. Furthermore, there are others who
pursue higher education in graduate schools and research institutes to apply what they felt
and experienced during their internship to find answers.
It is natural for people to pursue different walks of life after the internship because they allcame from different backgrounds in the first place, but after they completed their internship,
we saw some distinctive commonalities among them. They had all developed ability for
problem solving, capacity for achievement, and most of all, self growth. I look forward to the
day when I will be working side by side with the past interns of HG to contribute towards
international development through sports.

Switching Career from Corporate to NGO
Shinichi Yanagida
Asian Office
I retired from a company in 2006. It was around that time when I heard Ms. Yuko Arimori
speaking about “giving victimized children of Cambodia hope and courage through sports.” I
immediately submitted my resume and joined in the activities of HG. I knew very little about
Cambodia and NGOs and in more ways than one, I set my foot in a “different culture.”
What I am sensing in Cambodia is the enjoyment of being involved as an individual. I have
traveled to different countries on business trips, working for a company, but thinking back, I
was exposed to a certain class of people, the fortunate ones and under the protection ofcompany armor. I am now meeting people as an individual. I met a couple that operated asmall primary school out of their own savings in a poor village. Their philosophy is “blaming
the system but not the individuals.” It was a new and wonderful experience for me to meet all
the people I met. I also met a pure-hearted college student, a girl on crutch making crafts, afamily that repaired bicycles – all of whom called me a “friend.” They all try to listen intensely
to understand my poor Khmer.
Most of the people working for NGOs in Cambodia are around 30. They sympathize with the
NGO causes and work willingly because it is what they themselves chose to do with strong
belief. The wider range of individual freedom, working for NGO as compared to working forcompanies, adds to the work incentive. The people who chose to work for NGOs also have
hunger for knowledge in unfamiliar fields, and I have had many discussions with themregarding corporate managerial systems and staff employment. This gives me a good
opportunity to organize my past experiences and knowledge and I hope to make thisexchange in knowledge and skills an ongoing thing for many years to come.
I am spending a wonderful time through my participation in HG activities. What I am gaining
now is a lot more stimulating and satisfying than what I had gained in the 36 years of working
at the company.

PROJECTS IN JAPAN
There are also many Okayama based projects in Japan. The study tour held in conjunction
with AWHM is an ongoing project which not only caters to marathon participants andsightseeing visitors to Angkor Wat but is organized to visit various facilities related to HG
projects for observing and learning the current social conditions in Cambodia.
By approaching all organized marathon events in Japan, HG encourages the organizers andrunners to give donation to the developing countries through the “Runner’s Aid” program
which is a charity run to support people who are unable to run.
HG is also involved in conducting sports and Physical Education related symposiums,
organizing humanitarian relief panel exhibitions, and hosting and sponsoring various
lectures. These symposiums and lectures are given by HG Representative Director, Yuko
Arimori and university students who have participated in the study tour, as well as othernamed lecturers in their specialized fields. Furthermore, due to actual involvement in thedeveloping countries, HG is able to provide education for international understanding,reinforced by personally acquired information and experiences (service learning). These
lectures are targeted to primary, middle, and high school students to present the realconditions of the world in terms of poverty, environment, and peace for comprehensive
learning to understand the differences in cultures. HG and the students build close
relationships by spending 1 year on this comprehensive learning and volunteer training.
Japanese students have a lesson on the Internet with Cambodian students, exchange
emails, letters, and presents so that they can deepen their understanding of each other’sculture and build a friendship. While Japanese students learn the actual situation ofdeveloping countries, they are given a chance to learn about themselves. In some cases, it
has developed to the extent that some students are seriously thinking about, “how theyshould live their lives and what is expected of them.”
Additionally, HG sells T-shirts, caps, and other goods to use the proceeds for the disabledchildren of Cambodia. Aside from these merchandises, original artworks by artists are soldat charity events and bazaars in which non-HG members are free to join.
There is a wide range of programs conducted by HG in Japan, but they all have 2 common
purposes – to promote the understanding for HG’s activities and to recruit membership.

*Letter from Cambodia

Suita Nakanoshima Charity Run
Kenichi Ito, Staff of Suita Nakanoshima Runners Organization
Suita Nakonshima Runners has continued to host “5-hour Endurance Run” since 1987 as
one of their charity programs. From 1992, their contribution to the international aid began byasking the participants to donate some money to the “save the children of the world fromhunger” program of UNICEF. Two years later, they began to donate part of the entry fee
towards Runner’s Aid program under the slogan of, “leg pains are best understood byrunners.”
In 1997 we found out about the establishment of HG and decided to entrust our Runner’s Aid
donations to HG. On the occasion of HG’s opening reception, our club representative,
Masako Matsumura and few other members presented our first Runner’s Aid donations.
Starting in 2006, which marked 20th year anniversary of our “5-hour Endurance Run,” all
donations we have gathered has been entrusted to HG.
From 2007, the name, “5-hour Endurance Run,” was changed to “Suita Nakanoshima
Charity Run” and the original 5-hour run was changed to less physically strenuous events ofgame relay and 3-hour run under the joint operation with HG. It has now become an
important place for HG volunteers to acquire useful experiences. HG Representative
Director, Yuko Arimori has attended 4 events including our 15th Anniversary event. Becauseof her involvement, the number of participants has increased and is growing year by year. It
was our intention to bring the “computer-game kids” outdoors and for them to discover theenjoyment in running and playing games with their parents through the game relay eventand to learn to encourage each other by working in teams. We hope to carry on the spirit ofvolunteering based on the core philosophy of HG and to pass this spirit on to the children ofmany generations to come.

Supporting Members of HG
Membership of HG
Kyoko Inoue, Kuniko Tashiro, Chihiro Kurosaki, and Takihiko Fujimoto – HG HQ Staff
Looking back on the numbers of membership in the past 10 years, there were199 individual
members in 1998 when HG was established as a NGO. The membership peaked in 2003 at
562, but since then, it has been fluctuating between 450 and 550. It was 470 in 2008 inwhich 97 were newly joined members. The most number of new members we acquired inany given year was 210 in 2000. 26 precious members have continued their membershipsince 1998.
In 2008 out of 470, 274 were male and 193 were female plus 3 whose gender wasundetermined by only the name.
Dividing by areas, Kanto is the largest with 155 followed by Chugoku/Shikoku with 138, Kinki
with 76, and Hokuriku/Tokai with 53. (Within Chugoku/Shikoku area, Okayama Prefecture
where HG HQ is located has the largest member at 120 followed by Tokyo’s 59.) As an NGO
based in Okayama, it shows that we have deeply enrooted international aid programs on ourhome ground. In the Hokuriku/Tokai area, 31 out of 53 members come from Nagano. This isdue to the efforts of HG Iida Club headed by Messrs. Sakai and Haba. Along with HG
Eastern Japan Branch and HG Western Japan Branch offices, expansion of localorganizations and groups supporting HG activities and increase in the number of such localorganizations and groups are much to be desired.
Graph5 The Number of Members

Graph6 The Number of Members by Gender

Male

Female Unknown

HG Iida Club
Homare Sakai, President and Kazuo Haba, Secretary
HG Iida Club was established in 2003 by the people of Iida City in Nagano Prefecture whohave supported HG activities. With H. Sakai as president and K. Haba as secretary, the club
was launched with 25 members.
HG Iida Club hosts several activities throughout the year including supporting the local
Athletic Federation for Disabled and giving financial support to local running events. On theinternational level, we support Cambodian children’s self-reliance programs and provide
operational support of AWHM and on-site inspections. (2007, 2008, 2009)
The club has raised funds from selling locally produced apple and plum juices to be used
towards activity expenses and financial supports. In addition, we hold either annual reportmeetings or panel exhibitions to show our club activities executed over the year, invite HG
Representative Director Yuko Arimori to give lectures, and we go out to schools to lecture on
the volunteer activities the club has done in the past.
Graph7 The Number of Members by Regions

Hokkaido / Tohoku / Kanto / Hokuriku・Tokai / Kinki / Chu・Shikoku / Kyusyu・Okinawa /Unknown/ Okayama /Nagano

While having a global viewpoint about supporting the developing countries, our club gives
the children of Iida City dream and hopes through locally rooted activities. Because we want
our children to grow up with consideration for the world, we are striving to create a stronger
bond with them and to expand our activities.
The graph points out a gradual growth in membership over the recent years.
Graph 8 The Number of Cooperate Members

Oganizational Chart
Kyoko Inoue, Kuniko Tashiro, Chihiro Kurosaki, Takihiko Fujimoto
In 1998 Hearts of Gold was established with 8 Board of Directors Chairman of the Board of Directors Takashi Ogiwara, Representative
Director Yuko Arimori, Vice Representative Director Lorraine Mullar,
and 5 others. In 2005 Taku Yamaguchi and in 2007 Kuniko Tashiro were added to the Board
while maintaining their employed positions. In 2009 the total number of the Board became
15. (See Chart 3)
Chart 4 list the projects and persons in charge and employees at HQ and Asian Office.
Chart 3 - Board of Directors
Year

Representative
Director

Vice
Representative
Director

1998

Yuko Arimori

Lorraine Moller

1999

Yuko Arimori

Lorraine Moller

2000

Yuko Arimori

Lorraine Moller

2001

Yuko Arimori

Lorraine Moller

2002

Yuko Arimori

Lorraine Moller

2003

Yuko Arimori

Lorraine Moller

2004

Yuko Arimori

Lorraine Moller

2005

Yuko Arimori

Lorraine Moller

2006

Yuko Arimori

Lorraine Moller

2007

Yuko Arimori

Lorraine Moller

2008

Yuko Arimori

Lorraine Moller

2009

Yuko Arimori

Lorraine Moller

Directors
Takashi Hagiwara, Yumiko Ogata, Kenji Kimihara, Tomoya
Takaishi, Masako Matsumura, Yoshiko Honda
Takashi Hagiwara, Yumiko Ogata, Kenji Kimihara, Tomoya
Takaishi, Masako Matsumura, Yoshiko Honda
Takashi Hagiwara, Yumiko Ogata, Kenji Kimihara, Tomoya
Takaishi, Masako Matsumura, Yoshiko Honda
Takashi Hagiwara, Yumiko Ogata, Kenji Kimihara, Tomoya
Takaishi, Masako Matsumura, Yoshiko Honda, Fumitaka
KatoriTakashi Hagiwara, Yumiko Ogata, Kenji Kimihara, Tomoya
Takaishi, Masako Matsumura, Yoshiko Honda, Fumitaka
KatoriTakashi Hagiwara, Kenji Kimihara, Tomoya Takaishi,
Fumitaka Katori, Syun Hasegawa, Hiroshi Nakashima,
Hiroko Katayama, Koichi Tanaka
Takashi Hagiwara, Kenji Kimihara, Tomoya Takaishi,
Fumitaka Katori, Syun Hasegawa, Hiroshi Nakashima,
Hiroko Katayama, Koichi Tanaka
Takashi Hagiwara, Kenji Kimihara, Tomoya Takaishi,
Hiroshi Nakashima, Hiroko Katayama, Kouichi Tanaka,
Kanna Kouzu, Masumi Muto, Takashi Miwa, Kouichi
Shizawa, Taku Yamaguchi
Takashi Hagiwara, Kenji Kimihara, Tomoya Takaishi,
Hiroshi Nakashima, Hiroko Katayama, Kouichi Tanaka,
Kanna Kouzu, Masumi Muto, Takashi Miwa, Kouichi
Shizawa, Taku Yamaguchi
Takashi Hagiwara, Kenji Kimihara, Tomoya Takaishi,
Hiroshi Nakashima, Hiroko Katayama, Kouichi Tanaka,
Kanna Kouzu, Kouichi Shizawa, Hiroaki Otani, Hitoshi
Haba,Taku Yamaguchi, Kuniko Tashiro
Takashi Hagiwara, Kenji Kimihara, Tomoya Takaishi,
Hiroshi Nakashima, Hiroko Katayama, Kouichi Tanaka,
Kanna Kouzu, Kouichi Shizawa, Hiroaki Otani, Hitoshi
Haba,Taku Yamaguchi, Kuniko Tashiro
Takashi Hagiwara, Kenji Kimihara, Tomoya Takaishi,
Hiroshi Nakashima, Hiroko Katayama, Kouichi Tanaka,
Kouichi Shizawa, Hiroaki Otani, Hitoshi Haba,Taku
Yamaguchi, Kuniko Tashiro, Akinari Ikka, Mayumi SakazakiChart 4 - Project Managers and Office Staff

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

Leaders for
Marathon Event
Koumei Nishikawa,
Toru Nishikawa,
Hakaru Miyama
Koumei Nishikawa,
Toru Nishikawa,
Hakaru Miyama
Komei Nishikawa,
Toru Nishikawa,
Hakaru Miayama
Komei Nishikawa,
Toru Nishikawa,
Hakaru Miayama
Komei Nishikawa,
Toru Nishikawa,
Hakaru Miayama
Komei Nishikawa,
Toru Nishikawa,
Hakaru Miayama
Komei Nishikawa,
Toru Nishikawa,
Hakaru Miayama
Komei Nishikawa,
Toru Nishikawa,
Hakaru Miayama
Komei Nishikawa,
Toru Nishikawa,
Hakaru Miayama
Koumei Nishikawa,
Kazuhiro Fujita,
Tomonari Nishikado,
Hakaru Fukayama
Koumei Nishikawa,
Kazuhiro Fujita,
Tomonari Nishikado,
Hakaru Fukayama
Koumei Nishikawa,
Kazuhiro Fujita,
Tomonari Nishikado,
Hakaru Fukayama
Koumei Nishikawa,
Kazuhiro Fujita,
Tomonari Nishikado,
Hakaru Fukayama
Koumei Nishikawa,
Kazuhiro Fujita,
Tomonari Nishikado,
Hakaru Fukayama

AMCJ

YLTS

Health・PE
Education Project

Koichi Hasegawa

Koichi Hasegawa

Koichi Hasegawa

Koichi Hasegawa

Koichi Hasegawa

Koichi Hasegawa

Chiaki Okada

Keiya Hori

Taku Yamaguchi

Keiya Hori

Taku Yamaguchi

Kuniko Tashiro

Taku Yamaguchi

Kuniko Tashiro

Taku Yamaguchi

Kuniko Tashiro

Taku Yamaguchi,
Yoko Takamichi

Kuniko Tashiro

Taku Yamaguchi,
Yoko Takamichi

Kuniko Tashiro

Taku Yamaguchi,
Yoko Takamichi

Kuniko Tashiro

Taku Yamaguchi,
Yoko Takamichi

2000
2001
2002
2003

Child Care Center
Hidemi Nakayama,
Sachiko Ozeki
Kuniko Tashiro,
Naoko Iwamoto
Kuniko Tashiro,
Naoko Iwamoto
Harumi Okuuraya,
Yoko Murakami

Japanese

East Timor

HG CHA-JYA

Mutsumi Hinokio
Mutsumi Hinokio
Mutsumi Hinokio

Taku Yamaguchi

Mutsumi Hinokio

Taku Yamaguchi

2004

Ai AndoMutsumi Hinokio

Taku Yamaguchi

2005

Jyunko Yuasa,
Mari Tashiro

Mutsumi Hinokio

Taku Yamaguchi

2006

Yumiko Senoo

Mutsumi Hinokio

2007

Masako Mimura,
Genji Arimori

Mutsumi Hinokio

2008

Genji Arimori

Mutsumi Hinokio

2009

Genji Arimori

Mutsumi Hinokio

Kana Komoto
Kana Komoto,Keo Sochetora
Kana Komoto,Keo Sochetora
Tokihiko Fujimoto,Keo Sochetora
Tokihiko Fujimoto,
Jyunya Yamashita,
Seiko Saeki,
Norie Takahashi,
Keo Sochetora
Tokihiko Fujimoto,
Yuri Tanaka,
Keo Sochetora
Toshihiko Fujimoto

1998
1999
2000
2001

2002
2003
2004

2005

2006
2007

Head Office
Kuniko Tashiro
Kuniko Tashiro
Kuniko Tashiro, Motoyo Hishikawa,
Keiko Iguchi
Kuniko Tashiro, Syuichi Susuki,
Motoyo Hishikawa, Keiko Iguchi,
Kyoko Inoue
Kuniko Tashiro, Syuichi Susuki,
Motoyo Hishikawa, Keiko Iguchi,
Kyoko Inoue
Kuniko Tashiro, Syuichi Susuki,
Motoyo Hishikawa, Keiko Iguchi, Kyoko Inoue
Kuniko Tashiro, Syuichi Susuki,
Motoyo Hishikawa, Keiko Iguchi,
Kyoko Inoue
Kuniko Tashiro, Syuichi Susuki,
Yoshiko Sonoyama
Motoyo Hishikawa, Keiko Iguchi,
Kyoko Inoue Michiyo Abe
Kuniko Tashiro, Mitsuo Motoyama, Motoyo Hishikawa,
Keiko Iguchi, Kyoko Inoue, Michiyo Abe
Kuniko Tashiro, Mitsuo Motoyama, Motoyo Hishikawa,
Keiko Iguchi, Kyoko Inoue, Genji Arimori, Michiyo Abe,
Sayo Kagawa

2008

Kuniko Tashiro, Mitsuo Motoyama, Motoyo Hishikawa,
Keiko Iguchi, Kyoko Inoue, Genji Arimori, Sayo Kagawa

2009

Kuniko Tashiro, Mitsuo Motoyama, Motoyo Hishikawa,
Keiko Iguchi, Kyoko Inoue, Genji Arimori, Sayo Kagawa

Asia Office

Taku Yamaguchi, Pimean

Taku Yamaguchi, Muy Lath, Pimean
Taku Yamaguchi, Yoko Takamichi,
Muy Lath, Pimean, Rith
Taku Yamaguchi, Shinichi Yanagita,
Yoko Takamichi, Keo Sochetora, Muy
Lath, Pimean, Rith
Taku Yamaguchi, Shinichi Yanagita,
Yoko Takamichi, Miho Nakashima,
Keo Sochetora, Navy Sam, Sam An
Taku Yamaguchi, Shinichi Yanagita,
Miho Nakashima, Keo Sochetora,
Navy Sam, Sam An

About the Volunteers
Keiko Iguchi, HG HQ Volunteer Staff
As I am writing this, the meeting between HQ and Cambodian office has just started by useof “Skype”.
On October 10, 1998 HG began its operation with 1 phone in a room inside the AMDA office.
It is amazing to see how much accomplishment HG had made over a mere 10-year span.
There were countless volunteers during this period who supported HG and without their help,
HG could not have come this far. I can recall many faces. HG’s success is an accumulationof many small powers working together for the same cause. While I extend my appreciationfor everyone’s distinguished services, I would like to say that I take great pride in having
them as my lifetime comrades.
People who have volunteered for HG have much understanding for HG’s cause and in manycases have continued to volunteer for many years. It is encouraging to hear that they haveapplied their experiences working as volunteers for HG in “international services.”
I am now in my latter years, but I hope to stay healthy and continue to serve HG as avolunteer as long as I can.

Expanding our Grass-Root Network
Kuniko Tashiro, Director and General Secretary of HG
In general, what one individual can do has limitations and the same holds for one
organization. Of course, there are individuals or independent organizations that can makegreat accomplishments. I am very much aware of this and I respect such individuals andorganizations.
When HG was established, I thought about how this organization will draw the final curtain.
When we are ready to pull out of the developing counties where we provide aid, it is mostessential that there will be local people to carry on the activities we had started. Although it
may not be so easily accomplished, the key to success is working cooperatively with variousorganizations. This was the reason we focused on creating the grass-root network.
Political institutions, UN, and NGOs work best within their straight line of command basis
and find working with complementing entities in cooperative manner a bit difficult. However,for a small organization like HG to conduct meaningful activities, networking was imperative.
After 3-4 years of launching HG, we were able to receive guidance from an investigative staff
member of Ministry of Foreign Affairs in charge of NGO on “how to draw up a 5 year plan”
and “conception of network” which started our search for networking partners. We began tolook for such partners in Cambodia, and tie-up companies, schools, regional government
offices, and grant aid organization in Japan.
Listed below by projects are entities and individuals currently in our network:
Initiating Cambodian Primary School P.E. Curriculum: Cambodian Ministry of Education,
University of Tsukuba, International Department of Okayama Prefectural Government,
Okayama University International Sports Exchange, specialists in sports, retired middle
school teachers, primary/middle/high schools in Japan, supporting companies, and thegeneral public in JapanNew Child Care Center: Local NGO Leucaena Communication Japanesia, professionalarchitect Mr. Osumi, Mr. Lee of International Komei Shakai Osaka Church, Japan
International Cooperative Organization, primary/middle/high schools in Japan, privatecompanies, Okayama Asahi Lions, and Urayasu Rotary Club.
For those organizations proving us with financial support, we stress the importance for themto visit the site and see and hear the voices of actual people they are supporting so that they
can think about how their donations are put to use and to give us advice for improvements.
Above all, I must thank and mention the Heart Parents who have continued to provide
monetary support every month to children in Cambodia. I believe that people can exist only
when they support others and be supported in return. This project offers a true feeling of
being needed by someone and needing someone in order to appreciate life. Perhaps this is
the reason why Heart Parents have and are continuing to support the program. The letters,
written by the children who have lost their parents for one reason or another, show thatknowing there is someone in a far away country of Japan who cares about them, gives themtremendous encouragement beyond our imagination.
Networking is joining hands with individuals or groups having strong will to deal with

common problems and finding resolutions. In other words, it is working in cooperation
among product providers, government entities, and education institutions, with the NGO
allotting work to each group in specialized fields. This is easier said than done and there is aneed to think seriously about how we can effectively conduct grass-root activities that can be
expanded. We want to secure as many networking individuals and groups and gather as
much knowledge in the education field as possible for the time when the local people,
themselves, are ready to think about developing their own country. In the near future, thenetworks and knowledge we had gathered will connect to the networks of the local people
and evolve into “creating globalized world.” We want to be there, working together to realize
this dream.

Composing Commemoratory Handbook
Tokihiko Fujimoto“Can you help me compose a handbook that compiles
10-year activity of HG?” was what Ms. Tashiro asked ofme a year ago. In February of 2009, I met with Ms.
Tashiro to discuss and agree on the direction and content
of the handbook and time schedule for production. In
June, when Mr. Yamaguchi was in Japan, the three of us
met to discuss the format. We jotted down the headings
for all the activities we were involved in within the past 10 years and then tore up the memo
to arrange them in order. While trying to recall the past events, we got stuck in taking about
the inside stories, but tried to get back on the track to organize the relationships of activities
and placing them in chronological order. By natural course, we were able to categorize ouractivities in two main groups – “development through sports” and “support for self-relianceand development of human resources.” The structure was decided. We then paid attention
to the following two points and expanded our image.
I tied to compose a 10-year story by picking up many episodes based on the experiences ofpeople involved in HG activities over the 10-year period. International cooperation scene is
not created solely by people with special skills. As our slogan implies, “those who can, do
what they can, as much as they can,” anyone can volunteer and there are many ways ofgetting involved. With 15 columns and 6 messages, it is apparent that there are different
viewpoints related to international cooperation.
I then arranged 10-year events in chronological order. I didn’t want to create a handbook
which only the people involved in HG activities can enjoy reading. In February 2009, I
consulted with Professor Shikata whom I kept in touch with since my college days and asked
him to introduce me to Professor Sawada of Osaka Seikei University Art Department. Since
meeting Professor Sawada in May, I visited his research center once in every 1-2 months
and through the process of making chronological chart, we discussed the keynotes on total
concept, design, and illustration to agree on the mutually conceptualized image. Then thehighly talented students at the research center instilled a sense of energy into the book.
It would make me very happy if this book can serve the purpose of learning from the past to
make improvements in the current operations, planting a seed for growth in the next 10
years, and encouraging more people to participate in international cooperation in whichanyone can participate in. I wish that many people will pick up this book to read.
This book was not made possible without cooperation of many people. I cannot list
everyone’s names here, but if I may just thank those people who wrote columns, Professor
Sawada’s team including K. Arimochi, S. Miwa, Y. Uchida Y. Nagao, Sanyo Newspaper
group, Mr. Kishino of Sanyou Printing, Y. Takenaga, T. Takamichi, A. Sasda, K. Inoue, C.
Kurosaki, J. Hiraishi, M. Motoyama, G. Arimori, M. Sakazaki all the staff of HG.