The earthquake and the Fukushima Nuclear Accident left the world in shock. Despite being plagued by a sense of powerlessness, many people in Japan, as well as around the world, have had the courage to stand up and help those affected by the disaster.
Our organization, Nagasaki Islands School of Natural and Intercultural Studies, has worked extensively with rural communities in Nagasaki Prefecture over the past seven years to provide cultural and educational homestay programs to over 1,500 domestic and international visitors. The region is extremely rich in social capital, with pristine natural beauty, well-preserved traditional culture, as well as a tight-knit community of compassionate farmers and fishermen who stood up in the wake of the earthquake.
As a result, Project “Healing in Nagasaki” was established. We aim to capitalize on the aforementioned strengths and expertise by providing youth from affected regions with safe temporary homes and educational opportunities, both of which have been largely compromised amidst the ongoing chaos following the earthquake and nuclear power plant incident. We believe that education holds the key to rebuilding the region in the long-term, and hope that this project can nurture the next generations of leaders who will play a central role in overcoming this tragedy.
Project Objectives:
1. To offer temporary homes and educational opportunities in Nagasaki Prefecture to youth affected by the earthquake,
- We aim to host youth free of charge on a short-term basis (50-100 individuals for 1-2 weeks each) as well as on a long-term basis (5-10 individuals for a year)
2. To create a model for disaster relief in communities far from the affected region
Photos from our past programs in the Nagasaki Islands
Project Timeline:
March 11th, 2011
- The Great Eastern Japan Earthquake- over 22,500 people were lost, and around 100,000 abandoned their houses due to the damage and the ongoing nuclear threat (as of June 2011)
- Formation of project blueprint after meetings with community leaders and volunteers
- Detailed assessment through interviews and meetings in Tohoku
September 11th, 2011-
- Official establishment of Project Operation Team and local Hosting Committe
March 11th, 2012-
- Begin to host youth on both a long- and short-term basis
March 11th, 2013
- Assess & evaluate outcomes, as well as determine future directions
How to Support Our Cause:
Please pay any amount of your choice to support the children affected by the earthquake.
For your reference, your contribution can buy:
- Transportation to and from the project site for $1,000 per child
- A short-term home stay & educational support (1-2 weeks) for $2,000 per child
- A long-term home stay & educational support (1 year) for $20,000 per child
- These include food, boarding, and all educational costs.
- The youth will also have access to professional counseling services
Clicking on the Buy Now button will redirect you to a secure page where you can enter the amount you wish to pay using credit, debit and paypal.
* All proceeds collected this year will go directly to the “Hosting Committee” which consists of officers of the Ojika Islands municipal government, public schools and teachers, representatives of volunteering families and other community leaders. These committees will ensure transparency. Nagasaki Islands School, on the other hand, is run by separate donations from its supporters and sponsors.
Contact (English and Japanese):
“Healing in Nagasaki”, Japan Earthquake Relief Project
Nagasaki Islands School of Natural & Intercultural Studies
Email: office@nagasaki-islands.org
Homepage: www.nagasaki-islands.org
Click Here for a PDF version of “Healing in Nagasaki” Project Overview
