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 16, 2018
Updates and New Projects for 2018!

By Andy Anderson | Taylor Anderson Memorial Fund Co-Chair

Ishinomaki Senshu U. - Randolph Macon Exchange

Ishinomaki Senshu University and Randolph Macon College Exchange Program Continued!

We are pleased to announce that after two successful exchange years TAMF will be able to continue this fruitful exchange of students and faculty for the next two years with the help of the US Japan Council’s TOMODACHI project. Thank you to TOMODACHI and we look forward to reporting on the results of these exchanges the next two years! Just a few of of the recent results of the exchange have been a Fulbright Scholarship for an ISU professor to teach at RMC, a Japanese Minor offered at RMC and RMC launching a new Japanese Admissions website.

Ishinomakimono Project

Another beautiful set of Ishinomakimono cards were ordered by the National Gallery of Art Washington DC Gift Shop for the 2018 Cherry Blossom Festival! If you're interested in purchasing these beautiful kimono fabric greeting cards made in Ishinomaki by volunteers to benefit TAMF please click on the IshinomaKimono Facebook page link below. Please be patient as they have had many orders!

International day at Ishinomaki Nishi High School

TAMF supported International day at Ishinomaki Nishi High School. Students from the disaster area in the U.S., Taiwan, Korea and Japan gathered and shared their lessons. Several students from Nishi HS have participated in the TAMF high school exchange program.

Akane lost her home, memories and her best friends because of the tsunami. After six years, she now bravely tells her story on weekends in the area to tourists throughout Japan.

Brendan from Joplin, Missouri, told how volunteers and local people united together to survive the record breaking EF-5 tornado in the same year, 2011.

Nan-Ning from Taiwan introduced a story of a gas explosion in 2014, a man-made disaster. Her town looks OK now, but still many people are struggling mentally as well as physically.

Minsoo from Korea told that disasters don't occur suddenly, but slowly occur in silence without awareness. Preparation is needed.

Nishi High School is proudly the station for Blue Carp project. A high school boy, Kento, lost his little brother and started collecting his favorite Blue Carps six years ago. Kento still visits the school and helps to prepare Children's day with students. Randolph Macon College participates in the Blue Carp Day half way around the world! Ishinomaki Nishi high school is one of the most enthusiastic schools to tell and learn from the disaster stories.

Newsletter Article about 12^th Taylor Bunko Installation

An update from last quarter’s report is that the Inai Elementary School newsletter published an article (see picture) about the Taylor Bunko ceremony. An article in the box is a thank-you letter from a student. Endo-san completed the 12th Taylor Bunko and it was installed at Inai elementary school on back-to-school day. The school held a ceremony for the installation which included a book certificate for the school to purchase books for the bunko.

JETAA Western Japan JET Film Festival Fundraiser for TAMF

In celebration of the JET Programme's 30th anniversary, JETAA Western Japan, the Hyogo Chapter of the United Nations Association of Japan, the Kobe International Center for Cooperation and Communication (KICC), and Hyogo International Association held the JET Film Festival at the Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art In Kobe on November 18^th. Alward winning videos from the JET video contest and “Live Your Dream: The Taylor Anderson Story” were shown at this fundraiser. Thank you to all involved for raising over 40,000 yen for TAMF!

Thank you for your support which helps us continue programs like these to help Ishinomaki students affected by the disaster to continue to learn and expand their horizons!

IshinomaKimono Card

Ishinomaki Nishi HS International Day

Inai ES Newsletter About 12th Taylor Bunko

JETAA Western Japan Film Festival Poster

JETAA Western Japan Film Festival Reception

Links:

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Oct 10, 2017
Ishinomaki HS Students Exchange, 12th Taylor Bunko Opens and Speech Contest Winner

By Andy Anderson | Project Leader

Ishinomaki Exchange Students Leaving Japan

Ishinomaki HS Students August Homestays in Richmond and Washington, DC.

Six Ishinomaki High School Students spent a week in the US with both Richmond and Washington, DC families. The first full day was highlighted by a Richmond Historic Canal boat ride followed by the families taking their Ishinomaki HS students to Richmond landmarks such as Shockoe bottom, Church Hill, Libby Hill, the Tyler Potterfield Bridge and then on to shopping! The next day was Kings Dominion Day in Ashland, VA! Rides, water park, games food and fun together! We had a Richmond farewell dinner for the students where they performed the Soran Bushi and Kazuya played the guitar, sang, and did "beatbox". Thank you to the Harris-Evans family for organizing the Richmond portion of the trip! It was nice to have everyone together before the students started the second part of their journey in the Washington, DC area.

After a farewell to the home stay families in Richmond, including renewing a bond from Richmond students visiting Ishinomaki in 2014, it was on to Lake Fairfax Park to meet the DC host families for an ice cream party. Thank you to Akane Shirata of Camp O-en and the Keisho Japanese Heritage Center for arranging the home stays and activities in the Washington, DC area.

Washington, DC included visits to the Air and Space Center, Tyson's Corner, many DC landmarks, and making Somen no Nori at Camp O-en. The students were seen off at Dulles and met by Takanaria-san at Narita before they took their flight to Sendai and home to Ishinomaki! The friends and memories made were truly special!

12^th Taylor Bunko Installation

Endo-san completed the 12th Taylor Bunko and it was installed at Inai elementary school on back-to-school day. The school held a ceremony for the installation which included a book certificate for the school to purchase books for the bunko.

Ishinomaki Junior High Schools Speech Contest

The champion won the speech contest and the Taylor award trophy. The Taylor trophy is made by Endo-san. The winner talked about social media's merits and demerits. She introduced a story from March 11, 2011 when a mother was on the roof and surrounded by fire. She texted to her son in England, and he gave her the advice to tweet where she was. The Tokyo Fire Department sent a helicopter immediately and saved her and her neighbors.

Her JET teacher Nicolas was overjoyed when his student's name was called as the champion. Ms. Ogurasawa, her English teacher helped them like she did when she worked with Taylor at Mangokuura JH six years ago.

Thank you for your support which helps us continue programs like these to help Ishinomaki students affected by the disaster to continue to learn and expand their horizons!

Richmond Farewell Party

Ishinomaki and Richmond Students

Ishinomaki Students with Richmond and DC families

Inai Elementary School Taylor Bunko Ceremony

Ishinomaki Junior High English Speech Competition

Links:

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Jul 11, 2017
Ishinomaki HS Students Visiting US & Donation Match TOMORROW, July 12th!

By Andy Anderson | Project Leader

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