We’ve gotten a few questions about how alumni can actually help out “on the ground.” Here are some possibilities:
Volunteer to Interpret
There is an opportunity for those of you with Japanese ability. The Japanese Association of Translators (JAT) is assembling a list of volunteer interpreters to help in the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami disaster. This includes remote interpreting via phone or Skype, etc. See these links for more information:
http://ishikawajet.wordpress.com/2011/03/14/jat-creating-list-of-volunteer-translatorsinterpreters-for-earthquake-aftermath/
http://jetwit.com/wordpress/2011/03/14/earthquake-translators-needed-for-jet-volunteer-project/
Volunteer on the Ground
Planning is underway to assign volunteers once official groups can be coordinated. People are urged to stay where they are until official groups are in place. (The strain on limited supplies and infrastructure in the affected areas is already too great and unorganized volunteers would unfortunately cause more of a hindrance rather than a help).
Volunteer information once available will be posted on JetWit as well as on http://ajet.net/. Various groups that you can join have been set up on facebook, such as this one: I am/will be in Japan and want to volunteer in Tohoku
Offer Your Couch
A group has been setup on CouchSurfing where people in Japan can offer their homes as temporary accommodation for those affected by the earthquake. I wonder if there would be a need for hosts in the U.S.? Check here: http://www.couchsurfing.org/group.html?gid=39703
For those of you who are interested in supporting the relief efforts, you may want to consider the relief fund of 
Additional Earthquake Resources
If you know someone that may have been affected by the earthquakes or tsunamis in Japan please use 
