BPW International

BPW Japan is pleased to announce that we selected three projects for the Recovery Support Grant, “Job generating grant by women, for women.”

The grant aims to provide support to working women in the severely damaged areas by the 3.11 earthquakes and tsunami last year.  Seven projects in the affected area applied to the Grant with the conditions:
1) be organized by women;
2) have a clear future plan to promote women’s employment and revitalization of good community.  BPW selection committee members selected three of them, through site visits and interviews.  Selected groups are all small-sized enterprises which were badly destroyed by tsunami, and everything was washed away.  However, they were well motivated to rebuild their business.  If finance allowed, they would have done more.  

All selected groups expressed their plan that they will increase the employment of women in the area.


On January 8th, 2012, at the Sendai Citizens Activity Support Center, BPW Japan held a ceremony to present the 1st Recovery Support Grant, JPY 300,000 (USD 400,000)/group, to the following three enterprises.  A local major TV station, Miya-Tele, televised the presentation in their evening news.  

Keitono Oppai Project (Hand-knitted-breast -a training tool for midwife- Project for the elder's income generation) in Kesen-numa, Miyagi Prefecture.

Chiba Nori-ten (Chiba Sisters’ Seaweed Manufacturer) in Minami-sanriku, Miyagi Prefecture

Marine Mothers Kirikiri (Fishery processing / Fisher’s restaurant) in Otsuchicyo, Iwate Prefecture)

We greatly appreciate generous supports from BPW sisters which made this grant program possible.  BPW Japan will continue its fundraising efforts, so that we will be able to present the Recovery Support Grant to more women in the area.  We hope that the Grant will contribute to the promotion of women’s economic independence in the disaster area.