What's Cattle？
Who we are
Cattle Co., Ltd. was established with a passionate desire to connect Tanzania and Japan.
The starting point was the connection with Sakura Girls' Junior High School, which is facing the social issue of poverty in Africa and providing educational opportunities to Maasai girls with Japanese support.
When Arai was young, she fell in love with the beautiful and brave Maasai, and has been involved with Tanzania for over 10 years. Arai has been involved with Sakura Girls' Junior High School since its establishment and has a passion for it more than anyone else. Hashimoto studied education as a university student and traveled the world while working on employment/labor as a working.
It all started when the two of us met.
Why we founded Cattle
Through Sakura Junior High School, we wondered what we could do to continue developing and developing the human resources who will carry the future of Tanzania.
Everyone knows the importance of education. However, in reality, there are many problems that cannot be solved with just "feelings", such as raising funds for school operations without relying on donations or public support, and employment problems for graduates.
Therefore, we thought that it would be possible to solve this problem using a business system, so we decided to start a business.We have decided to allocate a portion of Cattle's business profits to provide financial support to Sakura Junior High School and create jobs for graduates and the local community.
We also believe that there is much that people can learn from the traditional ways of thinking and being of the Maasai, who have lived in Tanzania for a long time. At a time when various social issues are being called out, we would like to provide opportunities to face them through on-site training programs and various communications.
What we do
We value our business model as one that can continue for long term, together with the local people.
Therefore, we focused on agriculture = food, which Tanzania is good at. In line with today's growing awareness of healthy longevity, we are working with local producers to produce ”superfood” moringa.
In particular, we offer 100% natural edible moringa oil and moringa honey, taking advantage of the characteristics of Tanzanian moringa.
Eventually, we plan to create more jobs by increasing the number of contracted farmers and processing factories, which will lead to employment for local people in Tanzania.
In addition, by leveraging our strength in "relationships with local communities," we support companies expanding into East African regions, including Tanzania, and offer unique local stays where you can experience the Maasai way of thinking and way of life in the wild kingdom of Tanzania.
Message
Let's pass on the foundation of friendship to the next generation
"Sakura Girls' Junior High School" opened in Tanzania in 2014 with Japanese aid. This is a four-year, boarding school with the aim of nurturing girls with science backgrounds. Sumiko Iwao, the founder and professor emeritus of Keio University (passed away in 2018), said,
"Money and things disappear once they are spent, but education is passed down not only to one generation but to the next generation. "There are local communities. If the number of African people who are pro-Japan increases, it will be beneficial for Japan's future."
In order to carry on this legacy, we have decided to establish this company that will serve as a bridge between Africa and Japan.
"Sakura Girls' Junior High School" is facing many challenges. Of course we provide direct administrative support, but our biggest challenge is the career paths of graduates. Locally, there are not enough opportunities for women to go on to higher education or get jobs. Professor Iwao said, "It was difficult to support the independence of women locally."
Based on this experience, we will develop a project that provides side support by aiming to create education and employment for the independence of African women.
Cattle Co., Ltd.
President and CEO Ikue Arai
Members
Chihomi Hashimoto
Born in Okayama in 1981. After graduating from university, joined Recruit Co., Ltd. Consistently involved in the human resources field. He has a wide range of experience including verbalizing a company's vision, recruiting and training people who will make it a reality, and revitalizing the organization.
During a private visit to Tanzania, I was shocked by the energy and beauty of the people. Believing that people can live more interesting lives through encounters and dialogue, he co-founded Cattle in 2021, which connects Japan and Tanzania. In her private life, she is a mother of two children. Lives in Hayama Town, Kanagawa Prefecture. My hobbies are canoeing, mountain climbing, and adventure.
Ikue Arai
School nurse (Hokkaido Noboribetsu Junior High School, Warabi City Public Elementary School, Omiya Kaisei Junior and Senior High School) Retired in March 2022. The reason she came to Tanzania was through her friendship with Haruko Ogura, formerly the curator of Noboribetsu Bear Farm. She became interested in the Maasai, who live in harmony with wild animals in the Tanzanian savannah from the Savannah Club member's magazine.
Activities so far
2011: Visited Tanzania, stayed in Zanzibar
2012: Homestay with a Maasai family, visit to a Maasai elementary school
2013: Visited a public elementary school in Dar es Salaam, an elementary school opened in Nigeria, and a junior high school opened in Turkey
2014: Participated as a volunteer in a project to establish a Maasai girls' junior high school planned by Sumiko Iwao, participated in the JATA Alternative Tour, and visited and interacted with public elementary schools.
2015: Visited Sakura Girls' Junior High School during construction, greeted Frieda and the village head of Bangata Village, and toured the village.
2016: Sponsored a study tour to Sakura Girls' Junior High School
2017-2019: Sponsored study tour to Sakura Girls' Junior High School, exchange with Omiya Kaisei Junior and Senior High School Student Council
2023:Sponsored study tour to Sakura Girls' Junior High School