Some recent news related to the earthquake and tsunami, as well as relief efforts, from AJET. Note that according to JETwit.com, Monty Dickson was the last remaining missing JET. Our heartfelt condolences go out to his family and all who knew him. (CNN article is here.)
Body of Monty Dickson Found
To our great sorrow, we have lost another member of the JET community, Monty Dickson, to the tragic events on March 11th. Our deepest condolences are with the family and friends of Monty throughout this period of mourning.
Previously, we asked the JET community to honor Taylor Anderson by sending postcards for an online blog. With the sad news of the discovery of Monty Dickson, AJET would like to extend this to include postcards for Monty too.
Please send your postcards of memories, wishes, thoughts or messages to Apt. 111, Haitsu Poronia, Katase 44-28-1, Katsuyama-shi, Fukui-ken, 911-0811
With deepest sympathy,
Caroline Ideus 2010-2011 Chair, National AJET Council
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“JET Cares” Relief Database
As you know, many JETs live in areas that were heavily affected by the earthquake and tsunami. Though relief agencies have been making headway, some regions are still without regular access to power, heat, or supplies. NAJET has provided information on volunteering and donating through some of these organizations, but now we’d like to focus on helping out within our own community, JET to JET.
If you have been looking for a way to get involved, whether as a local AJET chapter, as a group, or as an individual, here is an opportunity to help on a very personal level. We will be putting together a database of request for assistance and offer to help from across the nation. JETs in affected areas will be paired with JETs from areas that are able to provide support. Our hope is that this will strengthen the bonds within our community, while providing personal, timely aid.
We will try to arrange recipients and senders based on the specific requests and information provided by both sides. JETs who are able to send supplies should click on the link at the bottom of the page and fill out the “Application to Send Assistance” form. JETs who live in areas affected by disaster should fill out and submit the “Application to Receive Assistance” form at the corresponding link below. JETs living in affected areas may also include requests for items in need at a specific evacuation shelter.
Once NAJET pairs up applicants and contact is established on both sides, we hope that the support relationship will grow from there, and that JETs will be able to communicate between one another. However, if you need any advice or support, please don’t hesitate to contact us. The list of respondents will be continuously updated, and the more people can help out, the better. We strongly encourage senders to work together with their prefecture’s AJET chapter!
Guidelines for what to include, box size limits, etc. are included on the application forms.
We will be matching up JETs as we get more information, so it may take some time before you have a contact. We ask for your patience, and in the meantime, encourage you to get involved in your local communities by raising money or gathering donations. For a list of ways that you can help out, please browse our website.
For questions, comments, feedback, please contact: care@ajet.net
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The Crane Campaign
The Crane Campaign was created immediately following the Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami in Japan on 11 March 2011 by two British ex-ALTs from the JET Programme (1993-1995 Shizuoka-ken) and a web designer who wanted to involve local school children in the UK in raising awareness for the plight of the Japanese victims. The concept is simple, schoolchildren are invited to make 1000 origami cranes (or senbazuru) in exchange for each child making a donation to charity. The Crane Campaign currently supports three charities – The British Red Cross, Save the Children and The Japan Society’s Tohoku Earthquake & Tsunami Relief Fund. All the details about what to do and how to join The Crane Campaign are provided on the website, www.theCraneCampaign.com. There is also a Facebook site for providing feedback and photos and we invite you all to come and follow us on twitter (@cranecampaign).
To date, over 10 schools across the South East of England have joined The Crane Campaign. However, the campaign’s creators now want to spread the campaign further afield by including other JET participants around the world who want to help maintain an awareness, and to continue to raise funds, for the relief efforts in Japan. Since starting this campaign, there has been nothing but positive feedback from the children (who want to help and like making the origami cranes) to the parents and teachers (who like teaching their children about social awareness). It really shows the children that by doing by something simple, they really CAN make a difference in the world. So it’s up to you, if your local school has not yet done anything to help with the Japan relief efforts, why not support this campaign and make it happen at a school near you!