June 23, 2020

A civil group working to develop friendship between Japan and Vietnam in Akita on June 21 handed over 200 kilograms of rice and financial donations to corona-affected Vietnamese students studying in the prefecture.

This was the second time that the civil group, which is a chapter of the 65-year old Japan-Vietnam Friendship Association, distributed food and monetary donations to Vietnamese students following the first donation made early this month.

Knowing that Vietnamese students are in distress due to the coronavirus pandemic, the organization with help from the prefectural body of the Japan Family Famers Movement (Nouminren) asked local farmers for food donations. In addition, it has promoted a fundraising drive. The organization plans to continue making these efforts until the end of June.

A Vietnamese female student who received the donations said, “We are grateful and really appreciate this help as most of the students are unable to work part-time due to the virus situation and are facing financial difficulties.”