Cycling Japan for Children
Donation protected
In September 2024, I will be cycling the length of Japan. Starting in Hokkaido in the north, I'll ride down and finish in Kagoshima, covering a total distance of about 3,000 kilometers. You can follow and track the entire journey here.
The reason I'm going to Japan is to have a good time. But, as I will be a riding billboard, I searched and found a charity cause to advertise for. Pelicano is a Belgian organization that provides long-term material and social support to children in need. I very much like their concrete and pragmatic action plan.
To start I have set a fundraising goal of 1000 euro for Pelicano. Any contributions made will be fully donated to Pelicano.
Pelicano's mission is to eradicate child poverty. Their action plan consists of three steps:
- Identify children in need. Pelicano works closely with schools, welfare organizations, and other entities that are generally well-informed about poverty situations in families. The more efficiently deprivation is identified, the quicker children in need can be helped.
- Address urgent needs first. The first priorities are food, clothing, hygiene, and health. Instead of donating money to the parents, Pelicano pays for these necessities directly. Additionally, costs related to educational and social needs, such as school and leisure activities, are covered.
- Provide long-term support. Pelicano remains responsible until the children complete their education. Care partners use the financial resources provided by Pelicano to cover expenses related to school, clothing, food, medical costs, and more.
So far, Pelicano has helped to break the poverty cycle for 3,134 children this way, with an average of 10 years of support per child. However, 13% of children still live below the poverty line, and 4.6% experience severe material or social deprivation. This amounts to more than 100,000 children.
Organizer and beneficiary
Desiré De Waele
Organizer
Ghent, VLG
Kinderarmoedestichting Pelicano
Beneficiary