Volunteer translators needed for JET alumni Japan disaster relief project
Earthquake Tsunami, Fundraising, Return on JET-vestment, Translating/Interpreting, Volunteer 
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We may need a team of professional-level translators to help with an upcoming JET alumni project related to disaster relief efforts in Japan. Timing would likely be late September and October.
If interested, please e-mail Steven at jetwit [at] jetwit.com with “Translator” in the subject heading. No commitment necessary right now.
Reminder: You can also click here to join the JET Alumni Translators & Interpreters LinkedIn group.
Background:
Apologies for lack of detail at this point as the project idea is still in the process of being thought through by a couple JET alumni well-placed to set this up.
But the idea, generally speaking, relates to the fact that Japan’s non-profit/civil society sector and culture tends to be less established compared to that of the U.S. In the wake of the Tohoku earthquake/tsunami, many new Japanese organizations have formed and many existing small ones have taken on new roles and responsibilities.
One area they apparently tend to lack is familiarity with grant seeking and applying for grants. There are a number of U.S. foundations and other organizations that have been raising money but have struggled in trying to figure out how to get it to the organizations that could really use it. Part of the obstacle appears to be the grant making process. Grant making organizations tend to need to track and account for how money is doled out and used. And the application and reporting process are key.
Translation of many of these documents into English would of course be a key step for helping U.S. organizations in their efforts to communication with Japanese grant seekers. And this is of course a potentially significant way for the JET alumni community to continue to serve as a bridge to Japan.
Please contact Steven at jetwit [at] jetwit.com if potentially interested in helping.
Yoroshiku!
JET alumni to revisit Tohoku to help boost tourism
Earthquake Tsunami, JETs in the News, Notable JET Alums, Return on JET-vestment, Travel/Tourism, Volunteer Comments Off on JET alumni to revisit Tohoku to help boost tourism
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Via Mainichi Daily News:
http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/news/20110729p2g00m0dm010000c.html
JET alumni to revisit Tohoku to help boost tourism
(photo caption: Greg Lekich and other volunteers are pictured in Tagajo, Miyagi Prefecture, on April 20. (Photo courtesy of Greg.))
TOKYO (Kyodo) — About 20 former English teachers and international relations coordinators at local government offices will revisit places in northeastern Japan, where they used to work, on a Japanese government program aimed at boosting tourism affected by the March 11 quake and tsunami, Japanese officials said Thursday.
As the first batch of the program participants, 14 alumni of the Japan Exchange and Teaching Program from Australia, Britain, Canada and the United States will make a weeklong visit to places of their former assignments in Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima prefectures from Monday, they said.
The participants are required to write about their experiences and impressions of the current situation in the Tohoku region in their contributions to the media, including social networking sites Facebook and Twitter, the officials said.
The program will last for two months and the Japanese government is shouldering travel expenses for the JET alumni.
(Mainichi Japan) July 29, 2011
Volunteering in Tohoku – message from a JET alum
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This helpful info was recently posted to the Nagasaki JET yahoogroup by a JET alum for the benefit of current JETs, though it contains a great deal of potentially helpful info and perspective for the JET alum community as well. Have a comment or perspective on volunteering in Tohoku to share? Post to the comments section:
Hi. My name is Andrew Morris and I was an ALT in Sonogi, Nagasaki prefecture from 07-09. After that I moved up to Kyoto for two years and then I just moved back to the U.S..
However, the reason for this email is that just before I made the fabled journey “home” this month, I was able to free up enough time in my schedule to allow myself to take two separate volunteer trips up to the Ishinomaki City area in Miyagi Prefecture, which was amongst the hardest hit areas by the tsunami/quake in March. The part where I did most of my work was on the Oshika Peninsula, which was actually the very area that was featured in the great short movie (http://vimeo. com/24037794) made by Mark Flanigan another former JET.
My experiences up there were both just as I thought and completely different. I shoveled an insane amount of mud, I hauled debris of all varieties for days, I crawled through mounds of fly infested ropes trying to salvage buoys, and I sang drunken karaoke with the local fisherman when it was all done. It was an experience I will carry with me forever and in that short time I met some of the most amazing people I ever have and made connections that will last a lifetime. I can assure you that my experience was not unique.
The reason I have for wanting to tell you about my experiences, though, is that I want to encourage each and every one of you to seriously consider going up there to try to do the same. As I’m sure you’re well aware, summer vacation is nearly here, and you may still be considering how to spend yours. I know sitting in the office figuring out new and interesting ways to stay busy sounds like fun now but… Who knows, if you’re industrious enough, you may even be able to put together a project out of taking a trip up there help out and convince your school you should be able to do it without taking nenkyu. Worth a shot at least right? Even if you have to take vacation, it would be much more meaningful in a lifelong sense then lounging on a beach somewhere (though no offense if you’ve already got your tickets to do that). Trust me, if you do it your stature in the shokuinshitsu will increase 100 fold.
To see pictures from my trip please visit – anmorris.photoblog.com
Further to my encouragement, I’d like to offer some information about going up there and hopefully dispel a few myths that I myself was quite worried about before heading up there.
- Transportation myth – It’s hard to get there. Reality = It’s not. I mean, it’s far but trains and buses to Sendai are in full working order. In fact I found it quite cheap. Turns out there’s a ¥6,000 night bus from Kyoto to Sendai. Or if you have access to a car you could even make it into an epic road trip. It would also definitely benefit you to have personal transport while up there, although not essential. From Sendai City there’s a ¥800 highway bus (bus stop 33) that takes you directly to Senshu University, which is the volunteer basecamp for Ishinomaki. Downtown Sendai itself barely looks like it even suffered any damage really.
- Lack of volunteer groups myth – It’s not easy to join a volunteer group. Reality = Depends on the group. Some of the bigger groups like peace boat, while great, require volunteers to attend an orientation in Tokyo before going which can be a huge hassle if you’re not from there. However, there are a bunch of other smaller groups doing great work in the area that need all the help they can get. Contact Robert Mangold and he can put you in touch with a bunch (idrojapan [at] gmail. com)
- Food myth – It’s hard to get so you have to bring it all up with you. Reality = It’s not hard at all to get it and the people there have more than they need. In fact volunteers are fed off of left over food from the shelters, and sometimes there is even more than they can eat. Plus there are supermarkets and convenience stores open in the town you can use. Even down on the peninsula the konbini‘s are starting to open up. Water is pretty much the same issue, and drinks of all varieties are now readily available, which is going to be especially important in the coming summer months.
- Work myth – It’s all really hard manual labor. Reality = That is available in spades, but so are any number of other jobs. Some people help cook food for the shelters. People go and spend time with the kids or do performances at the shelters. Some people give massages or acupuncture to people who suffer from physical issues or stress (obviously licensing or some professional experience is highly valued in such a case). Some people work cleaning photos found in the rubble for display so that the owners might find them again. If you have any sort of applicable skill or an idea for a project that might be useful in this sort of situation I’m sure they’d love to hear about it. Heck, you could probably just go and offer free “English Conversation” and they’d love it!
- Gear myth – You have to go out and buy tons of gear before you go like boots, a helmet, gloves, masks, etc. which can cost a lot of ¥¥¥. Reality = Unless you sign up with a volunteer group that requires you to have these things, or unless you go up with a whole herd of volunteers then it’s probably not necessary. The group I volunteered with had plenty of that equipment for me and all the other volunteers. Especially if you aren’t going to be doing the nitty gritty work, you won’t need any of that type of equipment. However, one thing I would suggest bringing if you do plan to do debris cleanup is steel insoles for boots. There’re lots of nails and other sharp things all around as you can imagine so they can really save you a very painful experience. Also, if you have “outsized” feet or hands, etc. it may be good to bring your own gear.
- Sadness myth – The overwhelming sadness of the situation will leave you depressed. Reality = Well, obviously this is entirely an individual issue, and everyone reacts differently to these situations. However I will just say that although the destruction you encounter there is just entirely unbelievable, and the people you meet there have often been through absolutely devastating experiences, in general, I found both the locals and the volunteers to be in incredibly high spirits. The positive energy they displayed in taking on this massive project of putting their lives and communities in order was nothing short of inspirational. I dare say that a good portion of the time I was having… fun (see drunken karaoke above).
Some words of caution:
-All that said, it is a difficult, trying experience and should not be undertaken on a whim.
-As was pointed out in a previous email from CLAIR, it is extremely important to think about “Volunteering Responsibility.” It is not a vacation, and you should do your very best to make sure that you do not need to be taken care of.
-Some of the jobs are quite dangerous (although every precaution is taken) and you should consider which role you can play safely.
Some words of advice:
-Speaking Japanese is not entirely essential, but it is extremely beneficial. This goes in the “making sure you’re not a burden” section. Try to go up there with someone who can communicate well so you can receive instructions and know what’s going on if possible.
-As you’re well aware it’s going to be bloody hot. They told me it’s cooler along the coast than many places thanks to the cool breeze, but still, it’s Japan in July/August… Be prepared. That means lots of fluids, and buckets of sunscreen.
Feel free to contact me with any questions too (anmorris [at] gmail. com). Good luck with whatever you do and enjoy your remaining time in that wonderful wonderful country!
Ganbaro Nippon!
Japan Society (NY) Focuses on Healthcare, Children’s Needs in 2nd Round of Allocations from the Japan Earthquake Relief Fund
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I saw the below press release from the Japan Society in New York just before attending the Japan Foundation and JCIE/USA gathering aimed at helping Japanese NPOs and U.S. organizations better collaborate and share information for disaster relief support. Listening to the discussion helped me appreciate even more the tremendous effort that the Japan Society in New York–not traditionally a grant-making organization–has made and continues to make in providing disaster relief support. The list of grantees also gives some sense of the key needs in Japan right now.
Via Shannon Jowett, Director of Communications for Japan Society in New York.
“In the second round of funding relief and recovery efforts in Japan, Japan Society is supporting NPOs and NGOs focusing on healthcare, mental health and children’s needs among others. Please find full details below, and let me know if you would like further information. I look forward to hearing from you.”
–Shannon
For Immediate Release
Japan Society Focuses on Healthcare, Children’s Needs in 2nd Round of Allocations from the Japan Earthquake Relief Fund
New York, NY – Japan Society announced six organizations working in relief and recovery in Japan to receive $2.1 million in the second round of funding from the Society’s Japan Earthquake Relief Fund (JERF).
The organizations–AFS Intercultural Programs Japan, Care Center Yawaragi, Japanese Medical Society of America, Japan Primary Care Association, Supporting Union for Practical-Use of Educational Resources, and the Tokyo Volunteer Network for Disaster Relief–will receive grants to strengthen their relief and recovery efforts in the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunamis that struck northeastern Japan on March 11, 2011.
“As we announced earlier, Japan Society has made it a priority to support NGOs and other organizations that focus on healthcare, including mental health services, as well as the needs of children,” Japan Society President Motoatsu Sakurai said. “After intensive research and lengthy discussions, we are pleased to announce our support of these six organizations.”
In addition to providing healthcare for the most in need—including the elderly, ill, disabled and pregnant—programs and services range from long-term support for local physicians to creating mental health clinics, serving those suffering from post-traumatic or pre-existing conditions. Additionally, organizations are setting up summer camp programs for children from Fukushima Prefecture. The six organizations to receive funds are as follows:
- AFS Intercultural Programs Japan is a non-profit international exchange organization for students and adults. AFS Japan provides a wide range of programming, including summer camp programs, and school-based exchange and shorter summer programs for high school students. With support from JERF, AFS Japan will provide scholarships for students from the Tohoku region for long-term exchange programs to the United States.
- Care Center Yawaragi is a non-profit organization in Tokyo that offers personalized home care services for the elderly, including group homes, short-stay services, day services, and home help services. In response to the March 11 disaster and with support from JERF, the organization will provide healthcare kits, including bicycles, ponchos, gloves, masks, and antiseptic, among other essentials necessary for healthcare providers in the region who care for the elderly, ill, disabled or pregnant. The healthcare workers will focus on those outside of the shelters who lack mobility or means and require home care.
- Japanese Medical Society of America (JMSA) is a professional medical association of Japanese speaking doctors in New York. In partnership with the Fukushima Prefectural University Medical Center, it supports the Medical Center’s “Kokoro no Care” program, a project to create community-based multidisciplinary mental health clinics. These clinics will provide mental healthcare to patients with symptoms resulting from the March 11 disaster, as well as those with pre-existing conditions.
- Japan Primary Care Association is a professional society of medical practitioners, researchers and students that promotes best practices in the medical and health and welfare fields. In response to the Tohoku earthquake, the Japan Primary Care Association established the Primary Care for All Team (PCAT) to undertake medical relief work in the region. JERF supports PCAT teams–multidisciplinary healthcare teams headed by doctors–who provide medical care to evacuees in shelters and temporary housing, and to those in need in their homes. The healthcare teams also provide long-term support for local physicians in the region to ensure that patients have access to continued primary care, including a specialized team in obstetrics.
- Supporting Union for Practical-Use of Educational Resources, in partnership with Abukuma NS Net, both of which run summer camps for children all over Japan, started the Fukushima Kids Summer Camp for first through ninth graders from Fukushima Prefecture who cannot enjoy the outdoors this summer due to radiation concerns. With support from JERF, an additional 200 students will participate in the Fukushima Kids Summer Camp in Hokkaido. The Supporting Union for Practical-Use of Educational Resources provided summer camp opportunities to children after the Hanshin Awaji and the Chuetsu earthquakes.
- Additionally, Japan Society extended another round of funding to the Tokyo Volunteer Network for Disaster Relief, which is collecting and distributing emergency relief goods, setting up a base in Tome, Miyagi Prefecture, and is coordinating the work of approximately 3,000 volunteers who distribute emergency relief supplies and aid clean-up efforts.
The Japan Earthquake Relief Fund, launched on March 12, 2011, has received over $10 million from over 21,000 donors, including individuals, corporations and foundations. One hundred percent of the tax-deductible contributions to the Relief Fund go to organizations that directly help victims.
On March 30, Japan Society announced its first round of funding of $1 million to four Japanese nonprofit organizations on the front line of relief and recovery. In addition to the Tokyo Volunteer Network for Disaster Relief, they are JEN, Entrepreneurial Training for Innovative Communities (ETIC), and the Japan NPO Center.
“We have been rigorously monitoring the work of the fund recipients from the first round, and we are pleased with the progress these organizations are making,” Mr. Sakurai said. Updates from the Relief Fund recipients can be found on the Society’s website, www.japansociety.org/earthquake.
Japan Society Vice President of External Relations Daniel Rosenblum said the Society continues to explore opportunities to fund the work of organizations that benefit children affected by the March 11 disaster, as well as organizations involved in long-term reconstruction efforts.
“We are working on the selection process for a third round of funding and will be making an announcement sometime in the fall,” he said.
The recovery and reconstruction process is likely to take five or even ten years, Mr. Sakurai said. “We are looking at a long-term process, and there is much uncertainty. But we are confident in the final analysis Japan will recover and thrive,” he said.
Those wishing to donate to the fund can go to www.japansociety.org/earthquake or mail a check to Japan Society, 333 East 47th Street, New York, New York 10017; Attn: Japan Earthquake Relief Fund. Checks should be made payable to “Japan Society” and indicate “Japan Earthquake Relief Fund” on the memo line of the check. For additional information, email japanrelief@japansociety.org.
In a previous announcement, Japan Society pledged half of all admission sales made March 14 through June 30, 2011 (totaling $50,000) to the fund. In addition, the Society organized the April 9 CONCERT FOR JAPAN, which drew 2,400 visitors, was viewed by over 200,000 people live on Ustream, and raised over $88,000 for the fund.
Japan Society is an American nonprofit committed to deepening mutual understanding between the United States and Japan in a global context. Now in its second century, the Society serves audiences across the United States and abroad through innovative programs in arts and culture, public policy, business, language, and education. For more information, visit www.japansociety.org or call 212-832-1155
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Shannon Jowett, Director of Communications
(p) 212-715-1205 (f) 212-715-1262 (e) sjowett@japansociety.org
Japan Society | 333 E. 47th St. | New York, NY 10017 | www.japansociety.org
Donate Japan Earthquake Relief Fund
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JETs volunteer in Ishinomaki with British Chamber of Commerce in Japan effort
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Thanks to Andy Anderson (father of Taylor Anderson) for sharing a link to the photos (below) of JETs and others volunteering with the British Chamber of Commerce in Japan’s (BCCJ) efforts in Ishinomaki, where Taylor served as a JET.
Photos aren’t tagged, but two of the JETs pictured are Jane Suh and Kat Sheu in photos 69, 70 and 72. Also apparently the people in photo #40 are JETs.
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.255169677832666.81687.200831479933153&type=1
Here’s text accompanying the photos from the BCCJ:
“From July 15-18 we travelled back to Ishinomaki, this time to support Peaceboat’s recovery activities as well as follow up with key contacts we met in June. We also had the opportunity to meet a politician from Miyagi Prefecture and the Japanese Ambassador to the USA.”
“Standing as a complement to larger relief and recovery organisations, the BCCJ will continue to work with the people of Tohoku to build an ever-expanding open network of supporters that will allow us to boost the rejuvenation of north eastern Japan.”
JETAA Northern California helps community group with fundraising efforts
Cultural Outreach, Earthquake Tsunami, Fundraising, JETAA Chapters, JETs in the News, Return on JET-vestment, Volunteer Comments Off on JETAA Northern California helps community group with fundraising efforts
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Thanks to Mike Shu, JETAA USA Country Representative and JETAA Northern California member, for forwarding this great article from the Nichi Bei online magazine titled “Helping Northern Japan Recover: A community effort raises $3.5 million for disaster-hit areas” about the Japan Cultural and Community Center of Northern California (JCCNC) and its fund raising efforts which have generated $3.5 million for disaster relief in Japan.
It’s worth noting that JETAA Northern California members were involved with the JCCNC’s fund-raising efforts as volunteers and that a JET alum is actually on their fund staff. Additionally, the article includes quotes from a JET–Miyagi CIR Takeno (Chiyo) Suzuki.
Here’s the link to the article: http://www.nichibei.org/2011/07/helping-northern-japan-recover-a-community-effort-raises-3-5-million-for-disaster-hit-regions/
Tampa Natsumatsuri a success thank to JETAA Florida’s Tampa subchapter
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Via the JETAA Tampa (aka Tampa Kumi) email list:
“We made it through another year of Tampa Natsumatsuri. We had over 300 people attend. It was the biggest event we’ve done yet. A huge thank you to everyone who participated. You truly make this event happen. Also thanks to everyone who came out to enjoy the event. And lastly, the biggest thanks to the coordination committee who helped me tremendously this year! It would not have been possible to do an event this big alone. And these people gave significant portions of their time and personal resources to coordinate everything that went on.”
Tampa JET alumni are also known for their Tampa Tsudoi, a monthly “nihongo-dake” gathering at a Panera where JET alums and other Japanese-speaking members of the community (both American and Japanese) gather for Japanese practice and friendship.
Japan Fix London: Hyper Japan – Interview with Mary Moreton
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Posted by Dipika Soni (Ishikawa-ken, 2003-06). Dipika has recently moved back to London as is currently looking for new work opportunities related to Japan, writing and translation.
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It’s not surprising that London has changed a lot during the years I’ve been away in Japan. Being the “most populous municipality in the European Union”, rapid development, modernization and globalization are to be expected. However, it still throws me of guard when my British friends now drop ‘katsu-don’, ‘kirin beer’, and ‘kawaii’ into everyday conversation. I know those words weren’t part of my vocabulary before I took off for my life as an ALT!
For a recently returned expat like me, it is a huge comfort to see Japanese culture so widely embraced in my home city. Which is why I was particularly excited to hear about HYPER JAPAN, a three day event promoting all the different aspects of Japanese culture that make it so appealing to us in the west. Determined to get my ‘Japan-fix’ to fight off the homesickness, I applied for a volunteer position and was delighted to discover one of the Hyper Japan team, Mary Moreton, was a fellow ex-JET. Not one to miss a chance to share JET stories, Mary kindly agreed to meet me one soggy London afternoon.
Hi Mary, sorry for dragging you out in this! Could you start by telling me a bit about your time on JET – why you applied, where you were based?
I was a CIR in Aomori City CIR from 2002 – 2005. I studied Classical Japanese Literature at University, which was a really interesting course that I enjoyed a lot, but not necessarily a degree that could lead straight to a clear career path. I wasn’t interested in working in say finance in the city like many of my friends, and I had spent time in Japan before (I did a year out in Osaka), so I decided to apply for JET.
How did you find Aomori compared to your experience of living in Osaka? I would imagine it to be quite different!
Yes, it was completely different to my previous experience of living in the city. I remember in my first week, there was another girl from UK who was based at the kencho, and we decided to meet up and explore one day. We walked around for about 10 minutes until we realised there really wasn’t much to see! It was totally different from my experiences of urban areas such as Tokyo, Osaka and Kobe.
What did you do after JET?
After returning from JET, my first job was as a PA for the European director of a Japanese electronics company where I was working in a mainly Japanese environment. Even though I had left Japan, during my working day, things weren’t too different. Although I felt that my unique point was my Japanese ability, I did not necessarily want to restrict myself to working for Japanese companies. I then went on to work for a British based Insurance broker. I worked in their Japanese department, so I was still using Japanese but not working in a completely Japanese environment as I had been used to. I had always been interested in translation, so in addition to working, I decided to do a part-time MA in translation. In the end I had to quit my job to focus on my dissertation in the last term.
With my MA finished I then decided to do freelance translation and signed up with several Japanese agencies. Not all of them gave regular work, and there were certain areas of translation (technical) that I couldn’t do, but after settling into a good relationship with a few coordinators, I managed to find my niche. Through that I did some work for the Sushi Awards, which led to my current position with Cross Media. Once again I am working as the only native English speaker in a Japanese company, but I enjoy it a lot as I get to promote all the things I love about Japanese culture and cuisine, and share it with a whole new audience.
Could you tell us a bit about the background of Hyper Japan?
The Eat-Japan Sushi Awards have been around for a few years. Japanese food is a lot more popular now in the UK than when I left in 2002 to go to Japan. Now there are so many places around where you can try Japanese food, and there is a lot more scope to promote it – which is where the idea for the sushi awards came from.
Japanese anime, manga and games have always had a fanbase in the UK and the rest of Europe, and there is a large Japan Expo held in Paris which mainly focuses on these aspects of Japanese culture.
I think most people think that Japan is cool, but not necessarily for just one thing. There are separate events to cater for cosplay, anime, and sushi fans, however there wasn’t anything that brought all these together – which what Hyper Japan attempts to do. In the same way that people who live in Japan experience the old and the modern co-existing harmoniously (you could find a Shinto shrine next door to a pachinko parlor), Hyper Japan aims to showcase both the contemporary and classic sides of Japanese culture under one roof.
To read the rest of the interview, click ‘Read More’.
Read More
JET ROI: “The JET Program’s Finest Hour”
Article/Journalism, Blogs, Earthquake Tsunami, JETs in the News, Notable JET Alums, Return on JET-vestment, Uncategorized, Volunteer Comments Off on JET ROI: “The JET Program’s Finest Hour”
David Jacobson, a former Monbusho Scholar who now works for Seattle-based Chin Music Press (founded by former Monbusho English Fellow Bruce Rutledge), has just posted a really terrific piece titled “The JET Program’s Finest Hour“ about the role of JET and JET alumni in response to the Tohoku Earthquake Disaster. David did a particularly effective job of documenting the topic and pulling information together in a way that had not been done to date. And it demonstrates a very clear “Return on JET-vestment.”
Here’s the link: http://chinmusicpress.com/blog.php?action=display&entryID=13
David comments that the JET Program’s “support this spring, in the aftermath of the devastating March 11 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami, may have marked the program’s finest hour.” And his research helps document information such as:
“Within hours after the disaster, Eric Butler, a former JET who lives in Calgary, Alberta, created a Facebook page, Foreigners from Miyagi. He intended it as a place to discuss how to help the quake victims, but within days it attracted nearly 700 users, many in Japan, and morphed into a forum for those seeking the whereabouts of JETs or others in disaster areas.”
The article also acknowledged and put JETwit’s role in perspective in the larger context:
“Editor (and JET alumnus) Steven Horowitz began a similar effort providing up-to-the minute updates on JETwit, a blog that has evolved into the de facto central information source for the JET alumni community. But he also saw his role as helping JET alums become involved in the relief effort, listing opportunities for volunteers, translators, even offering practical advice for those in Japan. And he recommended that JETs get the word out: “Make yourself available to talk to schools, churches, companies, other organizations. Engage your grad school or college alumni offices. Wear a button that says, ‘Ask Me About Japan.’”
A walk across the Canadian Rockies to maintain awareness for Tohoku situation
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Posted by Alisa Wylie to the Japan Earthquake Disaster Relief Idea Exchange group on Facebook (started by Atlanta-based JET alum Emily Duncan):
Steve Johnson is a friend of a friend who returned to Canada from Japan last year. He’s walking across the Canadian Rockies to raise/maintain awareness of the situation in Tohoku.
Steve also says: “I have prepared a presentation and talk that aims to share my experience in the endlessly fascinating Japanese culture and thereby connect Canadians to this event. Furthermore, I hope to encourage people to develop their natural feeling of connectedness to current events and to take action when they feel passionate about an issue, whether it be global or local.”
The blog includes a list of charities and disaster relief projects where people can send donations if they wish. Please share this info with anyone who might be interested or even be able to help reduce their expenses!
http://www.walkforjapan.blogspot.com/
MSNBC story and article feature volunteerAKITA and other JET volunteers
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Just saw this MSNBC video and article by NBC News correspondent Ian Williams that mentions JET and volunteerAKITA founder Paul Yoo as well as several other volunteers who seem to be JETs along with the good work being done by All Hands Volunteers. The article was posted to the Pacific Northwest JETAA Facebook group today.
“Young Americans take center stage in Japan tsunami cleanup”
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43637669/
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
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I saw the below on the Pacific Northwest JETAA yahoo group, and apparently the Chicago Consulate has sent this out as well. MoFA and JNTO are willing to fly Tohoku JET alums back to Japan for a week for any JET alums willing to play a role in helping out their former communities and then help spread word of what they saw and experienced after their trip.
This sounds like a great opportunity for any Tohoku JET alums who can make time to do this. And a great opportunity for the JET alumni community to really help out Japan in a very concrete way.
Details are below. And you may get (or have already received) an email from your JETAA chapter or local consulate. There were also two attachments–guidelines and an application form–that I wasn’t able to access for some reason. If interested, hopefully you can get the documents from your consulate.
Minasan ganbatte kudasai.
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This message is being posted on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Japan Tourism Agency
DEADLINE for applications to be received by the Consulate-General of Japan: July 11, 2011
INVITATION PROGRAM OF JET ALUMNI TO DISASTER STRICKEN AREAS IN TOHOKU:
- One week stay to take place within the period of July – September 2011
- Transportation to Japan & per diem provided.
Conditions for application:
2. CONDITIONS FOR PARTICIPATION
(1) No limit of ages and sexes.
(2) To have a work experience for two years or more either as a Coordinator for International Relations (CIR) or as an Assistant Language Teacher (ALT) in local governments in Iwate Prefecture, Miyagi Prefecture, Fukushima Prefecture or Sendai City.
(3) To be able to contact directly by themselves with a school and a local government where they were assigned.
(4) To be accepted by the organization for which the participants worked as a JET, and to be able to arrange with the organization some exchange activities.
(5) To be able to travel without an escort from their arrival to their departure from Japan.
(6) To send out the information such as their experiences of the stay in Japan this time and their impressions from foreign visitors’ viewpoints by various measures including contributions of articles to the mass media, blogs, homepages, facebooks.
(7) To consent interviews by Japanese and foreign medias, in case they are arranged during their stay
For full details & required form, see attached documents.
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Additional eligibility stipulation for Fukushima-ken applicants:
For any former Fukushima JETs, who are considering applying for the previously posted “Special Invitation Program” for JETAA to re-visit their CO’s to report on the post-disaster situation, special consideration is being taken regarding personal safety.
In respect for the official US guidelines of an 80 km radius from the Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, applications for former Fukushima JETs will only be accepted for areas beyond the US recommended safety zone.
Iwate International Association calls for ideas for events to help kids in disaster hit areas
Earthquake Tsunami, Fundraising, Japan Local, Return on JET-vestment, Volunteer Comments Off on Iwate International Association calls for ideas for events to help kids in disaster hit areas
Recently posted to the Grassroots Aid for Iwate Facebook group by Hazuki Hiraga:
The Iwate International Association (IAA) is calling for ideas for events geared toward the kids in the disaster hit areas. Many of the teachers in those areas have noted that the kids are (understandably) more reserved than before, and still require a lot of care and support. But, they have also commented that ALTs have been playing an important role in making the kids smile when they stop by the schools to visit and chat.
One idea that the IAA has is organizing an English camp for kids (middle school to high school) from these areas this August, during the kids’ summer holidays. The tentative date proposed is August 5-11, 2011.
If you would be willing to help organize and/or travel to Iwate this summer to take part in the English camp, please post your thoughts on this page or send me an e-mail. The sooner the better as August is only two months away. It would be nice if some former Iwate JETs and other former non-JET Iwateans could gather to help out. I didn’t have the opportunity to participate in those summer English camps organized by some of the schools, so would love to hear what kind of sessions were held. Of course the IAA is open to hearing other event proposals as well.
The IAA has also mentioned that they are considering setting up a fund (including a paypal account) where people can donate money that would go toward organizing and running programs such as English camps for kids from the disaster hit areas, so if you are unable to travel to Iwate this time, you can make a contribution in other ways.
Volunteers needed: JETwit mapping project
Cultural Outreach, Japan Fix, Japan Local, Return on JET-vestment, Volunteer Comments Off on Volunteers needed: JETwit mapping project
I’m working on a JETwit mapping project and need some volunteers to input some JET-relevant info and examples to see how it works and get a sense of how people will use it.
If interested in helping (it should only take a few minutes), e-mail me at jetwit [at] jetwit.com and I’ll send you further instructions.
Yoroshiku!
-Steven
Essay: JET alum volunteers for Tsunami Relief in Northeastern Japan
Earthquake Tsunami, Volunteer, Writers Comments Off on Essay: JET alum volunteers for Tsunami Relief in Northeastern Japan
Posted by JET alum Mark Flanigan to the JETwit Facebook wall:
Hello from Tokyo! I wrote this article (see pages 14-15) for the Japan Commerce Association of Washington, DC. I focused on my recent volunteer experiences as a former JET (Nagasaki 2000-04) working on Tsunami Relief in Northeastern Japan. Please consider sharing this article with your JET friends and colleagues!
http://jcaw.org/main/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/NewsLetter_0611_secured_revised.pdf
