Japan and Beyond: Advice for donating after disasters
Earthquake Tsunami 
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Thanks to JET alum Jim Gannon (Ehime), Director of the New York office of the Japan Center for International Exchange, for sharing this very helpful and informed Huffington Post article:
Japan and Beyond: Advice for donating after disasters
Saundra Schimmelpfennig, Founding Director, The Charity Rater, LLC
he following is a series of dos and don’ts to help you make the best donation decisions after a disaster, like the current crisis in Japan.
Do determine if the country is accepting international assistance
With all the photos and videos of destruction on the evening news, it may seem impossible that governments would not want outside assistance. However, just because there has been a disaster does not mean that the local government and local aid organizations are not capable of reaching and helping those in need. Before sending your donation find out what, if any, assistance the government is allowing. Check to see if the aid organization you’re considering donating to is offering that same type of assistance.
Do look at a variety of nonprofits before giving
There are hundreds of organizations that respond to most disasters, take the time to evaluate a few before giving. Also, just because they have name recognition does not mean they’re best able to respond to the disaster. Look for organizations that were operating in the country before the disaster, they will be able to respond more quickly and know the local culture, politics and needs better. Giving to local organizations is great, unfortunately they can be difficult to find and may not have a website or if they do, it may not be in English.
Places to find lists of organizations involved in the recovery efforts include:
InterAction for many U.S. organizations
Reliefweb.int for organizations from many different countries
Dochas for Irish aid organizations
Do look for organizations with prior experience and expertise
There is a great deal of money after well-publicized disasters. The ease of raising money makes it tempting to respond even if the organization does not have prior experience in that area. After the 2004 tsunami,
CLICK HERE TO READ THE REST OF THE ARTICLE ON HUFFINGTON POST
Volunteer translators are needed to go to Japan to help with the aftermath of Japan’s earthquakes & tsunami, as international rescue teams have communication difficulties.
Here is a message from the Tokyo Translation Academy:
If you’d like to translate this piece yourself click here and drop the text in:
東日本大震災救援、「通訳ボランティア」募集！！！
（この募集は、ご友人・知人にも、なるべく多くご転送下さ い。） Read More
Event: Japan and the World After the Quake @ Japan Society, New York – Mar 23
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Ambassador Hiroki and other experts look at the immediate and long term impacts on Japan’s economy, society, and international relations after the March 11 earthquake, the strongest earthquake ever to hit Japan.
Date: March 23, 12 pm – 2pm
More information here: http://www.japansociety.org/event_detail?eid=4f23936d
Upcoming Events to Support Japan
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I know a lot of donation information has already been made available on this site, but for those who want to be involved with events actively supporting the cause here are two coming up in NYC that I would like to pass along:
- Run for Japan: Sunday, March 20 from 8:30-1 @ 72nd St. & 5th Ave. (Central Park): http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=203082156369673
- SUPPORT JAPAN: Moms Get Together in Union Square to Raise Funds and Awareness: Welcome to anyone who wants to help Japan (not just moms)! Please join us in supporting the victims of Japan’s 3.11 earthquake. This event will raise funds, awareness, and show our support for the victims of the disaster. The worst earthquake in the history of Japan, followed by a tragic tsunami and shocking nuclear plant disasters, is more than the Japanese can handle on their own. You can imagine how scary and horrible the past week has been for millions of Japanese people. Thousands of people are dead, tens of thousands are still missing, and more than 120,000 are displaced from their homes. Yet there is still time to help reduce the pain and suffering caused by the disaster. Please gather in Union Square across from Whole Foods this Thursday, March 17 between 3pm and 6pm dressed in RED and WHITE, and bring handwritten signs or anything else to personally send a message of encouragement to the Japanese people. New Yorkers are incredibly generous. We hope to encourage passers-by to donate directly to charities supporting victims of the crisis in Japan. We prefer checks written directly to charities, but accept small cash donations on their behalf as well. 100% of your generous tax-deductible contributions will go to charities. We are currently performing due diligence on which ones are the most efficient ways to support the relief effort. We are considering charities which transmit 100% of donations to Japanese relief efforts. If you have any questions or suggestions, please contact: Naoko Fitzgerald @ 917-783-7013, naoko.tf@gmail.com.
WIT Life #156: 4th Annual Peace Festival
Events, Film, Translating/Interpreting, WIT Life, Writers Comments Off on WIT Life #156: 4th Annual Peace Festival
WITLife is a periodic series written by professional Writer/Interpreter/Translator Stacy Smith (Kumamoto-ken CIR, 2000-03). She starts her day by watching Fujisankei’s newscast in Japanese, and here she shares some of the interesting tidbits and trends together with her own observations.
Like most of you, I have spent the last couple of days glued to the coverage of the earthquake/tsunami/radioactive fallout news from Japan. I left Tokyo the day before the quake and was shocked to come home to the awful news. The feelings of helplessness and immense sadness can be overwhelming at times, so I was happy to be able to help out as a volunteer interpreter at the 4th Annual Peace Festival this weekend. It just felt like the right place to be in the midst of all that is happening.
On Saturday night I attended the world premiere of Twice Bombed: The Legacy of Tsutomu Yamaguchi, which told the amazing tale of
this first officially recognized double atomic bomb survivor (二重被爆者 or nijuu hibakusha) who passed away last year at the age of 93. Yamaguchi was in Hiroshima and Nagasaki on August 6th and 9th respectively and was a truly inspiring figure, beginning his speaking out about his experience just five years before he died. Up until that point, his wife and daughter had encouraged him to stay silent as they were scared that Read More
Posted by Dipika Soni (Ishikawa-ken, 2003-06). Dipika currently works as an in-house translator for PFU (a Fujitsu company) in Kahoku-shi, Ishikawa-ken. She is also the vocalist for the Japanese hardcore punk band DEGRADE.
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About Hope Letters:
David Chan of Ottawa, Canada has started a voluntary initiative to share letters of hope written for students in Japan by people around the globe. Letters will be collected, translated into Japanese, posted on the following site: http://hopeletters.wordpress.com, and distributed via Japanese media and local schools/organizations. Currently there are 6 volunteer translators across Canada. Read More
JET Taylor Anderson (Ishinomaki) - still unaccounted for
This post is now out of date. See more recent posts please.
10:42 am NY time, Wed Mar 18
Unaccounted for JETs
*10:08 pm – Nothing new to report unfortunately. I’ve been checking the “Foreigners from Miyagi” and “Sendai Earthquak Family & Friends Link” and checking with other sources. But no new info on unaccounted for JETs.
*Ngaroma Riley – possibly a JET. Was contacted by a journalist from New Zealand trying to get in touch with her. Said she’s a colleague of Iain Campbell who is a JET in Sendai (and who has been doing great work in trying to gather info on unaccounted for JETs).
Still some unaccounted for JETs to my knowledge including Taylor Anderson (despite earlier reports that she was located) and Monty Dickson. Email jetwit [at] jetwit.com with additional info/updates as well as any photos or things you would like to share about them. Read More
Earthquake: Interview with Spokane JET in Fukushima
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Via PNWJETAA. Posted by Dipika Soni (Ishikawa-ken, 2003-06). Dipika currently works as an in-house translator for PFU (a Fujitsu company) in Kahoku-shi, Ishikawa-ken. She is also the vocalist for the Japanese hardcore punk band DEGRADE.
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The following is an Interview with Matthew Giles from Spokane who is a JET in Fukushima. This article was published by the Spokane Review.
“The earthquakes just keep coming.”
For recent Gonzaga University graduate Matthew Gilles, his dream job of teaching English to schoolchildren in Iwaki, on the northeast coast of Japan, has become something else.
“I hate it,” he said Friday. “Even when we’re not having an earthquake, my body is shaking.”
Gilles, 23, who has been in Japan since August, said small temblors are fairly common in Iwaki, so he didn’t respond at first when the big one hit Friday, shortly after he’d gotten off work earlier than usual.
For the rest of the article, click “Read More”.
Read More
Job: Bilingual Japanese Actors/Actresses Needed for Feature Film
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via Jet alum Kia Cheleen (CIR, Aichi-ken 1996-98, ALT 1998-1999). Posted by Dipika Soni (Ishikawa-ken, 2003-06). Dipika currently works as an in-house translator for PFU (a Fujitsu company) in Kahoku-shi, Ishikawa-ken. She is also the vocalist for the Japanese hardcore punk band DEGRADE.
*Note: If you apply for this position, please let them know you learned of it from JetWit. Thanks.
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Job Position: Bilingual Japanese Actors/Actresses Needed for Feature Film
Job Details:
Job: Legal/Administrative Assistant at Law Firm (Washington DC)
Jobs Comments Off on Job: Legal/Administrative Assistant at Law Firm (Washington DC)
via JETAA DC. Posted by Dipika Soni (Ishikawa-ken, 2003-06). Dipika currently works as an in-house translator for PFU (a Fujitsu company) in Kahoku-shi, Ishikawa-ken. She is also the vocalist for the Japanese hardcore punk band DEGRADE.
*Note: If you apply for this position, please let them know you learned of it from JetWit. Thanks.
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Job Position: Legal/Administrative Assistant at Law Firm (Washington DC)
Job Details:
We are currently seeking to hire a person for our legal assistant/administrative assistant position having the following qualifications:
• Fluent in Japanese and English to assist DC intellectual property lawyers and Japanese staff in dealing with Japanese and U.S. clients.
• Experience in English and Japanese word-processing software.
• Interest in intellectual property issues (preferred).
• Bachelor’s degree desired, but not required.
• Technical/scientifi c background is a plus, but not required.
Job: Sasakawa Peace Foundation Fellowship at Pacific Forum
Jobs Comments Off on Job: Sasakawa Peace Foundation Fellowship at Pacific Forum
via JETAA DC. Posted by Dipika Soni (Ishikawa-ken, 2003-06). Dipika currently works as an in-house translator for PFU (a Fujitsu company) in Kahoku-shi, Ishikawa-ken. She is also the vocalist for the Japanese hardcore punk band DEGRADE.
*Note: If you apply for this position, please let them know you learned of it from JetWit. Thanks.
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Job Position: Sasakawa Peace Foundation Fellowship (Resident/Nonresident)
Job Details:
The *Sasakawa Peace Foundation Fellowship (SPF)* is a new program at the Pacific Forum that focuses on US-Japan relations and includes both resident and nonresident fellows. We are currently seeking applicants from Japan and the US for the nonresident program and for the summer 2011 resident program.
Interested young professionals who have an MA, PhD, or equivalent work experience are encouraged to apply. Participants should anticipate attending 2-4 conferences in the Asia-Pacific region as Pacific Forum Young Leaders in the coming year.
Life After the B.O.E.: March11, 2011
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Life After the B.O.E. is a comic series about the JET experience by David Namisato (Aomori-ken, 2002-2004), a professional illustrator currently living in Toronto.
Visit David’s website at www.namisato.org.
JET Prefecture Round-up 03.16.11
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Emily Lemmon, Shiso-shi ALT 2009 to present, and editor of Hyogo Times, gives a little taste of what JETs are doing around Japan.
Ongoing
Man up for Japan – a campaign launched across prefectures not affected by the earthquake and tsunami damage. Every JET is encouraged to donate ichi-man (100,000) yen on payday, or before if possible, either via bank transfer or at a post office or Family Mart. So far, 2,303 JETs are planning to participate. See the facebook event page for more information.
Aomori – Aomori JETs, led by Travis Emery, are compiling and delivering supplies to some affected regions, including Minami Sanriku. There are many drop-off locations, including people’s homes in Morioka and Hiroskai, and a school in Oga.
Upcoming
Shikoku Region
Kochi – Yusuhara Fijian/Indian Cooking Day, April 3rd (10am – 2pm). Parents of CIR Kavita will give cooking lessons and demonstrations. Recipes to be distributed in English and Japanese. (Flyer) Cost is free, all donations go to Tohoku Earthquake relief efforts.
Kochi – Windbeat Concert, March 26th, ticket proceeds and CD sale money will be donated to aid earthquake affected region. More information here.
Tokushima – Annual Tokushima AJET Touch Rugby Tournament, to be held the 28th and 29th of May in a beautiful camping ground in Tokushima Prefecture.
Accomplished
Block 6 and 7 V-Day Party in Osaka raised 14,000yen, originally for other causes, but now being donated to provide rice in the earthquake affected region.
Earthquake: Volunteer Information for People in Japan
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Via AJET Website. Thanks to JET Mike Maher-King (Fukui) of Smile Kids Japan for all his efforts with this:
http://ajet.net/lang/en/2011/03/16/volunteer-information-for-people-in-japan
AJET and Smile Kids Japan, with support from the JetWit JET alumni translators and interpreters group, have compiled a list of prefectural volunteer organisations (PVOs) mobilising volunteer groups to do ground work in areas affected by the earthquake and tsunami. The list of PVOs can be found below.
The current state of affected areas in the Tohoku region is still being assessed. Until a final assessment has been made, no volunteers will be allowed into those areas. Because PVOs are being formed on a prefectural level, each prefecture is at a different stage in organisation. This list will be updated frequently so please keep checking back here for the latest news about your prefecture.
Although we recommend that JETs in unaffected areas stay safe at home, we know many of you have volunteer experience and want to get involved at ground level. We highly recommend that interested volunteers contact their PVO before contacting any NGOs. PVOs are prepared to work with large numbers of untrained volunteers and know how to create safe, secure ways to volunteer in Tohoku; most NGOs cannot do this as effectively. In addition, by working with your PVO, you will be helping the affected areas rebuild themselves while promoting grassroots internationalization by bonding with your local prefectural volunteers.
We must also remind all JETs that you are under contract. Your role in Japan is first and foremost as an educator or community relations officer. If your contracting organisation or school asks you not to volunteer, you must not go. Also, as a JET you should only be volunteering your time during school holidays. Keep in mind that relief efforts are going to take many months; even if you cannot get permission to volunteer now there may be other opportunities to volunteer during Golden Week, summer holidays and beyond.
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Should you volunteer away from home?
- You may be able to help more from home:
You can help from your prefecture by making material/monetary donations, doing fundraisers, donating blood or hosting displaced people through CouchSurfing. Going to the Tohoku region isn’t something to do because of peer pressure, it is a serious decision.
- Do not go to Tohoku without support:
Going alone without the support of a recognized PVO/NGO puts you and disaster victims in danger. Especially if you are untrained/unskilled, you can make matters worse. This was a major problem for NGOs in Haiti and we do not want anyone slowing down the emergency response.
- Tohoku is not yet safe for untrained volunteers:
Not one volunteer organisation is allowing untrained/unskilled volunteers into the disaster zone yet. It is not safe. Organisations will start sending lay volunteers when the region is deemed stable and safe. Be patient. Be safe.
- Make sure you’re physically and mentally prepared:
AJET and the volunteer organisations ask you to seriously consider your physical and mental health. You will be going into a disaster zone, one that in places may look worse than a typical war zone. There will be things that you may not expect or want to see. You will be doing heavy, physical labor after a very long journey by bus or car. Are you ready to handle that?
- Make sure that you can afford to pay your own way:
You will be responsible for your own travel, accommodation, food, water and other basic expenses.
- Be prepared to stay in very modest accommodation:
It is likely that you will be camping near your work sites but accommodation may vary by location.
- Be sure that you can can complete all work duties in addition to volunteering:
The volunteer dates may not fit your work schedule, if volunteer opportunities fall outside of spring break/Golden Week, you may not be able to go. Also your contracting organisation may not approve your request to do volunteer work/take nenkyu. If they do not approve, you must not go.
- Be ready and able to leave on short notice:
PVOs will send notice of the chance to volunteer only very shortly before they actually move out. Will your schedule and contracting organisation allow that?
- Be aware of the risks:
PVOs will do their best to make the trip safe for everyone. The ones we have contacted so far are providing special volunteer insurance to cover you but please know that if anything happens, it was your decision to be there and you are responsible for your own well-being. We will organise a contact person in your PVO and in your home prefecture, so that we can remain in touch at all times and quickly address any issues that may arise. However, there will still be some risks to volunteering.
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If you are not accepted by your PVO for any reason, AJET and Smile Kids Japan are currently working on a list of NGOs that may later accept groups of foreign volunteers. No matter how you volunteer, it will be essential to register with AJET and keep your B.O.E informed so that we can always account for every JET’s whereabouts and safety.
Please direct any questions to volunteer@ajet.net.
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Find Your Prefectural Volunteer Organizations Here:
AJET SKJ Earthquake Volunteering Info
[This list will be constantly updated — check back if you can’t find what you’re looking for!]
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Donate Money here – http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=198359066854878
Donate Food/Goods – http://www.2hj.org/index.php/news/send_us_food_and_supplies/
Host displaced people here – http://www.couchsurfing.org/group.html?gid=39703
Counseling Services – http://www.telljp.com/ / http://ajet.net/psg/index.php?title=AJET_Peer_Support_Group
Compiled by
AJET http://ajet.net/
Smile Kids Japan www.smilekidsjapan.org
with help from
JetWit https://jetwit.com/wordpress/
I know that many of you have been awaiting next steps on a national JETAA USA fund. We’ve been in correspondence with JETAANY and JETAANC to work on a way to run a national fund through one of our 501c3′s (just found out that Great Lakes is one, as well!). After a lot of email conversations and a considerable amount of due diligence, JETAANY has graciously agreed to convert the JETAANY fund that was announced on Friday to the national JETAA USA fund!
The purpose of this fund is to bring the 19 U.S. chapters together in an organized and concerted effort to raise funds aimed at helping rebuild the affected areas in Japan. Instead of having 19 separate small funds, we felt that if we created a national initiative to drive fund-raising for Japan, it would bring together the JETAA USA community and inspire more overall participation from JET alumni in America. Read More
