Tetsuko Kuroyanagi, the renowned Japanese actress, also known by the endearing name Totto-Chan, paid a six-day visit to South Sudan, March 14-20, to get acquainted with challenges facing children in the country and identify priorities to address these problems.
In a statement to the media, Kuroyanagi revealed that she developed an interest in advocating for the welfare of children and pledged to offer assistance mostly to children with no parental care.
In her capacity as UNICEF’s longest serving Goodwill Ambassador, Kuroyanagi made a generous donation to UNICEF during her first visit to Juba in 1993 which resulted in the establishment of the Totto Chan Center in 1996.
The UNICEF Sudan office and the state government named the institution after her nickname Totto Chan in remembrance of her first visit 1993 which helped bring into fresh focus the needs of the children in the country.
The TV actress also expressed her gratitude and satisfaction over the performance of the center for the last 17 years in helping more than 2,500 children affected by armed conflict.
She insisted that those who have been demobilized from armed forces, separated and unaccompanied, returnees, abducted, and other vulnerable children have so far benefited from services offered at the center which include psycho-social support, interim accommodation and care, family tracing and reunification, and welfare support.
UNICEF country representative Dr. Yasmin Ali Haque congratulated Kuroyanagi for her previous contribution and for showing interest to continue supporting the country in areas of national concern.
She confirmed that Japan has made a total contribution of more than US$ 67 million to South Sudan in the past 11 years out of which US$ 22 million has been provided to the newest country since independence.
Dr. Haque said the actress, after her appointment as UNICEF Ambassador in 1984, visited many volatile countries in Asia and Africa, including Afghanistan, Cambodia, Iraq, Angola, Rwanda, and Liberia where civil wars or natural disasters threaten child development and survival.
“This year alone, Japan pledged US$13 million for a range of projects that include nutrition, health, education, protection, water sanitation and hygiene among others,” she disclosed.
The 80-year-old Kuroyanagi, who was born to a celebrated Japanese violinist, is the author of more than 20 books. She trained at Tokyo’s Bungakuza Theatre and in New York at the Mary Tarcai Studio.
Tetsuko Kuroyanagi, the renowned Japanese actress, also known by the endearing name Totto-Chan, paid a six-day visit to South Sudan, March 14-20, to get acquainted with challenges facing children in the country and identify priorities to address these problems.
In a statement to the media, Kuroyanagi revealed that she developed an interest in advocating for the welfare of children and pledged to offer assistance mostly to children with no parental care.
In her capacity as UNICEF’s longest serving Goodwill Ambassador, Kuroyanagi made a generous donation to UNICEF during her first visit to Juba in 1993 which resulted in the establishment of the Totto Chan Center in 1996.
The UNICEF Sudan office and the state government named the institution after her nickname Totto Chan in remembrance of her first visit 1993 which helped bring into fresh focus the needs of the children in the country.
The TV actress also expressed her gratitude and satisfaction over the performance of the center for the last 17 years in helping more than 2,500 children affected by armed conflict.
She insisted that those who have been demobilized from armed forces, separated and unaccompanied, returnees, abducted, and other vulnerable children have so far benefited from services offered at the center which include psycho-social support, interim accommodation and care, family tracing and reunification, and welfare support.
UNICEF country representative Dr. Yasmin Ali Haque congratulated Kuroyanagi for her previous contribution and for showing interest to continue supporting the country in areas of national concern.
She confirmed that Japan has made a total contribution of more than US$ 67 million to South Sudan in the past 11 years out of which US$ 22 million has been provided to the newest country since independence.
Dr. Haque said the actress, after her appointment as UNICEF Ambassador in 1984, visited many volatile countries in Asia and Africa, including Afghanistan, Cambodia, Iraq, Angola, Rwanda, and Liberia where civil wars or natural disasters threaten child development and survival.
“This year alone, Japan pledged US$13 million for a range of projects that include nutrition, health, education, protection, water sanitation and hygiene among others,” she disclosed.
The 80-year-old Kuroyanagi, who was born to a celebrated Japanese violinist, is the author of more than 20 books. She trained at Tokyo’s Bungakuza Theatre and in New York at the Mary Tarcai Studio.