By Toru Shinshi | Chairman of the Executive Committee
Fukushima Kids spring camp was held in Onuma, Yubari, Hidatakayama, Kyoto, Hyogo, Nagasaki and Kumamoto from March 23rd to April 2nd in 2013. 175 kids joined this spring camp and did lots of activities sucha as cooking, drawing, doing arts and craft and so on. More than 150 volunteers supported this camp program.
"The spring where the flowers of Fukushima Kids bloomed"
Held in seven regions all over Japan: Onuma, Hokkaido; Yubari; Gifu Prefecture; Kyoto; Hyogo Prefecture; Kumamoto; and Nagasaki Prefecture
Chairman of the Executive Committee for Fukushima Kids
Toru Shinshi
We were able to safely finish all seven of the spring Fukushima Kids courses that started on March 23rd (Onuma, Hokkaido; Yubari; Gifu Prefecture; Kyoto; Hyogo Prefecture; Kumamoto; and Nagasaki Prefecture) on April 2nd. We saw the children return to Fukushima after finishing their activities in each place with a satisfied look that they had completed their activities without regrets. Each of their hearts is now filled with many more amazing experiences. I think that their experiences during this time will give them a "power to keep going" that will be useful sometime in the future. Like flowering cherry blossoms, the children's smiles burst into full bloom. Even when they returned to Fukushima, they held on to that brightness and hope, and their excitement for the upcoming summer Fukushima Kids activities kept their spirits high.
This is all thanks to the kind hearts of all of the donors who supported these activities.
Today, in our sixth Fukushima kids program held since the summer of 2011 when the Fukushima nuclear accident occurred, participating regions have increased from just one in Hokkaido to seven regions today, and I feel that our
partnerships are strengthening. I would like to sincerely thank all the volunteers from these seven regions.
Everyone in these regions who read and embraced the "Fukushima Messages" that the children brought kindly accepted the cares of Fukushima and made them their own. Although it appears that society is trying to avoid speaking about Fukushima and wants to forget about it if it can, Fukushima is not over.
The members of the executive committee, including myself, have already begun moving toward the next summer vacation. The "smiles and spirit of the children" are the power of the future. To move towards a society that will support this power, we would like to continue expanding our connections with citizens and the scope of our activities.
I graciously ask for your continued assistance and support.
"To Everyone in Kyoto"
Thank you very much for inviting us Fukushima Kids to Kyoto this time. I was really happy when I first heard that I
could visit Kyoto for the first time. Two years have passed since the earthquake disaster, and I still have painful memories but the reconstruction is also certainly making progress.
Through these activities, I wish to be able to contribute to the society when I grow up. And I would like to be a person who will definitely repay the kindness to all the people who have given us support.
M. Shirahashi (girl)
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