(Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Yasuyuki Toki; hereinafter referred to as "Unifa") announced on April 10 (Friday) its "Emergency Support: Delivering Washable Masks to Childcare Providers at 2,000 Facilities in Japan The number of applications from childcare facilities greatly exceeded expectations, and the spread of the new coronavirus continues to increase! Project to Deliver Washable Masks to Childcare Providers" and the target area was changed from 10 prefectures (Tokyo, Osaka, Kanagawa, Chiba, Aichi, Hyogo, Hokkaido, Saitama, Fukuoka, Kyoto) to 13 prefectures (Tokyo, Osaka, Kanagawa, Chiba, Aichi, Hyogo, Hokkaido, Saitama, Fukuoka, Kyoto, Ishikawa, Ibaraki), which are all specified warning areas. ), Gifu (as of April 29, 2020), and to increase the number of cards provided from 40,000 to 100,000 and the number of target facilities from 2,000 to 8,000.
Amidst the situation where childcare facilities nationwide are still in operation even after the declaration of a state of emergency by the Japanese government on April 7 and the shortage of masks in childcare facilities, Unifa has been working since April 10 to reduce the burden on childcare workers at childcare facilities, which are prone to three-density workloads. Since April 10, Unifa has been promoting the "Emergency Assistance: Project to Deliver Washable Masks to Childcare Workers at 2,000 Facilities in Japan" (hereinafter referred to as "Mask Project") as an initiative to distribute masks to childcare facilities free of charge through crowdfunding. According to a survey conducted by Unifa, approximately 87% of the childcare facilities in the 10 prefectures targeted by the Mask Project are still in operation after the declaration of the state of emergency.
In addition, the emergency declaration was extended nationwide on April 17, and 13 prefectures were designated as "Specified Alert Prefectures". In addition, the number of masks to be provided free of charge has been increased from 40,000 to 100,000, and the number of facilities to be covered has been increased from 2,000 to 8,000, a four-fold increase from the previous level. The project will be called the "Mask Project. As a result, the name of the mask project was changed to "Urgent expansion to 8,000 facilities! The name of the project will be changed to "Project to Deliver Washable Masks to Childcare Providers". If the crowdfunding does not reach the target amount, UNIFA will cover the necessary costs to distribute the masks free of charge to all 8,000 facilities.
Occupancy of daycare facilities in 10 prefectures (Tokyo, Osaka, Kanagawa, Chiba, Aichi, Hyogo, Hokkaido, Saitama, Fukuoka, Kyoto) (calculated from data from April 13-17, 2020, Unifa survey)
Details of Initiatives
The company is also inviting daycare facilities that wish to receive the super stretchy fitted masks manufactured by Takumiba and Sitateru, which can be washed and used repeatedly, for free through the "Online Preschool Director's Association" provided by Unifa, and is also inviting support funds for the free masks through the "READYFOR" crowdfunding service. The target number of facilities to provide the masks is 8,000, and the company hopes to begin offering the masks sequentially from late April.
How to Participate in Crowdfunding
Crowdfunding is available at
Project name: "Urgent expansion to 8,000 facilities! Project to Deliver Washable Masks to Childcare Providers" (Japanese only)
(Formerly known as Emergency Assistance: Project to deliver "washable masks" to childcare providers at 2,000 facilities in Japan)
URL:https://readyfor.jp/projects/mask-todokeru
Application period: April 10, 2020 - June 30, 2020 at 23:00
Target amount: 25 million yen *This is an all-in format, meaning that the project will be approved regardless of whether or not the target amount is reached.
How to apply for childcare facilities that wish to provide masks free of charge
How to apply ：Apply for free of charge by filling in the application form on the "Online Preschool Director's Association" operated by Unifa.
Application page URL:https://www.enchoukai.com
Please note that the color of the mask cannot be selected due to the priority given to early delivery.
*Masks do not completely prevent infection.
*Facilities that have already applied after the previous release (from April 10, 2020) are eligible for the free offer.
You may only apply for the masks once for the previous combined total. The first 2,000 facilities will receive 20 masks per facility as previously planned, but in order to deliver masks to as many facilities as possible, the number will be reduced to 10 masks per facility from now on.
We hope that by providing support to childcare workers at childcare facilities who support the childcare of working families such as medical professionals who must be away from home during the declared state of emergency, we can help those who work with the threat of infection and make the environment safe for children to grow up in. We, BabyTech.jp, are pleased to participate in this crowdfunding campaign.
