12
May 2011

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Volunteer information sessions and orientations in Kobe, Nagoya, Fukuoka, Osaka

Volunteer information sessions and orientations in Kobe, Nagoya, Fukuoka, Osaka

The situation in the affected areas remains extremely serious. In Ishinomaki alone, there is a need of provision of 20,000 meals each day, and even at the current rate it will take two years to fully clear the homes of mud brought by the tsunami. Peace Boat will therefore be holding information sessions to call for disaster relief volunteers not only in Tokyo but nationwide throughout Japan. See this post for details.

12
May 2011

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Mr Kitamura

One day as a volunteer – relief goods storage

Peace Boat stores all donated relief goods at the indoor baseball training hall on the Ishinomaki Senshu University campus. Relief goods include food, sanitary goods, household items for everyday use as well as equipment required for sludge and debris removal. Volunteers working at the storage area keep tabs on all items incoming and outgoing. They are also responsible for keeping items stored and separated according to category.

“Sometimes you will find letters addressed to the survivors of the quake in boxes of donated relief goods. Whomever sent the items express their solidarity with the survivors…really, it made me well up with tears when I came across that letter.” says a storage area volunteer.

02
May 2011

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Reopening of classes at Minato Primary School

In Ishinomaki, the harsh winter is slowly turning into spring. Until now there has often been sudden and heavy snow, rain and wind, flooding the town and toppling the tents in which volunteers are staying. However the weather is becoming warmer, and cherry blossoms have bloomed, marking the beginning of the new year. Many of the schools throughout Ishinomaki which Peace Boat has been supporting are opening for classes, and at the end of April entrance ceremonies were held for the new students.

01
May 2011

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660 volunteers during Golden Week break – creating a new base for volunteers

It is now Golden Week, with several public holidays in a row in Japan. Many people are using their vacation time to travel to affected areas and volunteer.
During this time, Peace Boat is coordinating 480 people in Ishinomaki for the week – the most at one time until date. As well as this weekly group, Peace Boat has also organised a shorter programme for 180 volunteers to travel from Tokyo from May 2 and spend three nights / five days volunteering in Ishinomaki. The maximum number of volunteers Peace Boat has coordinated at one time in Ishinomaki has been 380 people. As a result, there will be 660 volunteers working in Miyagi with Peace Boat during Golden Week.

27
Apr 2011

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International volunteer group photo by team leader Campesino

Across borders and nationalities! Report from an International Volunteer Team

This is a report by Campe-sino who went to Ishinomaki, Miyagi Prefecture as a volunteer twice, for 8 days from April 15 – 23 and for 9 days from March 21 – 30. We have obtained his permission to reprint. Volunteers in the affected areas will continue to be needed after Golden Week. Please attend an information session if you are interested.

13
Apr 2011

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Open for Business Again – the Moriya Fruit and Vegetable Store, Ishinomaki

Exactly one month and two days since the earthquake. The Moriya Fruit and Vegetable Store, which has been providing Ishinomaki residents with quality fruit produce for the last 80 years is now open for business again. Located on the high street just by the Ishinomaki City Hall, it is is the first shop to re-open after the disaster.

200 new volunteers arrived in Ishinomaki last weekend. There is still a lot of work to be done.

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