Summary of Bulletin No.31 of “Walking Together”
Bulletin No. 31 starts with a message from
Sr. Shirahata titled “Starting 2021 : To the members of Walking Together”. She
expresses her appreciation for the many people who have been worried about the
spreading of COVID-19 in Sierra Leone and for the Sierra Leone Charity Jazz
Concert last December. Banks have been low on money during the Christmas
season, and so they could not receive the funds from Walking Together.
Christmas was not as it used to be, but there were still fun times with things
that were available. Schools are operating, and Sr. Shirahata celebrated her 79th
birthday on November 29th, and is now the oldest.
Following on pages 2-3, is another report
from Sr. Shirahata called “From Sierra Leone : Thinking about the disappearing
environment” (from Catholic Newspaper, 2020/11/29 edition). The beautiful
greenery and nature Sr. Shirahata saw from the plane she boarded 44 years ago,
has slowly diminished where it used to cover
70-80% of the country is now down to 50%. Also, Chinese companies have
been cutting down trees to produce fuel and have been sending them to Guinea.
Although the government shows no concerns for this, COVID-19, or the negative
effects on the people and society, Sr. Shirahata states that the people of
Sierra Leone are keeping their heads up and have been keeping strong.
On page 3 is “The good by Sr. Negishi” by Maria Ines Fatmata Bangura, Secretary at the Lunsar – Tamagawa
Kindergarten. Sr. Negishi supported her with treatment, rehabilitation, and also
with college education since she has disabled from an illness she caught when
she was in elementary school. With the support, Maria
Ines Fatmata Bangura successfully
obtained a license in accounting and was able to become who she is today.
In Mariam Kamara’s “To the supporters” （2020/10/30） message, she thanks the
supporters for helping her get into N‘Jala University with the support funds
and also talks about how hard she worked to pass the National Nursing exam.
On pages 4-5, is “After the Charity Jazz
Concert”, a message from guitarist Shinri Tanaka. She talks about how they had
to come to host this concert, and her feelings for Africa and African music.
Details about the concert can be found in a
report “Sierra Leone support : Charity Jazz Concert in Shimo-Kitazawa” compiled
by Walking Together HQ staff, Ayako Yamamoto, on pages 5-6.
On page 7 is “Voices from supporters”,
followed by an announcement from HQ, which covers the difficulty sending funds,
charity jazz concert, Sr. Yoshida update, and relief supplies.
【Photos】
P1 (left) : Matching ribbons on the day of
the school festival
(right) : The very happy Sr. Shirahata
teaching music
P2 (top right) : Sr. Shirahata preparing
for class after suffering Malaria
P3 (top right) : Sr. Shirahata and Maria Ines Fatmata Bangura
P4 (top left) : Mariam Kamara in training
clothes
P5 (top left) : Shinri Tanaka with her guitar
P6 (top left) : Ayako Yamamoto at reception
P8 (top) : Charity Jazz Concert stage
(bottom) : Sr. Shirahata and
the children
(Copy:Hiroko Gotoh、 Translation:Ayako Nokuo)