On October 19, 2024, Seibo had the opportunity to give a lecture on “Civil Society Theory” at the Faculty of Global Studies, Department of International Studies, Ryukoku University in Kyoto.

“Civil society” refers to the social domain excluding the government or state (as defined in the Nonprofit Terminology Dictionary), and NPOs operate as a part of it. Our local activity partner, Seibo Maria Malawi, collaborates with the government to provide school meals in areas where it’s challenging to gather statistics and difficult to access, contributing to the expansion of social welfare activities like meal support across Malawi.

In Japan, civil society organizations such as NPOs and general incorporated associations operate independently of the government. Seibo is part of this civil society sector, developing its activities with corporate support by importing and selling Malawian coffee, donations through educational programs, and linking with corporate SDG initiatives. It can be said that Seibo plays a significant role as an NPO in Malawi.

The following video shows an example of meal distribution at a primary school in the northern region. NPOs are incredibly effective in reaching mountainous areas like this to deliver meals and maintain ongoing communication with those in need.

In the future, we hope to collaborate even more with university students from an academic perspective and high school students with their active networks, working together with young students to broaden awareness of the role that NPOs play in civil society through our support efforts in Malawi.