As the year winds down, the Central Ohio Shibui Ohara Ikebana Study Group came together in a meaningful way to support others.

During our November and December meetings, members of our Study Group collected school supplies, first aid items, and monetary donations to support children in Madagascar through a project led by NichiMada Bridge, an Ohio-registered nonprofit organization, and supported by the team at the Yokoso Center.

What began as a simple collection quickly became a shared effort—members bringing items week after week, adding a few dollars when they could, and asking thoughtful questions about how best to help.

What we collected

Together, our community donated:

• School supplies such as notebooks, pencils, markers, and colored pencils
• First aid items including wound care and basic medical supplies
• $102 in cash donations

Even better, the financial gifts are part of the dōTERRA Healing Hands Match Program, meaning every dollar donated is matched, doubling the impact and allowing support to reach even more children.

About NichiMada Bridge

NichiMada Bridge is dedicated to supporting disadvantaged Malagasy children, with a focus on helping them stay in school and develop healthy habits for a happier, healthier life.

In Madagascar, many children are forced to leave school because their families cannot afford:

• School uniforms
• Annual school fees
• Basic school supplies

By supporting education, NichiMada Bridge helps strengthen not only each child’s future, but the future of their entire community.

Even a small donation creates real, immediate change. For example:

• $5 provides lunch for 10 children
• $15 covers a school uniform
• $20 pays an annual school fee
• $25 supplies a school kit for an entire year
• $50 supports monthly hygiene supplies
• $75 covers a teacher’s monthly salary
• $100 provides a small solar panel
• $250 funds teaching supplies
• $500 provides a large solar panel
• $10,000 funds a community well

Every contribution helps a child stay in school, stay healthy, and dream bigger.

Why this resonated with our Ikebana community

Those of us who study Ikebana spend a lot of time paying attention—to balance, to growth, and to what is essential.

Ikebana teaches us that small, intentional acts matter, and that caring for what supports life—whether it’s a single stem, a shared space, or a community halfway across the world—is never wasted effort.

Supporting children’s access to education, health, and basic resources felt like a natural extension of those values.

A short window to give (and double your impact)

The dōTERRA Healing Hands match is available for a limited time, until December 31, 2025.

If you’d like to contribute, donations can be made online here:

👉 Give online (matched dollar-for-dollar):
https://match.doterrahealinghands.org/match-program/fundraiser/737/share-happiness-with-malagasy-children

With gratitude

We’re deeply grateful to everyone who contributed, by donating supplies, giving financially, or simply helping spread the word.

Small acts, when shared, truly can make a meaningful difference.