Smiles Team Hosts Donation Drive for New OFW Trainees in Japan

Winter in Japan can be difficult, especially for those who just arrived from the Philippines. 

The cold air, snow and strong winds are very different from the weather back home. For many new overseas Filipino workers (OFW), adjusting to a new country is already challenging. Facing their first winter makes it even harder. 

During a recent ground visit in Hiroshima, the Smiles Mobile Remittance Philippines team met a group of Filipino trainees who had just arrived in Japan. They arrived in the middle of winter, bringing with them only a few clothes suitable for the cold. Some were experiencing snow for the first time. 

Witnessing their situation reminded the Smiles Philippines team of their own first days in Japan, the homesickness, the adjustment and the quiet struggles to stay strong for family back home. 

Smiles Mobile Remittance runs the One Million Smiles Program each year to support different communities through corporate social responsibility (CSR). The program provides food, school supplies, medicine and other basic needs to beneficiaries. It is part of the company’s mission to “Share Smiles” in ways that matter. 

With that same spirit, the team decided to collect winter clothes and start a donation drive for the newly arrived trainees. The initiative started inside the company. Employees donated jackets, sweaters and other winter items they no longer used but were still in good condition. 

With the help of Filipino community leaders and a non-profit organization in Hiroshima, two large boxes of winter clothes were delivered to the trainees. It was a simple gesture but one that carried warmth beyond the fabric. 

For many OFWs, support does not always come in big ways. Sometimes, it comes in the form of a winter coat, a kind message or a reminder that someone understands. 

Being far from home means building a new support system. Through programs like One Million Smiles and everyday efforts to “Share Smiles,” the Smiles Mobile Remittance team hopes to continue standing beside Filipinos in Japan and all over the world. It’s not just about sending money home; it’s the moments that truly matter. 

To stay informed about future activities and community events, follow Smiles Mobile Remittance on Facebook.