Support for children in disaster areas in Japan

Many playgrounds were lost in Tohoku region because of the tsunami damage or required temporary houses. Then, we deliver outdoor play space to the temporal houses area, open space around there, or somewhere like this, by using play kitchen car called Sammy. We create an opportunity for children to gather and for parents and residents to communicate with each other.

On this occasion, we have made a sandpit and balance beams by using the thinned wood, which is provided by the Forestry Cooperative, in the temporary houses area.  We peeled the wood with grandfathers living in the area in the beginning. Then the head of a neighborhood community association joined us, and the adults did their best for the children.

After completing, children played there and enjoyed it so much. And, the adults look at them warmly.

Now, local residents have suggested the idea as to the assembly type of play tools by using tube and so on. It becomes a slide by attaching to the play kitchen car. If the idea comes true, we will provide bigger scale play to the children. Don’t miss it!

Links:

• HP of this project

We are making place to play as supporting the management of Koganehama Chibikko Hiroba (Koganehama Kid’s Playground) conducted by local residents and volunteer group. We have been making it by utilizing a wood getting salt damage, debris carried by the tsunami, rusted nails or things being there like that.

It was windy day. Although children play with bonfire in the beginning, when a child who is the first grade at elementally school started digging a hole on the ground suddenly, higher grade children also begun digging holes, and then they continued doing that with excitement for a whole day after that. Some children tended to seclude themselves in their house because they just moved into this area, but they have been able to make friends with all other children before anyone knows. Play let them make friends spontaneously.

On the following day, the child who tended to seclude himself in his house was waiting for us before the beginning of the play event we provided. Just after our arrival, digging hole was restarted. The children who had played together in the day before come to again, and they resumed digging where they left off. Though they had already dug a hole with a depth of 1 m and a width of 1 m, additionally approximately 1.3 meter it was dug in a horizontal direction. However, the hole was in danger of collapse, so digging was stopped temporarily. Then, children and adults thought how it will be kept, together. As a result, they had decided to plank the wall inside with wood, like coal mine. And they promised to gather there again in the next play event and do something next step. It was amazing time.

It is important to focus on what children want to do or what they feel excitement from, as thinking their safety. They can pile their small success on top of another, and gain affluent original experiences in their challenging or the process of trial and error. Sometimes, they end in failure or suffer setbacks, but such experiences are also important for them. We will develop the community environment or adults to watch over the children warmly.

Links:

• HP of this project