Members of a range of Japanese civic groups have encouraged people across the country to join an initiative that helps feed children living in poverty.
A government survey found one out of six children in Japan lived in poverty in 2012. The initiative, known as "the children's cafeteria," provides meals made with ingredients donated by supporters. The food is provided for free or at low cost. The number of the cafes already in operation has been increasing, mainly around the Tokyo metropolitan area.
NPOs and other groups held a symposium in the capital on Monday to discuss the program's current situation, as well as the challenges it faces. About 350 people from across the country took part, with most of them hoping to start their own cafes.
The welfare ministry plans to offer a partial subsidy to help with running the cafeterias from April. And organizers plan to hold more seminars in the future to teach people how to set up by themselves and expand the movement.
◆a range of 広い範囲の～、いろいろな～
◆in operation 稼働して
◆subsidy 助成金
◆set up 設置する
