Ma Mère supports the following organisations:

Gli Amici Di Camilla/Friends of Camilla Foundation

Camilla's Friend was born in Italy on November 28, 2000. Camilla is a girl with Down Syndrome. She had a serious heart condition from birth. During her long hospital stay, it was picture books that brought Camilla and her family out into the wider world. When Camilla passed away and went to heaven, Camilla's parents decided to spread their love for their daughter to many children. Since that day, they have been working to create children's libraries in hospitals and facilities.

ASSOCIAZIONE GLI AMICI DI AMILLA

https://amicidicamilla.org

Representative: Ilaria Bigotto

message
It has incredible how the Associazione helps us to be able to keep her memory alive and make good things in her name. Our projects in Ethiopia, we built two school libraries and two water wells, have allowed hundreds of children and their families to have access to clean water and helped them to improve their academic path and therefore their lives have literally changed.
Our friendship with Japan is precious to us and look forward to many new projects and activities.
With love - The Canevari family”.
Twenty years have passed since Camilla left us. I still miss her. But creating things in her name that will help many children is what connects us to her.
We have recently been working in Ethiopia, where we have built two school libraries and two wells, helping many children and their families to have access to clean water and a learning environment. Their lives have literally changed because of this. Our friendship with Japan is very important to us, and we look forward to new projects and activities in Japan.
with love,
From the Camilla Family

Activities in Milan, Italy

LIBRIAMOCI! Come on, enter the world of imagination! / A coined word made by combining LIBRO (book) and LIBERO (to fly freely)

Camilla Library

Children's Ward Camilla Library

Charity Goods

Camilla's friends' activities in Japan

Camilla's Friends have been donating Christmas cakes to Asunaro School in Tsu City, Mie Prefecture every year since 2008. Asunaro School is the name of the elementary and junior high school of Mie Prefectural Kagayaki Special Needs School. The children attend Asunaro School while being hospitalized at the nearby Mie Prefectural Child Physical and Mental Development Medical Center. Camilla's Friends have donated about 700 picture books and manga to date.

Original tote bag

Asunaro Academy

Book Corner

A boy reading a donated Doraemon

Santa's Gathering Cake

Thank you cake from students

Camillador Project

Started in 2017, this project donates about 50,000 yen worth of picture books and other items from Camillador's profits. The total profits to date are 360,200 yen. Thanks to the cooperation of many people, this activity is still ongoing. By 2020, we had donated to four facilities. We are looking for recipients of donations from everyone. Please ask the staff for details.

Camillador Large: 8,800 yen Small: 5,500 yen Keychain: 4,180 yen

The first recipient of the donation was the "21 Trisomy Association" at Seibo Hospital, a social welfare corporation in Tokyo, a group for children with Down syndrome born at Seibo Hospital and their parents. It is also a gathering where parents can share their worries and feelings and help their children grow. It was introduced to us by Sakata Michiru. We donated a panel theater and a jumbo picture book. (2017)

* Trisomy 21 is when there is an extra copy of the 21st chromosome, resulting in three copies.

The second place was Akebono Gakuen, a nationwide association for the protection of children with severe physical and mental disabilities in Tokyo, where we donated 101 picture books. The people who helped us out were Alicekan, a children's book publisher, and JPIC's "Read This Book!" (2018).

The third place is the Kabochan Club, a short-term medical care facility in Kumamoto City, Kumamoto Prefecture, which caters to children with respiratory diseases. It was introduced to us by Ms. Sayuri Watanabe. We donated 48 picture books and musical instruments. We were assisted by Alicekan, a children's book publisher, and Ms. Atsuko Yoshimura of the Children's Castle Choir, who advised us on musical instruments. We donated ocean drums, shakers, wind chimes, bells, and more. (2019)

Dr. Ogata and the caregiver on the front

Top left: Sayuri Watanabe

Like family

Good friends!

A bell that can be enjoyed even with weak strength

The fourth place is Ariake Children's Clinic in Tokyo. It was introduced by Nao Sakamoto. It is a clinic that contributes greatly to local children. We donated 45 picture books. They will be useful after the COVID-19 pandemic is over. (2020)

Ma Mère's Initiatives

Future plans

The second Kabochan Club in Kumamoto is currently under construction. Once completed, we plan to donate picture books, paintings, musical instruments, etc.

Camilla's Friends Japan Representative

Kabeya Fuyou

Picture book author and illustrator . Born in Aichi Prefecture. Graduated from Nagoya Zokei Junior College (Nagoya Zokei University). Awarded at the Bologna Picture Book Original Illustration Exhibition in Italy. Major picture books include "Mimizun" (Froebel-kan), "Ichinensei ni Nattara" (Words by Mado Michio, Poplar Publishing), and "Atashii Ede Shita Aru Yo" (Text by Kadono Eiko, Asunaro Shobo). Also active in advertising . 

Save the Children is a private, non-profit international organization that works to support children. It was founded in 1919 by a British woman, Eglantyne Jebb. In Europe, devastated by World War I, she worked to support children in enemy countries who were suffering from malnutrition, regardless of whether they were friends or enemies. During her work, she drafted the Geneva Declaration of the Rights of the Child, the world's first official document on children's rights. Its philosophy led to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which has now been ratified by 196 countries and regions, and has spread throughout the world. Currently, independent members from 29 countries, including Japan, work together to carry out child support activities in approximately 120 countries. As a pioneer in children's rights, its expertise has been recognized by the UN and various governments, and it is bringing about change in the environment surrounding children all over the world.

Official Site