Bring smiles to 500 children of Fukushima

Hello, everyone.

Fukushima Kids Summer Program has just started on 23rd of July.  Over 450 kids join the programs this summer. 

There are 7 programs Hokkaido, Abukuma, Shinshu-Kiso, Hakusan-Kanazawa, Nihonkai, Ehime and Germany.  18 junior high and high school students join the first abroad program of Germany.  They will see, eat, and communicate with new things and people.

This summer programs will finish on 23rd of August.  I hope all kids will enjoy every moment and come back to Fukushima.

After summer programs, we will have a "Thank you" ceremony in New York on 16th of October.  Since 2011 we have received lots of supportings and donations from all of the world.  8 kids from Fukushima will give thank you speeches in New York.  We want to tell "thank you" face to face.

I will give you more details about the last summer programs ( include photos!) .

Thank you very much.

Michiko Iwasaki

Fukushima Kids Spring Program Report and Greetings

We have concluded all 8 courses of the 2015 Fukushima Kids’ spring activities held during 3/24-4/4 in Onuma and Yubari in Hokkaido, Takayama in Gifu, Kanazawa Hakusanroku in Ishikawa, Miyama in Kyoto, Fujisan in Shizuoka, Nagasaki, and Abukuma in Fukushima.

The 240 children who participated were greeted by many kind volunteers at each of the recipient places and experienced many things. Looking back on this 12^th activity, we can sense that interacting with many people is still just as required as before. In regards to the content, I feel expectations are shifting to programs with new experiences and challenges, playing with animals, and learning from communal living. I take this as the desire for them to grow into kind and strong souls.

  With the understanding and cooperation of the recipient areas, the children were enveloped by warm-hearted people during the event. After the activities, everyone safely returned to Fukushima refreshed. I feel each of the various realizations from the activities and things felt from the long-stays have been poured into the children’s mentality as nutrition for them to grow.

  It is now 4 years since the earthquake and nuclear accident, and the delays in reconstruction are surfacing everywhere in Fukushima. Though on the surface it may seem tranquil, it is always in a state of tension with the fears of radiation.

  In such a situation, I think that the joys and expectations are increasing for the activities of “Fukushima Kids” where one can sense the children’s growth directly.

While considering that it is soon time to change gears from supporting the children’s experience activities, to growing together, it is our desire to continue supporting the children’s growth adequately.

We appreciate the support we received from many people and at the same time would like to beg your further warm support.

Fukushima Kids Executive Committee

Chairperson

Toru Shinshi