Making an International Contribution through“Table for Two”

In October last year, we carried out the full-scale launch of the Table for Two (TFT) menus at three cafeterias on campus (Bldg. No.2 student dining hall, Bldg. No.9 cafeteria, and Subway). The initiative was started when members of the extra-curricular student club Table for Two Sophia (TFT Sophia Chapter) encouraged the companies that operate the cafeterias to get involved.

TFT, run by the specified nonprofit organization Table For Two, is a program that contributes to society by seeking to simultaneously resolve the problems of starvation in developing countries and obesity and lifestyle-related diseases in advanced countries. When a TFT menu item is purchased, a donation of 20 yen, which is the equivalent of one school meal in a developing country, is automatically made. While more than 650 companies and organizations are participating in the movement, Sophia University carried out a trial introduction of the TFT menus for the first time in 2009. The menus were also offered for a limited period in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the university's establishment.

We worked hard using flyers, posters and social media to let as many people as possible know about TFT activities, and I think this is what helped us to achieve full-scale implementation.

The 35 members of TFT Sophia rack their brains every month to come up with ideas for the menus at each cafeteria. In January, we proposed five warming menu options at each cafeteria based on the theme of “Good luck in your exams!” After holding discussions with cafeteria representatives, three of these menu options were adopted. Options included the delicious-sounding “Warm up from the inside! Chicken saute with ginger sauce,” as well as other unique and nutritionally-balanced options.

We are very grateful to the people of the cafeteria for their support. We plan to continue working hard to establish TFT activities in the future as an easy way of making an international contribution.