Japan Habitat Association thanks CCCJ Members for some 'heavy lifting'

Thank you very much, Canadian Supporters, for your great assistance!

Coins from all over the world are received in the donation boxes placed by Japan Habitat Association (JHA) in all major airports in Japan.  However, none of the banks and exchange offices in Japan will exchange foreign coins for Japanese yen.  When JHA explained this at a gathering of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Japan in January 2013, several Canadians immediately offered to help by taking Canadian coins on their trips back home.  The very generous people listed below changed Canadian coins for Japanese yen and took the coins back to Canada in spite of their considerable weight. 

Mr. Christian Howes was the first to exchange Canadian coins for Japanese yen in March.  He was told by the Canadian bank he visited that the bank would not accept coins unless they were packed in the bank prescribed paper coin wrappers.  Therefore, he, his father and son took the trouble of putting coins in the paper wrappers.  Upon return to Japan he contributed the remaining paper coin wrappers to Japan Habitat Association.  He also introduced his friends to JHA for similar assistance. During his trip to Canada in August, he kindly took coins for the second time. 

Mr. David Anderson kindly exchanged Canadian coins for Japanese yen in April and took the coins to a bank in Canada, where he obtained paper coin wrappers and donated them to JHA.  

Mr. Karl Pires also exchanged Canadian coins for Japanese yen, taking the heavy coins back to Canada on his trip in August.

Ms. Mary Beth Takao exchanged Canadian coins for Japanese yen and took the coins to Canada in August. She also bought a carton full of paper coin wrappers and donated them all to JHA for future use.

Thanks to the outstanding help offered by the above Canadians, almost all Canadian coins kept in safe storage at JHA—amounting to about CA$3,100—have been exchanged for Japanese currency and used for JHA projects to revitalize the communities affected by the tsunami and for another project in Laos where school water supply facilities have been installed and trees have been planted in the mountains to ensure water resources.  We are deeply moved and sincerely grateful to all Canadians who helped us so much.

For more information on the Japan Habitat Association please visit here.