[TOKYO, JAPAN, 26 September 2011]
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On a visit to Tokyo for a school trip on 21 September, third-year students from Yuriage Junior High School in Natori City, Miyagi Prefecture visited the UNICEF House to learn more about the situation of children around the world and the activities of UNICEF. The students arrived with bright smiles on their faces despite the rain from the approaching typhoon.
Yuriage Primary and Junior High Schools were located in the Yuriage District of Natori City, an area devastated in the 11 March earthquake and tsunami. After the disaster, classes were temporarily transferred to Fujigaoka Primary School, also in Natori City, where the three schools shared the building to hold classes. In April, about a month after the disaster, the Japan Committee for UNICEF (JCU) provided children in the affected areas with school supplies and schools with the necessary administrative equipment so that they would be able to reopen as quickly as possible. These schools were two of the recipients of that assistance. On the day of the commencement ceremony (21 April), JCU acquired the cooperation of the Major League Baseball (MLB) in presenting Yuriage Primary and Junior High Schools with a full set of baseball equipment, as the schools’ had been lost in the disaster (40th Report). Moreover, JCU had been notified that Fujigaoka Primary School’s library lacked a sufficient amount of books to facilitate the influx of children, so after the commencement ceremony JCU delivered children’s books to the school via the UNICEF Mini Children’s Library project. In this way, JCU has continued to work to provide assistance that meets the ongoing needs of these schools.
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In September, half a year after the disaster, third-year students from Yuriage Junior High School selected the UNICEF House as one of their destinations for their school trip. Student President Yuta Tanno thanked JCU for its assistance with school supplies that allowed them to continue their studies, delivering a message to JCU that was testament to the students’ strong sense of responsibility. “We will all continue working together, striving to move forward,” he said. Sumio Takahashi, the school’s principal, extended a message of gratitude, where he thanked JCU for assistance that created opportunities for his school’s children. JCU staff engaged in emergency assistance activities in Miyagi Prefecture also offered words of encouragement, “I know that things are still hard, but it brings us great joy that Yuriage Junior High School was able to take its school trip on this occasion and that students are visiting the UNICEF House. I hope that you will learn about the children in developing countries that stay positive and work hard to overcome severe circumstances, and that that experience serves as a source of encouragement and hope for you all.”
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While touring the exhibits on display at the UNICEF House, students were able to observe and pick up actual relief supplies while they listened to the explanation of an exhibit volunteer about child rights and the issues that children around the world face, such as child labor. The children of Yuriage Junior High School listened attentively to the words of the volunteer. One major change for this group of students compared to April was that they had begun wearing school uniforms again. Their previous uniforms had been washed away in the tsunami, and at their school commencement ceremony in April everyone wore their everyday clothes. It was obvious to JCU staff that the children now enjoyed their new uniforms and had already started making slight alterations to them to be more unique and fun. It also seemed like many of the students had purchased new shoes especially for this school trip, as their shoes looked shining new.
When one staff member that has been continuously involved with the children in Yuriage said to one of the children, “Long time no see! How have you been?” the boy responded with a shy, “Good.” The boy then smiled when the staff member said, “Well, I’m so glad you’re back!” As junior high school students, the children no longer come up and ask if staff can remember them, as primary school students do. Junior high school students take one look at the faces of staff and say, “Hey, look! It’s the UNICEF lady!” The first words out of their teacher’s mouth were, “They are back to being ordinary junior high school students again,” and she gave a big smile. Teachers sounded proud as they commented that they had been worried until the end of May, but seeing the children now, they know that everything will be fine.
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On this occasion, one of the volunteer guides that led the students from Yuriage Junior High School around had recently been practicing the tour route and explanations in preparation for this tour. He says that he was surprised when they got to the exhibit on the rights of the child and he asked which of the students enjoyed going to school. He said that all of the children immediately raised their hands. When he asked why, they told him that they like being able to study and meet their friends. Another volunteer mentioned that, in front of the exhibit of the School in a Box, which UNICEF utilizes to assist children that cannot go to school due to war and natural disasters, another student said, “I can relate to that. I hope they can go back to school soon.” This proved to be a memorable day for the volunteer guides as well. Another guide commented, “To tell you the truth, I was unsure about how to speak to the children before I met them. But they were very well behaved and really nice. I am sure that they have already overcome their worries. There is no question that the children were the ones encouraging us!”
After sending off the children from Yuriage Junior High School, one volunteer remarked, “These are going to be the leaders of our future.”
All photo credits: © Japan Committee for UNICEF
| Receiving Prefecture |
Type of Emergency Supplies |
Arrival Date |
Quantity | Donating Company |
Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miyagi | Water | 19 Mar. | 12,288 bottles |
VanaH Co., Ltd. | Two-liter plastic bottles |
| Fukushima | Water | 22 Mar. | 12,672 bottles |
VanaH Co., Ltd. | Two-liter plastic bottles |
| Miyagi | Underwear for boys and girls | 22 Mar. | 200,000 | ||
| Iwate | Underwear for boys and girls | 23 Mar. | 30,000 | ||
| Fukushima | Water | 23 Mar. | 4,680 bottles |
KIRIN MC DANONE WATERS Co., Ltd. | Two-liter plastic bottles |
| Miyagi | Children’s shoes | 23 Mar. | 10,000 pairs |
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| Miyagi | Children’s diapers | 24 Mar. | 80 packs | P&G Japan | |
| Iwate | Children’s underwear | 24 Mar. | 9,700 | ||
| Fukushima | Water | 24 Mar. | 12,288 bottles |
VanaH Co., Ltd. | Two-liter plastic bottles |
| Iwate | Shoes | 26 Mar. | 1,404 pairs | Achilles Corporation | |
| Iwate | Underwear for boys and girls | 27 Mar. | 28,266 | ||
| Iwate | Boots | 27 Mar. | 7,462 pairs | ||
| Iwate | Wipes | 28 Mar. | 1,200 | P&G Japan | For babies |
| Miyagi | Recreation kits Early Childhood Development kits |
2 Apr. | 50 of each | Procured from the UNICEF Supply Division | |
| Iwate | Recreation kits Early Childhood Development kits |
2 Apr. | 50 of each | Procured from the UNICEF Supply Division | |
| Miyagi | Book bags | 6 Apr. | 70 | Nihon New Bag Chain | |
| Iwate | Book bags | 6-7 Apr. | 340 | Seiban | |
| Miyagi | Schoolbags | 8 Apr. | 18,000 | Procured from the UNICEF Supply Division | |
| Iwate | Schoolbags | 8 Apr. | 18,000 | Procured from the UNICEF Supply Division | |
| Miyagi | Personal security buzzers (for crime prevention purposes) | 8 Apr. | 5,000 | ||
| Iwate | Personal security buzzers (for crime prevention purposes) | 8 Apr. | 5,000 | ||
| Miyagi | Minicar | 8 Apr. | 3 cars | ||
| Miyagi | Nutritional supplements | From early April | 4,000 bottles | ||
| Fukushima | Water | 11 Apr. | 1,536 bottles | VanaH Co., Ltd. | Two-liter plastic bottles |
| Miyagi | Replenishments for recreation kits | 12 Apr. | 60 sets | ||
| Miyagi | Miniature toy cars | 12 Apr. | Approx. 1,200 | TAKARA TOMY | |
| Sagamihara* | Water | 12 Apr. | 12,288 bottles | VanaH Co., Ltd. | Two-liter plastic bottles |
| Miyagi | Play mats | 13 Apr. | Two types; 80 of each type | IKEA | |
| Miyagi | Drawing sets | 13 Apr. | 60 sets | IKEA | |
| Iwate | Preschool-size chairs, tables and low tables | 14 Apr. | 75 chairs; 11 tables; 9 low tables | Donated to preschools, primary schools, junior high schools and high schools in the disaster area as well as their new locations | |
| Miyagi | Mopeds | 15 Apr. | 5 | ||
| Iwate | Notebooks and stationery sets for primary and junior high school students | 15. Apr. | 16,700 sets | ||
| Fukushima | Notebooks and stationery sets | 16 Apr. | 390 sets | ||
| Miyagi | 183 computers; 57 copiers and fax machines; 61 printers | 18-21 Apr. | Distributed to preschools, primary schools, junior high schools and high schools in the disaster area as well as their new locations | ||
| Fukushima | Movable blackboards | 21 Apr. | 10 | ||
| Fukushima | Temporary toilets | 22 Apr. | 20 | ||
| Iwate | Geiger counters | 28 Apr. | 14 | For schools in Soma City | |
| Iwate | Dressing room/ breastfeeding partition system | 29 Apr. | 21 sets | ||
| Saitama* | Milk | From late April | Shelter in Futabamachi, Kazo City | ||
| Saitama* | Yogurt | From early May | Danone Japan | Shelter in Futabamachi, Kazo City | |
| Iwate | Color pencils (120 sets) and paint (240 sets) | 13 May | |||
| Iwate | Student lamps | 14 May | 15 | ||
| Iwate | Stationery sets | 16 May | 840 sets | ||
| Fukushima | Lockers | 16 May | 22 sets | For the Board of Education of Minamisoma City | |
| Fukushima | Computers | 16 May | 1 | Ishikawa Town Board of Education | |
| Miyagi | 2 copiers; 2 computers; 2 printers | May | For Higashi-Matsushima Day-Care Center and Watari Day-Care Center | ||
| Iwate | Water receiving tank, water purifier tank, water supply tank | May construction | |||
| Miyagi | Solar-powered vaccine refrigerator | 18 May | |||
| Fukushima | Fans | 30 May | 112 | Minamisoma City Board of Education | |
| Fukushima | Masks | 30 May | 100,000 | Minamisoma City Board of Education | |
| Iwate | 1 copy machine | 2 June | Preschool | ||
| Miyagi | Rain coats | 4 June | 1,000 | ||
| Saitama* | Shoes | 15 June | 460 pairs | Converse Footwear Co., Ltd. | |
| Fukushima | Fans | 21 June | 21 | Minamisoma City Board of Education | |
| Miyagi | Jerseys for teachers and windbreakers for students (various sizes) | June | Akashi Hifuku Kogyo Co., Ltd | Junior high schools in Kesennuma City (6 schools) | |
| Miyagi | Used digital piano | June | 1 | ||
| Miyagi | Digital scale | 6 July | 200 | Ishinomaki City Offices | |
| Miyagi | Fans | 6 July | 5 | ||
| Miyagi | Child-size tables and chairs; toys | 22 July | IKEA | ||
| Iwate | Candles for events | 23 July | |||
| Iwate | Wall-hanging fans | 1 August | 200 | ||
| Iwate | Recreation kit replenishments | Regular | |||
| Fukushima | Fans | 2 August | 95 | Minamisoma City Board of Education | |
| Miyagi | Hand sterilizer | 3 August | 4,680 | Lion Corporation | Preschools, etc. |
| Miyagi | Antibacterial freshener | 3 August | 3,600 | Magnet Corporation; Antimicrobial Technology Co., Ltd.; Jutech Corporation; Clean Techno Co., Ltd.; Mitani Valve Co., Ltd.; HY Corporation | Preschools, etc. |
-Number of UNICEF Children’s Mini Libraries distributed: Approximately 240,000 books to over 1,900 locations (as of 4 August 2011).
-Number of children that have participated in the UNICEF “Let’s Play! The Outdoors Playtime Project” in Fukushima Prefecture (including planned numbers): More than 31,000 (as of 4 August).
*Areas receiving disaster victims.
*In certain cases some supplies may be taken from prefectural supply storage warehouses and distributed to shelters and disaster sites in other prefectures.
As of 9:00 a.m. on 4 August 2011 (compiled by the Information and Public Affairs Division).