June 27, 2011
Shigeru Shimada
General Secretary
The National Council of YMCAs of Japan
The Presidents and General Secretaries of YMCAs from all over Japan gathered at the 121st General Assembly held at Tozanso, International Youth Conference Center, on June 18 - 19. Reports by General Secretaries of Sendai and Morioka YMCAs showed everyone about their situation after the disaster. Supportive activities needed from now on were discussed. It was approved that all the YMCAs of Japan to continue supportive work. Also, many pictures and messages by children sent from YMCAs overseas were displayed and participants were encouraged by their support and prayer.
Activities by Sendai YMCA Volunteer Support Center
From June to the end of August, directors from Kumamoto YMCA (which is located in Kyushu, the westernmost part of Japan) are sent to Sendai YMCA. Also other YMCAs in Japan are asked to send their directors and volunteers. The activities such as hearing needs of the vast affected areas are continued. In summer, camps for the children in Miyagi Prefecture are now being planned.
*Managing a Volunteer Support Center
Since May, directors and volunteers have been sent from Kagoshima, Nagoya, Matsuyama, Hiroshima, and Kita-kyushu YMCAs as managers of the Volunteer Center in Miyagino-ku, Sendai.
*Magic performance
Sendai YMCA invited magic performers and dogs from Hiroshima to have a series of shows in Miyagi. 23 shows were held at nurseries, evacuation centers, and schools from June 4 to 10. The performers wanted to deliver vigor and dreams to the victims. After the shows, they thought that more supportive work was still needed there.
*Programs for children staying at evacuation centers
Supportive programs called "Ganbaro Nobirukko" for pupils of Nobiru Elementary School, Higashi-matsushima City are being continued on a once-a-month basis since school started on April 21.
In May, kids enjoyed swimming in a pool at Sendai YMCA. Some of the children said that they had lost their favorite bathing suits by tsunami. They looked very happy after they borrowed and put on new swimsuits, and the volunteers were also very happy to see them smiling. They had barbecue and pizzas for lunch prepared by Sendai, Aoba-jo and Hirose-gawa Y's Men's Clubs.
In June, an outdoor activity was held at a park in Tome City (inland area), Miyagi. 13 children participated. In the morning, they played at a stream catching fish and tadpoles. The cooking fire as well as lunch, okonomiyaki (Japanese-style pancake) and frankfurters, were prepared by themselves. In the afternoon, they enjoyed playground equipments, sharing nature and also played at a stream.
The activity in July is being planned at the moment.
Activities by Morioka YMCA Miyako Volunteer Support Center
The Volunteer Center is closely related to mountaineers and managed by former directors and volunteers from Osaka, Shiga and Yokohama YMCAs. From May to the end of July, a former director of Osaka YMCA is stationed, and from July to the end of March 2012, a Yokohama YMCA director will be stationed at the center.
The goal is to be back to the ordinary daily lives of the affected people, so activities are done in cooperation with them and detailed orientations for university and high school students as volunteers are held. Programs cooperated with the city halls and reactions for new needs are planned now.
The affected people are asking cleaning and tidying their houses after three months since the disaster. They finally might face the aftermath of the disaster.
In July, we got rid of mud in the gutters near the center. It was a hard thing but neighbors and high school students from Kanagawa Prefecture helped the work.
