New Year's Greetings 2003

We are the same Citizens of the Earth

Seishiro ETO, President ISSJ

We wish you a Happy New Year! We heartily hope that joy and happiness be brought to you this year too. The year of 2003 is very special year for ISSJ to start a new half a century. In these years, many incidents and problems have occurred in our society, that have made us reconsider seriously about families, parents and children.

There is only one world but there are many kinds of people living with different culture, race, religion, and beliefs. Sometimes, people have different ways of thinking and by searching for profits; people will end up in disputes and deep sadness. However, when the astronauts in the space shuttle saw the earth from the space, the earth was simply beautiful and shining in dark blue. There was no existence of borders. As human beings, we need to understand, support, and coexist in order to ride on the same ship called the earth. If this is not possible, we will not be able to sail smoothly. This principal is the same way of thinking as ISSJ’s motto, “Caring Hand Beyond the Boundaries”.

ISSJ is a social welfare agency approved by the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Labor, handling international welfare case works. We also function as the Japan branch for International Social Service with the headquarters in Geneva, and global network of 20 branches and 140 correspondents. For that reason, our roles would be an even more important and we would be required to have global standard abilities. Like at the time when we first started the support towards the children and the families who were suffering from the war, we always hope to have continuous enthusiasm and bear the preciousness of human lives in mind. And we hope our service would contribute something to our society. All of us, as the committee and staff members are committed to do our best and we would like to take the liberty of asking you for your cooperation and support for this year, too.

 

 

For the Happiness of Children and Families

Yaeko OTSUKI, General Director ISSJ


We wish you a Happy New Year! Year 2002 was 50th Anniversary for ISSJ and it was a very impressive year for the committee and the staff members. As we reported to you in “Intercountry No. 22”, we have held many gatherings, including Asian Pacific Regional Meeting for the protection of basic rights of children without nationality and with foreign nationality,as well as unregistered children. And we were fortunate to end the year with 50th commemoration event.

In the year 2003, we, the committee and the staff members should be prepared to work sincerely for the happiness of the children and the families who are seeking for our support. Especially this year, we are needed to join hands with other organizations. We hope for the good health for all of you and ask you for your support for ISSJ. Thank you very much.