Aug 9

JET disaster relief projects?

Earthquake Tsunami, Fundraising, Japan Local, JETs in the News, Notable JET Alums, Return on JET-vestment, Volunteer Add Comment (3)

JETwit needs your help identifying any earthquake/tsunami/nuclear disaster relief projects or efforts that have been started, organized, managed or otherwise undertaken by JETs or JET alumni.

What else is missing from this list?

View Japan Relief Efforts in a larger map

View Japan Relief Efforts in a larger map

The ones we’re aware of to date (8/12/11) are:

1.  Smile Kids Japan (founded by Mike Maher-King (Fukui-ken, 2006-11) collaborating with Tokyo-based NPO Living Dreams to form the Smiles & Dreams Tohoku Kids’ Project (among other efforts).

2.  The Fruitree Project, started by Paul Yoo (Akita-ken), which has now evolved into Volunteer AKITA and has led to the Big CLEAN which has already brought volunteers to help cleaning efforts in Kessenuma.

3.  I’ve heard  that Fukushima JETs have been organizing efforts to clean up the beaches, but I don’t have any details.  Can anyone provide more info?

4.  Hearts For Haragama (http://hearts4haragama.wordpress.com).  Billy McMichael (CIR Fukushima) is one of the 7 founders of project aimed at raising funds for the Haragama Youchien kindergarten in Soma, Fukushima.  (Thanks to former JETAA DC President Michelle Spezzacatena for passing this on.)

5.  “Kat Geeraert, an ALT in Soma (Fukushima), is doing an amazing job with her foundation “Friends of Soma.”  http://www.somafriends.com/ (Thanks to Catherine Lefrancois (JHS ALT in Fukushima-ken, Fukushima-shi) for passing this on.)

6.  AJET is playing a significant role in facilitating and coordinating volunteer efforts for current JETs and has also been collaborating with other good organizations/efforts such as Peace Boat, Foreign Buyers Club and 5toSurvive.  (Thanks to Cailin Arena (Osaka) for passing this on.)

• http://ajet.net/category/volunteering-and-charity/
• http://ajet.net/category/volunteering-and-charity/tohoku-relief-efforts/
• http://ajet.net/opportunities-to-volunteer/
• http://ajet.net/ajet-relief-fund/

7.  “Save Miyagi was founded by Canon Purdy (Miyagi-ken, 2008-10) to help out students in Minamisanriku. Canon is currently back in Japan, working with officials to see where the money will be used.”  (Thanks to Jen Wang (Miyagi-ken) for passing on the info.)

8.  Hotdogs and Hugs is an aid organization formed by Saga-ken JETs.  Among other things, they organized a volunteer group that traveled all the way from Saga (western Kyushu) up to Tohoku, collecting donations and fundraising along the way.  (Thanks to Ling Tran (Saga-ken, Yoshinogari-shi, 2009-11) for passing on the info.)

9.  Osaka AJET: “We have done extensive food drives and collections through our schools we work in, those goods, money, supplies have then been coordinated with Kozmoz International (A small not-for profit in Kyoto) and we have taken the needed items to Tohoku ourselves.  We will be doing another drive across Osaka, hopefully in dozens of schools where JETs are placed from the start of this second term.”  (Thanks to Matthew Cook, who serves as both AJET Chair and is a member of Osaka AJET, for sharing this info.)

10.  The MUD Project: It turns out that Colin Renie (CIR Yamagata-ken, 2007-10) has been running a volunteer project that has enabled many JETs to volunteer in Tohoku with particular emphasis on Minamisanriku as well as other areas of Miyagi and Iwate.  Lots of good info, photos and updates on the project’s Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/mudproject

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What else is missing from this list?

Please post to the comments section or e-mail jetwit [at] jetwit.com with more info.

Yoroshiku!