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“TO
REPRESENTATIVE KANNO AND
SUPPORTERS OF
WALKING TOGETHER”
AUGUST 12, 2025
BY MOTHER MARTA G.HERNANDEZ M. DEL C.,
SUPERIOR GENERAL OF
THE CLARISSAN MISSIONAEY SISTERS OF THE BLESSED
SACRAMWNT
"The richness of our
existence is connected to knowing how to accept and share with joy. In this
worldly reality, everything has meaning only insofar as it connects us to God
and to our brothers and sisters in love." (Pope Leo XIV, Jubilee Year for
Young People 2025)
Peace and joy in Christ are our
hope! Once again, thank you for all the news you share with us through our
newsletter. The newsletter is a way to deepen fellowship and nourish our hope,
and thanks to your individual contributions, we see so many smiling faces.
The Holy Year we are experiencing
encourages us to cultivate foresight, confident that God keeps his promises and
directs all events toward good and happiness. We are grateful for the gift that
our beloved Pope Francis has bestowed upon the Church and the world. His smile
and teachings will continue to bring fruit to people's hearts. With this
confidence, we continue to walk together as witnesses of hope to this world,
under the guidance of the new Shepherd God has given us, Pope Leo XIV.
I would like to express my
gratitude once again to each of our donors for their love for the mission,
their tireless generosity, and their desire to bring hope to our beloved
brothers and sisters in Sierra Leone. Thank you for bringing light to so many lives.
May God Dear Mr. Kanno and all supporters of "Walking Together," I
greet you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. This year's report will be
written in the form of a letter addressed to you and all supporters of
"Walking Together." Over the years, and especially this year, you
have walked very closely with us, making most, if not all, of our school plans
a reality. Despite all the economic challenges facing the world today, you have
continued to support us unwaveringly, helping us advance our mission and
improve people's lives. himself reward you. With love and fellowship in prayer.
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ANNUAL REPORT FROM THE REGIONAL SUPERIOR
AUGUST 13, 2025
BY SISTER JOSEPHINE KAMARA,
REGIONAL SUPERIOR
Dear Mr. Kanno and all supporters
of "Walking Together,"
I greet you in the name of the Lord Jesus
Christ. This year's report will be written in the form of a letter addressed to
you and all supporters of "Walking Together."
Over the years, and especially this year, you
have walked very closely with us, making most, if not all, of our school plans
a reality. Despite all the economic challenges facing the world today, you have
continued to support us unwaveringly, helping us advance our mission and
improve people's lives.
While many students enrolled this
school year, which ended on July 18, 2025, OLG saw a decline in student
enrollment compared to previous years. This is partly due to the expansion of
schools in the town of Lunsar and partly due to families who came to the mine
seeking employment quickly relocating with their children when they were unable
to find permanent employment or their contracts ended. However, our commitment
to maintaining a high-quality education, our school lunch program run by our
long-time supporters, Friends of Walking Together, and the care and attention
we show our students continue to attract many students.
Our school not only teaches
academic subjects, but also works day and night
with efficiency and love to develop students as whole people. Because students'
social success depends largely on their ability to interact effectively with
others and their surroundings, social and cultural activities are also a
priority for us.
Frankly, we've only made it this
far thanks to your support. By using what you donate in a way that ensures it's
always enough, we've been able to get through the school year without any major
challenges. Rather than asking for more support or redirecting each item, we've
focused on using your donations for various purposes, ultimately contributing
to the well-being of our students and those working in our mission. Thank you
so much for everything you've done.
Of course, we have challenges, but
these are the challenges we face every day as a school. Responsible for a large
student population, dealing with their parents, adhering to established
policies, and more, we face many challenges. Despite these challenges, however,
we are making progress, and our students often tell us, "Thank you for the
seeds you planted in my life." For all this, we are truly grateful to God
and all of you for your continued support. We continue to sow good seeds, which
we hope will produce a bountiful and beneficial harvest for the entire nation
and the world.
As we approach the end of the
2024/25 school year, we reflect on our journey. First, we thank God for His love, guidance,
and protection, making everything possible. Despite the difficulties and challenges,
we are especially grateful for the opportunities we have been given and for our
accomplishments. This past year, as always, we were supported by our fellow
members of the "Walking Together Association" and our supporters,
allowing us to simplify and streamline our activities considerably.
Over the past year, we have engaged in many
activities with our students, including academic, social, cultural, and
athletic activities, all of which are aimed at holistic human development.
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We want to see a better life for
our country, because education is the best way to develop our communities and
our nation. We believe that if we can train girls and equip them with the best skills,
they need for life, they will become better citizens and make a difference in
their lives.
Despite the many challenges facing
our country's education system, we still hope for a brighter future. We strive
to make the teaching and learning process as enjoyable as possible, and we
always encourage our students to strive to be good students and learn as much
as possible.
With the majority of students
being girls, they represent the nation's future mothers and a shining light of
hope. What they learn today will be passed on to their children and their
children's children in the future.
Based on this philosophy, Our Lady
of Guadalupe School has offered vocational training to its students since its
founding in 1965. This was done to help students become independent and build
families, as most of the students at the time did not have the opportunity to
attend university or receive higher education. Today, the situation is somewhat
different. Thanks to the support of organizations and individuals like "
Walking Together Association" many students are able to continue their
university studies without relying solely on their families.
Despite these advancements, our
school still offers vocational training in home management as part of its
curriculum. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Mr. Sugano and to
Ms. Chiaki Yoshihara, who is translating. May God continue to bless and protect
us abundantly. I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to all members of
the "Walking Together Association."
Sincerely, Sr. Josephine Kamara,
District Director
2025 ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT
September 2024 – August 2025
BY SISTER ESMERALDA FRANCO LEON, AREA CHIEF ACCOUNTANT
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is
good; his mercy endures forever. (1 Chronicles 16:34)
We thank God for allowing us to walk
together with all of you in the Walking Together Association again this past
year. Thanks to your tireless efforts, we Missionary Clares have been able to continue
to help the vulnerable and provide a better education to the children of Sierra
Leone. May God grant abundant blessings to each of our supporters and their
families. First, let me announce the student numbers at each of our schools.
Enrollment for the 2024-2025 School
Year
Tamagawa Shirayuri Kindergarten:
376 (381)
OLG Elementary School: 874 (921)
OLG Junior and Senior High School:
730 (685)
MI Junior and Senior High School:
200 (317)
MI Vocational Training School: 470
(300)
Total: 2,650 (2,604)
( ) indicates the number of students from last
school year
We are grateful for the support we
received from the Walking Together Association during the 2024-2025 school
year. Below is a breakdown of the support we received between September 2024
and August 2025.
1. School Lunch Support:
$43,699.70
2. School Education Support:
$7,595.00
3. Christmas Gift Support: $633.00
4. Kindergarten Teacher Salary
Subsidy: $5,063.00
5. Multipurpose Support: $3,482.00
6. Special Lunch Support: $633.00
7. OLG Medical Support: $671.10
8. Mile 91 Clinic Support:
$1,342.30
Total: $63,119.10
Next, I'll explain the status of
each item.
School Lunch Support: $43,699.70
Thanks to your support, we can
continue to provide children with healthy meals. This means that they receive a
balanced diet fortified with fish every day. Because we are a fishing nation,
fish is inexpensive and readily available, providing protein and high-quality
nutrients. This school lunch support money pays the salaries of four female
chefs.
School Education
Support/Scholarships: $7,595
We provide educational support to
21 children from financially disadvantaged families at Tamagawa Shirayuri
Gakuen Kindergarten. Instead of cash, we provide uniforms, school supplies, and
other items. We provide scholarships to
eight university students from OLG schools. We cover semester registration
fees, accommodation, and food costs. (Name List omitted)
Multipurpose Support: $3,482
Part of the multipurpose support
will be used to repair the kitchen where children's meals are prepared every
day. The remaining portion will be used to repair a firewood storage area to
prevent firewood from being damaged or rendered unusable by rain.
Kindergarten Teacher Salary
Subsidy: $5,063
Every year, with each donation, we
thank God for the opportunity to continue paying stable salaries to our
teachers and their families. At the same time, this support serves as a great
encouragement for us to work with even greater dedication and enthusiasm for
the sake of our children and for improving the quality of education. We are
truly grateful for your support this year. (Name List omitted)
Christmas Gift Purchase Support:
$633
Christmas is a time when every
child looks forward to gifts, and Sierra Leone is no exception. Thanks to our
generous donors, we are able to provide every child with a Christmas toy. The
children look forward to it wholeheartedly, and we get to see the genuine
smiles on their faces. Thank you so much for supporting us every year.
Special Lunch Subsidy: $633
Every December 12th is a special
day for our school. On this day, we celebrate our patron saint, Our Lady of
Guadalupe, in an atmosphere filled with joy and gratitude.
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Every year, we prepare a special
meal for the entire student body, faculty, and staff. Beginning with a Mass of
Thanksgiving, students and teachers engage in dance, poetry readings, a play,
and, of course, the traditional parade through the streets of Lunsar to
announce the joyous celebration.
Together with the Missionary Clares, we lovingly remember all the supporters who make this wonderful mission
possible. At the end, we all enjoy a special meal together. Thank you, Members
of the Walking Together Association. You make all of this possible.
Medical Support: $671.10
With this donation, we purchase
medical supplies for the school, such as sterile gauze, alcohol, bandages,
cotton wool, disinfectant, and ointment for bruises and wounds. It also covers
the cost of transporting students whose families are too poor to go to the
hospital.
Mile 91 Clinic Support: $1,342.30
With this donation, we purchase
malaria testing and treatment, as well as some fever reducers. This is also the
clinic where Sister Shirahata often goes when she's sick.
That's all. We never run out of
things to express our gratitude to each year. We are once again eternally
grateful to the supporters and families of the Association for Walking Together
for their generous and tireless efforts in supporting our missionary work in
Sierra Leone, where Sister Bernadette Shirahata has served for over 50 years,
and each of us, the Sisters of the Missionary Clares, work together with
passion and dedication to continue this work for the poorest and most
vulnerable, especially children. Thank you, Association for Walking Together,
for making all of this possible. May God always bless each and every one of
you.
TO EACH AND EVERY MEMTER OF
THE WALKING TOGETHER ASSOCIATION
July 22,2025
BY SISTER KAZUKO SHIRAHATA
Hello. It seems like it's hot in
Japan again this year. It's the rainy season here, so it's been raining every
day. The temperature is probably around 33 degrees.
The other day, while I was
visiting a sick child, a heavy rain hit and I couldn't return to the monastery.
I stayed at another child's home, where they collected the rain from the roof
in empty cans and pots placed on the dirt floor.
On May 1st, before the
resurrection of Christ, I asked the children to refrain from eating cookies (1 Leone
each) and candy (2 leones each) for 40 days and give them to poorer children.
The father took the money collected to the Bishop of Makeni, who then sent it
to Rome.
On June 1st, I was invited to
lunch at St. Joseph's Monastery in Lunsar. It was a pleasure to be able to
enjoy a meal that I don't usually get to have. After about an hour and a half,
the abbot said, "It is very meaningful that the monks and nuns from the
two monasteries in Lunsar can gather together to talk and unite like
this." After the meal, the women returned to the monastery early, but the
men stayed behind to talk.
June 16th is "African
Children's Day." On this day, rice with meat and water were given to all
teachers and students at all schools, from kindergarten to Maria Ines
Vocational Training School. This was all thanks to the teachers at Tamagawa Gakuen's
elementary and middle school divisions in Japan. Every year, both students and teachers look
forward to this day.
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At the kindergarten, a proposal
was made at a parent-teacher meeting to "select a King and Queen for
Tamagawa Shirayuri Kindergarten from among the children." First, about 10
children were selected, and on "African Children's Day," parents
pooled their money to crown the most popular children as King and Queen, giving
them a special reward. The parents here love these kinds of events and it's a
very exciting time.
I decided to give away the dolls I
made every day next Christmas instead of today. All the children were given
toys.
July 5th was the kindergarten
graduation ceremony. 128 students graduated. The graduates expressed their
gratitude to the kindergarten principal and parents. There was folk and gospel
dance, as well as singing and drama. The instruments used were the melodica,
handbells, and xylophone. Each child invited five people, so the venue was
full, and the small instruments were hard to hear, but it was a very enjoyable
graduation ceremony.
Summer vacation has now begun.
During that time, people from Mexico and Peru came to help out. We taught math
at the junior high school and painted pictures on the walls of the
kindergarten. Everyone learned the Japanese word "konnichiwa" (hello).
We said "konnichiwa" every morning, lunch, and dinner.
On July 19th, we were invited to
the home of a graduate from Freetown. We enjoyed a delicious meal and played a
long game.
We'd like to express our sincere
gratitude to everyone at the Walking Together Association for their support
throughout this school year. Because the price of rice has increased fivefold,
most people can't afford to eat rice every day. Therefore, the children who
receive rice at school every day are overjoyed. They line up every day and eat
with gusto. We owe this to God and everyone's efforts.
We are currently starting to build
a hall in the elementary school's garden. This is aid from America. It is just
a roof, with no surrounding walls. God always helps us somehow, and we are
truly grateful.
We pray for the health of those
currently suffering from illness. We pray for God's special blessings upon you
and your families. We look forward to your continued support next year. Sister
Shirahata.
(2nd Letter from Sr.
Shirahata)
On August 20th, Professor Ochiai
and his wife, Tomoko, arrived safely at 6:15 am. We were preparing a meal for
15 Italians just before morning mass. It wasn't raining, so we heard the sound
of the car horn. It had been five or six years since I last saw his wife. I was
surprised at how young she still was.
After breakfast, we went together
to the health center in the town of Lunsar. Along the way, we met many alumni.
Some of them I wouldn't recognize unless they told me their names, but hearing
their names brought back fond memories.
The most senior member of the
health center was out, so we met with a midwife. She's been working as a
midwife for three years and as a nurse for six, but the other 20 or so staff
members aren't receiving salaries from the government, so the health center is
struggling to even afford medicine. They can't even afford gasoline to drive
their vehicles to transport patients they can't treat to nearby clinics. They
face many other challenges, but the government isn't doing anything about them.
Prof. Ochiai said he'd like to visit the Maria Ines Vocational Center tomorrow
to talk about single mothers.
Through Prof. Ochiai, I received a
wall stapler for Sister Josephine, a pencil sharpener that can be easily
sharpened by hand for the kindergarten, and a lot of Japanese food from the
Polboron Association at Azabu Church. This is all thanks to the efforts of so
many people, so I'm very grateful to everyone. My family also provided
bandages, wound medicine, and other items, which will be very useful.
P7
On August 21st, Prof. Ochiai and
his wife went to the Maria Ines Vocational Center to meet with a poor single
mother. Afterward, they returned to the health center to meet with another
nurse. Despite being a nurse, she hadn't yet been paid. She graduated from OLG
elementary, middle, and high school, and then obtained her nursing license. She
still needs a lot of patience.
In the afternoon, Mrs. Tomoko Ochiai
interviewed me for 50 minutes about my life here. I truly believe that I have
been able to be here for 50 years thanks to the prayers and hard work of my
family and everyone here. Please continue to pray for me.
Tomorrow, I will cook curry rice with teacher
Tomoko. I will also cook some Oyako-don
(rice bowl with chicken) and Sushi.
Until next time, Sister Kazuko
Shirahata.
P7
PARTICIPATING IN TICAD 9
The Tokyo International Conference
on African Development
Meeting with VIPs from the
Republic of Sierra Leone
Participants:
Katsujiro Kanno, Yoko Kanno, Marta Tanaka, Ayako Yamamoto,
And Kuniko Nomoto
On Friday, August 22nd, we
participated in the Sierra Leone Economic, Trade, and Investment Forum (held at
the Westin Hotel Yokohama) as part of TICAD 9. After the forum, we met with
Sierra Leone dignitaries and presented them with a brief English introduction
to the "Walking Together Association" and issues 47-48 of the
newsletter (including English and Spanish translations). This valuable
opportunity was made possible by the generous support of Mr. Jonathan Goodrich
and Mrs. Rumi Goodrich, who provide us the container transport services, in
order to introduce the activities of the "Walking Together
Association" to Sierra Leone dignitaries visiting Yokohama for TICAD.
We sat in the back and listened to
the forum, which began at 1:30pm. Sierra Leone's government officials used
slides to explain how Sierra Leone is rich in minerals and rare metals, how
they are starting pineapple plantations, how they are focusing on fishing, how
they are expanding roads, how they are focusing on tourism, and, most
importantly, how they have a large young population.
There were many people at the
venue who appeared to be from China, and I found it a bit odd that the date on
the front screen was displayed in Chinese. The Sierra Leone moderator and
speakers repeatedly mentioned JAICA and JETRO, but the number of Chinese people
in the venue made me feel (this is just my personal impression) that Japan is
lagging far behind China in terms of investment and development in Sierra
Leone.
There were many people at the
venue who appeared to be from China, and I felt a bit uneasy when the text on
the front screen said "Monday, August 22nd" instead of "Friday,
August 22nd." The Sierra Leone moderator and speakers repeatedly mentioned
JAICA and JETRO, but the number of Chinese people in the venue made me feel
(this is just my personal impression) that Japan is lagging far behind China in
terms of investment and development in Sierra Leone.
After the forum, Mr. and Mrs.
Goodrich guided us to Sierra Leone's Ambassador to China (resident in Chaina
and concurrently serving in Japan), Dr. Abu Bakarr Karim, and we presented him
with the materials we had brought with us. We then had a chance to chat with
Mr. Sandy, Executive Director of the Office of the Vice President of the
National Investment Board Secretariat of the Government of Sierra Leone. We
explained our main activity, providing school meals to children, and he
responded, "That's a great idea. If there's school lunch, they'll come to
school and study, but if there's no school lunch, they won't go to school."
We also presented him with our newsletters, and introduced him to Ms. Yamamoto,
the English translator, and Ms. Marta Tanaka, the Spanish translator. Mr. Sandy
gave us all his business card, and Mrs. Rumi Goodrich took a group photo. It
was a wonderful and fulfilling experience for us all.
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Finally, I would like to take this
opportunity to express my deepest gratitude to Jonathan Goodrich and his wife,
Rumi, for providing us with this valuable opportunity to meet with government
officials from the Republic of Sierra Leone and introduce the activities of
Walking Together Association. Thank you very much.
By Kuniko Nomoto
VOICES FROM OUR SUPPORTERS
💙 May Sister Shirahata's
aches and pains be healed. May the
children and school of Lunsar receive what they need. May the Lord's help and
blessings be bestowed upon the work of the "Walking Together Association. K.S.
💙The people in Sierra
Leone are working hard to become nurses, doctors, and pharmacists. How
wonderful! I pray that their dreams may come true. T.O.
💙The 80th anniversary of
the Nagasaki atomic bombing has arrived. For the first time in 80 years, two
bells will ring at Urakami Church. These are the Peace Bells. May world peace
and the smiles of children be protected. May the Assumption of the Virgin Mary
be remembered. Let us pray together. Eat well, laugh, pray, and become
peace-loving people. M.T.
💙 Thank you for the
newsletter. I'm so glad that Sister Esmeralda is recovering. Even though each
donation is small, I'm grateful to God for the smiles on the children's faces and
for the connections we have with our supporters through His hand. K.K.
💙 Thank you for
sending us the newsletter. Your thoughts are conveyed in each article and
letter. It gives me energy. I pray for your continued health and success. M.S.
💙 Thank you for the
newsletter. Just reading your articles, "Everyone's Papa," has always
remained unpretentious and makes me smile. K.K.
💙Thank you for
sending me the newsletter. It's a very informative newsletter. I will continue
to support Sierra Leone. Thank you. N.T.
💙 Every time I
receive the newsletter, I am reminded of how grateful I am to have food to eat
every day and to be able to actively participate in activities. I hope to
continue providing support as long as possible so that the smiles of the
children of Sierra Leone can be protected. N.M.
💙 I was deeply
moved by the successive young people in Sierra Leone. I was also touched by the
letter, which conveyed Sister Shirahata's unchanging warm personality. The
long-standing wishes of our Japanese supporters and the efforts of the people
of Sierra Leone have come together, and I feel as though we are now in a time
of grace. (The rest is omitted.)
Obituary
◆ We have received word from the
family that Ms. Yasuko Kameyama (school mate of Sister Shirahata), who
supported us for many years, has passed away. We pray that the Lord's comfort
be abundantly upon her family.
◆Mr. Kuniaki Sato, a member of the
Headquarters Accounting Audit Committee, passed away suddenly on August 31st.
Mr. Sato continued to make one "basket pinwheel" every day to help
raise donations for school lunch support. We pray that the Lord's comfort be
abundantly upon her family.
GENERAL MEETING
On September 13th, the 2026
(September 2025 - August 2026) "Walking Together" General Meeting was
held. All of the articles (such as the
financial report, budget proposal, and "Looking Back on Fiscal Year
2025") were approved at the General Meeting. Details will be reported in
Newsletter Issue 50. We are grateful for your generous support over the past
year. (By Katsujiro Kanno)
Pictures:
P1:
Congratulation on your graduation!
P2:
Sister Josephine Kamara, Regional superior
P3:
School children
P3:
Sister Esmeralda and Sister Shirahata
P5:
Melodica lesson by Sister Shirahata
P6;
Group photo at TICAD9
P8:
Children in traditional costumes at the school festival
(Translation by
A. Yamamoto)