NEWS | The "BOOKS FOR TWO" campaign: Volunteer opportunities through spring cleaning.

Support disaster-stricken areas in East Japan and developing countries simultaneously, simply by sending used books and CDs.

The "BOOKS FOR TWO" Campaign: Volunteerism Through Your Year-End Cleaning

Shaplaneer—Citizens' Campaign for Overseas Cooperation, an NGO established in 1972 that supports women and working children in South Asia—is celebrating its 40th anniversary. Shaplaneer is launching the "BOOKS FOR TWO" campaign, where you can pack and send unwanted books and CDs from your year-end cleaning.East Japan EarthquakeThis initiative allows simultaneous support for the disaster-stricken areas of the East Japan Earthquake and for Bangladesh and Nepal, running until Thursday, January 31, 2013.

Text by YANAKA Tomomi

Social Contribution Accessible to Anyone, Anywhere in Japan

"BOOKS FOR TWO" is Shaplaneer's initiative for social contribution, accessible to anyone, anywhere in Japan. Book Off Corporation, a used book buyer, collaborates with this campaign. By packing and sending books you no longer read or CDs you no longer listen to, Book Off purchases them, and the proceeds are donated to Shaplaneer. Furthermore, Book Off adds a 10% bonus to the purchase price before donating, making it a volunteer effort that achieves both reconstruction support and international contribution.

With a donation equivalent to approximately 2,000 yen, two boxes (the size of a mandarin orange crate) can fund one film screening about disaster prevention in cyclone-affected areas of Bangladesh. An additional 1,000 yen can deliver an informational magazine, featuring useful life advice, to 46 disaster victims in Iwaki City, Fukushima Prefecture.

In the previous campaign, donations from 1,100 participants amounted to over 3,500 boxes, totaling approximately 3.35 million yen. Shaplaneer aims to raise over 3.5 million yen this year.

As the year-end approaches, it's time for year-end cleaning. Let's welcome the New Year with a refreshed spirit by participating in this volunteer activity, accessible to everyone, that supports both disaster-stricken areas and developing countries.

"BOOKS FOR TWO"

Period: Until Thursday, January 31, 2013

Donatable Items: Hardcover books, paperbacks, new books, comics, children's books, photo albums, reference books/dictionaries, magazines (monthly, quarterly), game strategy guides, CDs, DVDs, Blu-ray discs, home video game consoles, game software

How to Request Pickup: Contact Shaplaneer by phone or email with the following information: 1. Desired pickup date and time 2. Number of boxes 3. Name 4. Postal code and address 5. Phone number

Tel.03-3202-7863

sutenai@shaplaneer.org