The Hiraide Fund

On January 16, 2002, the Rural Asia Solidarity Association (RASA) lost the most dedicating and beloved sponsor, the late Ms. Sonoko Hiraide. True to her maternal nature, Ms. Hiraide facilitated RASA’s activities both financially and mentally. Her moral support encouraged young RASA members to be more ambitious and confident. All the remaining members of RASA miss her very much.

The late Ms. Hiraide was born on November 17, 1939, in Tokyo, Japan. Her association with RASA began in 1991 with her annual contribution of one hundred thousand Japanese yen. This contribution was put towards “RASA’s Financial Assistance for Asian Students in Japan” programme. She was one of the rare sponsors contributing a large amount as an individual sponsor. Moreover, she frequented the annual conferment ceremony (for the financial assistance programme) and RASA’s year-end party. Student awardees who met Ms. Hiraide on those occasions would learn that a Japanese lady very much the age of their mothers had contributed to their study and life out of sincere kind-heartedness. Some awardees told us how much they were moved by seeing and speaking to Ms. Hiraide in person. RASA highly appreciates this encouragement Ms. Hiraide has provided for student awardees.

It was a shame that RASA did not know of her sickness until her daughter, Ms. Yoko Wakio, informed us of her demise. Ms. Wakio told RASA that Ms. Hiraide left three million Japanese yen to RASA in her will. We were deeply shocked by her death and inexpressibly sad. At the same time, we respected her immensely for her thoughtfulness and generosity. We swore within ourselves that we would sincerely take over her will, and materialize her intention for younger generations to acquire knowledge and to develop skills that would eventually benefit people in need. Thereby, RASA initiated the Hiraide Fund with her bequest.

As the representative of RASA, hereby I declare RASA’s dedication to spend Ms. Hiraide’s bequest for Asian people in need of assistance.