On April 21, 2011, The Japanese Engineering Company (JAPENGCOY) of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (Minustah) donated its time and materials to the Loving Hands Children’s Orphanage in Port-au-Prince.

"The 30 children in the orphanage were in need so we donated school materials, clothes and household goods," said Col. Yasutatsu Adachi, the JAPENGCOY Commander. "We were able to provide them with 60 school desks, 13 blackboards, stationary for the students, chalks, pencils, crayons and notebooks. And we were able to provide food, shoes and clothes."

More than 40 JAPENGCOY personnel then took the opportunity to introduce the children to some traditional Japanese culture including Taiko (Japanese drums), Origami (paper folding), Shuji (calligraphy) and Shabondama (blowing bubbles).

"Japan has received enormous damage by the March earthquake and tsunami, very similar to Haiti in 2010, so we have sympathy for the Haitian people as they try to rebuild from such huge damage. In this situation, we are happy to support these Haitian children who are the future of Haiti," said Adachi. "Even as our home country rebuilds after the earthquake, the highly trained peacekeepers of JAPENGCOY will continue providing the best engineering support we can to the people of Haiti."

HL/ HaitiLibre