Disaster Response Japan Project #16410

Help Students, Families and Schools Recover

by The Taylor Anderson Memorial Fund

Help Students, Families and Schools Recover

Project Report | Jan 14, 2020
Two New Taylor Bunkos and "A Gift From Taylor"

By Andy Anderson | Co-Chair

Endo-san Presents Taylor Bunko to Higashihama ES

Two New Taylor Bunkos

The 14^th and 15^th Taylor Bunkos made by Endo-san were installed at Higashihama Elementary School and Onigohama Junior High in Ishinomaki. In addition to Endo-san being the craftsman who has made and installed all the Taylor Bunko’s, TAMF is fortunate to have him as advisor To TAMF.

We heard from the vice-principal at Higashihama ES that the bookshelves are divided into six so it can be transformed into various shapes. The atmosphere changes as the location changes. Each school received money to buy books and Higashihama will decide which English books to buy with the advice of Chiba-san of Ishinomaki Senshu University (ISU) Library. ISU also has a Taylor Bunko. We received thank you letters from the students.

The Higashihama area is a fishing industry area in the center of the Oshika peninsula. Some people left Higashihama area after the Great east Japan earthquake. Now they live in Watanoha area, about 20 km away. From the Watanoha area, it takes about 30 minutes by car to arrive Higashihama. The number of people living in Oginohama and Momonoura, near Oginohama junior high school, has fallen dramatically because of the destruction of the area from the 2011 tsunami. Currently, construction workers are working on roads, waterways, and seawalls and it is a few years away from completion to once again be a place to support a family. If young people are interested in fishing industry, and there are working places such as fish processing plants, restaurants, and tourist facilities nearby, more people will live in the area and visit it.

Ayukawa elementary school and Oshika junior high school are located in Ayukawa at the tip of the Oshika peninsula. A tourist facility was established in October. In April, there will be open a whale land (Whale Museum). It is hoped that people will visit and the tourist industry will also help the Oshika peninsula to become popular and recover.

Taylor Bunko Collaboration to Better Education

On the 12^th of December, there was a meeting of vice principals to discuss ways to improve the use of their Taylor Bunko’s in the education of their students. The vice principals of Mangokuura, Watanoha, Minato, and Kazuma elementary schools, and Mangokuura, Watanoha, Minato, and Maginohama junior high schools participated.

Sharing Taylor Bunko’s in the Ishinomaki Community

The vice principal of Hagashihama ES wanted people to know about Taylor’s wish and Taylor Bunko. He set up two stores displays including the book written by Chiba-san "A Gift from Taylor".One is “Kazamidori”, which Taylor liked in Hiyoriyama, Ishinomaki. The other is coffee shop “Ishikawa”. This shop has a counter made by Endo-san. Next to the book is a photo of Taylor Bunko at Higashihama Elementary School.

City of Ishinomaki Appreciation Letter to TAMF

TAMF has given English books as "a gift from Taylor Bunko" to all 33 elementary schools in ishinomaki city from the last year. Takanarita-san, Executive Director of TAMF, met with Mr. Hiroshi Kameyama, mayor of Ishinomaki, who presented a letter of appreciation to TAMF. We appreciate the willingness of the City of Ishinomaki to work with us as we continue to fulfill our mission. We have been very fortunate to have had Takanarita-san, who arranged for the first Taylor Bunko at Mangokuura ES in September, 2011 and all since, with the help of the mayor and Endo-san, to be able to continue our support of Ishinomaki students, families and schools.

Thank you for your support which helps us continue programs like these to help Ishinomaki families, schools and students affected by the disaster to continue to recover, learn and expand their horizons! Please follow us on Facebook/Tamfjp

Endo-san and students enjoy new Taylor Bunko!

Higashihama ES Taylor Bunko Bulletin Board

Onigohama JH Taylor Bunko Full or Books!

"A Gift From Taylor" Display at Kazamidori Cafe

Ishinomaki Mayor Present Appreciation Letter

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Oct 17, 2019
2019 Summer Exchanges and Charge D'affaire Visit to ISU Taylor Bunko

By Andy Anderson | Co-Chair

YMCA Camp Thunderbird Group Picture

High School Summer Exchange

Six Ishinomaki high school exchange students chaperoned by one of Taylor’s former students visited Richmond, VA and Washington, DC August 7^th to 13^th for our sixth high school student exchange. We worked with the Ishinomaki Board of Education to have students apply with written essays. They told us of their hopes and dreams of visiting America and they came true in this visit! The host families in each location did a wonderful job.. Thank you to All Nippon Airways (ANA) for providing generous discount airline tickets even during their busy season!

In Richmond, the participants had a great time at YMCA Camp Thunderbird with zip line, archery, marksmanship, low ropes and games with counselors in training. Thank you to the Camp Thunderbird team! One of Richmond host families had a BBQ and pool party. It was a great way to end a full day from Camp Thunderbird in the morning to host family experiences in the afternoon and a good night sleep after fun in the pool!

Other activities in Richmond included bowling, video games and then an afternoon to explore everything from trampoline parks to shopping! We were treated to two performances from our visitors and had a wonderful farewell dinner along the James River!

The Richmond host families drove their students to the Washington, DC area to meet their Washington host families at a Japanese style shaved ice party in Mclean. The students visited Annapolis, Baltimore, Tysons Corner Shopping Mall and toured Washington, DC. in addition to having free time with host families to play laser tag and shop. The Washington portion of the trip ended with a farewell pizza and pool party.

Thank you to Camp O-En and Tabi Club for organizing and providing group transportation and tours in the DC area.

We heard feedback from the students and host families that it was a wonderful experience for all with life long memories and new friends made!

Randolph-Macon College (R-MC) Ishinomaki Senshu University (ISU) #TOMODACHI Student Exchange

The US Japan Council TOMODACHI program has supported our research exchange program between Randolph-Macon College (Taylor's alma mater) and Ishinomaki Senshu University. This is the fourth year of the SURF/TAMF/TOMODACHI Exchange.

The R-MC contingent visited Tokyo and Kyoto prior to traveling to Ishinomaki. Ishinomaki and Onagawa included visits to the Ishinomaki Fire Department to learn about how first responders focus in a disaster, as well as a visit to Onagawa Town Hall, where they had a meeting with the Mayor and learned about how the Town came together to focus on recovery. We also had a walking tour of Onagawa hospital and its disaster-related display with a local resident who lived in temporary housing for six years, who also told us about his own experience during the disaster.

Additional visits and meetings included the Ishinomaki Police Station, Newsee Museum, Watahoi Volunteer Center, and the Nozomi Project, cultural events (kimono wearing!), food, and fellowship with friends and colleagues from Ishinomaki Senshu University.

An article by Ishinomaki Hibi Shimbun about the visit to ISU and Ishinomaki. (picture included) features their cultural activities and experiences with the Kimono wearing workshop, visit to the children center “Raitsu,” etc. It includes students’ quotes: “I want to present my research findings at conferences” said one student and “It was really hard to control my emotions when I interviewed a mother who lost her young daughter. I hope to show the resilience of the people in Ishinomaki in my theater production at R-MC” said another.

U.S. Consul General Lee and Chargé d’Affaires Young Visit Taylor Bunko

We are thankful to the US Embassy Tokyo, Consul General Lee and Chargé d’Affaires Young for visiting the Ishinomaki Senshu Univiversity (ISU) Taylor Bunko, learning about Taylor from her friend Chiba-san of ISU and donating books! Thank you to US Japan Council #TOMODACHI, ISU and Taylor's alma mater Randolph-Macon College, for their continued support of Taylor's dream to be a bridge between Japan and the U.S.

Richmond Pool Party

Students at Richmond Farewell Dinner

Students Visit US Naval Academy in Annapolis

R-MC - ISU Exchange visit Ishinomaki Fire Dept

R-MC ISU Exchange Ishinomaki Hibi Shimbun Article

Charge D'Affaires Young & Consul Gen Lee at ISU

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Jul 16, 2019
Summer HS Exchange and Donation Matching Day July 18th

By Andy Anderson | Co-Chair

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