News update from the YWCA of Japan
In response to the triple disaster that caused wide-spread destruction and misery in northern Japan, the YWCA of Japan, along with other organisations and individuals, has been working tirelessly to help the people in the affected region.
The YWCA of Japan has recently released the latest progress report on its work during the months of May and June in the affected areas of Fukushima and Sendai. Since the needs and support required for the areas are quite different, the YWCA of Japan has had to tackle the two affected areas differently. The YWCA has been active in Sendai which was massively affected by the earthquake, and Shinchi-machi, a beautiful rural northern coastal town in Fukushima, which is under threat from the nuclear accident. The Sendai area, where the YWCA first implemented it initial relief work, is now slowly getting back to normal life.
To tackle the different challenges, the YWCA of Japan has been engaged in multi-sectoral activities to help the people cope, adapt and increase their resilience. On April 8, 2011, the YWCA of Japan formed a relief work project team made up of senior and experienced staff. This team has visited some areas to investigate the challenges and develop partnerships at the local level. They also have noted the problems families face as they have to move to a nuclear-shelter area.
The YWCA of Japan has been providing short term home-stay and summer camps to local partners and individuals in the affected areas. The YWCA of Japan also provides housing information to those who need to move to a safer place. In addition, the YWCA of Japan is also assisting the people with therapeutic healing activities. In the Shinchi-Machi town of Fukushima, the YWCA of Nagoya is providing a counselling service for children through the education TV networ. The local YWCAs are also planning and providing information meetings for local mothers who are concerned about the effects of radiation on their children. The YWCA of Japan has also distributed goods and donations from supporters which have amounted to 12,726,651 JPY (157,500 USD) from 571 donors. The YWCA of Japan would like to thank the YWCAs and YMCAs in Australia, China, Chengdu (China), Kwang Ju (Korea), Thailand, Taiwan, Sweden and many individuals from around the world for their invaluable support.
In addition to donations, the YWCA of Japan continues to look for funds and grants from different institutions from all over the world. Recently, Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe, Social Service Agency of the Protestant Church in Germany (EKD), donated 413,000 JPY to the YWCA of Japan in response to its applications. In addition to the contributions and grants, the YWCA of Japan continues to receive countless prayers and spiritual support from its sisters and brothers around the world.
The YWCA of Japan is grateful for the support, prayers and love it has received over the last months. “The solidarity we have received has made our work possible,” said Tomoko Negishi, International Relations Officer of the YWCA of Japan.
