MORE JAPAN-RELATED POSTS BELOW
A blogger named Barbara recommends four relief organizations in her post Aftershocks 4 on a blog called Teaching Village (Note especially the fourth one, Save the Children). She writes:
I’ve chosen these four because they cover a range of relief activities, they accept international donations, they utilize those donations very efficiently, and I have either worked with, supported, or know people involved (so I feel comfortable recommending the groups).
Hope International Development Agency Japan
Hope Japan is about as grassroots as it gets. They’re based in Nagoya, and (with Global Medic) have been collecting supplies (especially medical supplies) and trucking and flying them up to Tohoku daily. They announce what they need, folks bring it to the collection center, and when the truck is full it heads to the disaster area. You can read the organization and donate through their website. You can follow their daily reports, see photos, and get updated lists of needs on Hope Japan’s facebook page.
Things you should know about Hope’s efforts (via Chuck Sandy):
1) The donation drive at the Nagoya Hilton is ongoing and everything collected is getting to people in need via truck and helicopter daily. A whole community of new volunteers has come together to help.
2) This is a long term effort and soon we will be moving into the recovery and rebirth phase in which the help needed will be clean-up, rebuilding, and reinvention
3) The group has a continued commitment to spreading HOPE clubs throughout Japanese schools to in part aid in that recovery phase while at the same time continuing to help around the world where aid is needed most. We’ll also be moving ahead with Design For Change which seems especially relevant at this time. Anyone interested should contact Chuck Sandy (@chucksandy on Twitter).
4) There will be a Hafu Film / HOPE benefit for Tohoku on April 23rd at Shooters (in Nagoya) with music by John Janzen, a presentation by the Hafu Film team, and pechakucha by area students. It will be 3000 yen at the door with 2000 yen going to featured causes.
Peace Boat
The folks with Peace Boat have been especially successful at getting supplies to smaller evacuation centers and hospitals whose patients have run out of food. Their volunteers have also been clearing mud and muck out of buildings. For people who want to physically go to Tohoku and help, Peace Boat is training teams of volunteers. You can get more details about donating, and volunteering on their website. You can follow their daily reports (and see videos) on their facebook page.
Second Harvest Japan
The day of the earthquake, Second Harvest set up an emergency soup kitchen to feed people who were either stuck in the city, or trying to walk home (without trains or electricity). On the 13th, they were one of the first aid organizations to get a truckload of supplies into the disaster area (by tagging along with a CNN crew). They’ve been taking food and supplies into Tohoku, and feeding people there, ever since. For every 1000 yen donated, Second Harvest is able to provide 10,000 yen worth of food. You can read more about the organization, and donate on their website. You can follow their relief efforts on their blog.
Save the Children
Save the Children estimates that over 100,000 children have been affected by the disasters (especially the tsunami), many profoundly. They are at risk in evacuation centers and homes with no heat, no electricity, no water, and little food. Save the Children is setting up Child-Safe Spaces in evacuation centers so that children can play with other children while parents take care of relief and recovery needs. Their people are trained to help identify children who are vulnerable, and are training others to help children cope with sometimes profound loss, constant fear of aftershocks, and an eventual return to “normalcy” and school. You can read about their efforts and donate on their website and read reports from the field on their blog.
If you are trying to help children or students deal with trauma, I recommend this article from Daily Yomiuri Online.
One of the reasons I admire these four groups is that they are expanding their efforts to help with relief and recovery in Tohoku, not taking aid away from other, equally needy and vulnerable groups around the world. Hope is still helping the poorest of the poor around the world. Peace Boat is still working to promote human rights, social change, and environmental awareness around the world. Second Harvest is still feeding the homeless in Tokyo. Save the Children is still protecting, feeding, and advocating for children in other danger spots around the world. They’re being very careful to avoid creating new victims while they help victims in Japan.
I think that’s a very good way to be. The disaster in Japan is huge, and very well documented. With so many pictures, videos, and live updates, it’s easy to feel connected to what is happening in Japan. It’s a good chance to direct some of that compassion to areas that still need help, but don’t get the same amount of news coverage. Consider allowing your donation to be used “where the need is greatest” or (even better) donating twice–once for Tohoku, and once for the general aid fund.
How you can help, even if you can’t donate money, or goods, and don’t live in Japan
For the most part, it’s not worth mailing goods to Japan for relief efforts. Postage will probably cost more than the value of anything in the box. Some people can’t afford to donate money, and some people live in countries where it is very difficult (or impossible) to send money abroad.
You can still help. Here are three simple ideas.
1. Donate your time, donate food or clothing, or donate money to an organization in your own community. If we can do a better job of taking care of those who need help in our own backyards, it allows the big organizations to focus more effectively on emergency situations around the world.
2. Donate blood. There’s always a need.
3. Have your students identify something that they would like to change in their own community, and figure out a way to change it. If this idea appeals to you, I encourage you (and your students) to become part of Design For Change.
4. Leave a message on the We Love Japan message board. $1 is still being donated to the Japan Relief Fund for each message (until March 31st).
Caring and compassion can create ripples around the world more powerful than any aftershock or tsunami.
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