Japan: Cooperating to Find a Solution to the Crucial Problem of Condensation in Temporary Housing

Condensation Becomes a Crucial Problem

In Kesennuma, Miyagi, where the lowest temperature drops as low as -10 degrees Cesium during the winter, condensation has become a very critical issue in emergency temporary housing in the Watado district.
Mr. Toshio HATAKEYAMA, President of a Residents’ Association remarked that "some work was done to install double sash and heat insulation materials, but that did not solve the condensation problem. With all the windows open and the exhaust fans in the kitchen and in the bath area turned on, it would be too cold to sleep.” He explained that “with the windows closed, condensation would occur and water droplets start falling on my futon while I’m asleep. The exhaust fan in the attic is too small and useless when it's freezing cold." Water droplets create mold which trigger critical health issues like pneumonia, which can be a life-threatening disease especially to the elderly. The government has provided no further assistance. Mr. HATAKEYAMA sought help from the Volunteer Station in Kesennuma and came up with the idea to take simple measures using do-it-yourself materials that can be purchased at a home improvement center. AAR Japan, who heard about the situation, decided to provide assistance to cover these expenses and help the residents with construction work.

All United to Manually Install Heat Insulation

December 5, 2012 - A resident, Mr. Toshio HATAKEYAMA: "I'm pretty good at this. I should become a condensation expert!"

Kenya: Successfully Installing a Clean Water Supply System

AAR Japan has engaged in a project to deliver reliable clean water supplies to people in the area of Mutomo in Kitsui District, eastern Kenya, where water shortage is a chronic problem. In Mutomo, many locals rely on river water or rainwater as they do not have a sufficient number of wells. Water fetching is hard labor that uses up time and energy, requiring some people to spend as much as three hours just to reach a water source. During the dry seasons when rivers dry up, locals dig into the riverbeds to collect water for domestic use, but such fragile water sources becomes even scarcer during subsequent droughts. Generally, women and children bear the burden of fetching water, which often prevents them from attending school or doing farm work.

“Our two hours of water-fetching time will be shortened to five minutes,” says Perez wa kasek, 57, with her two grandchildren in front of a completed water shop and water tower. Pictured on the right is Daigo TAKAGI from AAR Japan’s Kenya Office.

Japan: Activities to Support Comfortable Home Care

AAR is Sending Power Generators and Foot-operated Sputum Aspirators to Children with Disabilities.

Power outage is a life-threatening issue for persons with disabilities who use ventilators or sputum aspirators in their daily lives. After the massive blackout resulting from the Great East Japan Earthquake, many people rushed to hospitals for power generators or used car batteries in order to obtain electricity for their life-sustaining apparatuses.

To prevent these situations, AAR Japan is distributing foot-operated sputum aspirators which need no electricity to operate and household power generators to families with children with disabilities.

September 12, 2012 – “We don’t need to worry about battery charge anymore,” Mr. Noboru TOZUKA and his mother, who received the sputum aspirator, said.

Japan: Piano Recital Held In Disaster Hit Area

Last year, AAR Japan collaborated with its sister organization, Support 21 Social Welfare Foundation, to sponsor the piano recital held by ‘Naoko TAMURA Piano Class’ in Rikuzentakata City, Iwate Prefecture. The event was the first of its kind since the great earthquake in 2011.

A Place for Children to Freely Express their Emotions

October 7^th, 2012 – Family and locals watch over the students delivering a performance.

Bay Atsushi Miyazaki’yi Bizden Ayıran Kazanın 1. Yıl dönümünde...

Bugün, 23 Ekim 2011 tarihinde Türkiye'nin Doğu Anadolu Bölgesi'nde bulunan Van ilinde meydana gelen depremin ardından, yardım çalışmasını sürdürürken yaşamını yitiren personelimiz Bay Atsushi Miyazaki’nin aramızdan ayrılışının birinci yıl dönümüdür. Bay Atsushi Miyazaki’nin huzur içinde yatması için dua ediyoruz.

O gün, yıkılan otelin enkazı altından Bay Atsushi Miyazaki ve diğer personelimiz Bayan Miyuki Konnai’ı kurtaranlara, Bay Atsushi Miyazaki’nin naaşını Japonya’daki ailesinin yanına göndermek için yardım edenler ile Japonya ve Türkiye’den taziye mesajları gönden herkese teşekkür etmek istiyoruz.

Geçtiğimiz bir yıl içerisinde başta Van, İstanbul ve Ankara olmak üzere Türkiye’nin her yerinde birçok cadde, park ve sağlık merkezine Bay Atsushi Miyazaki’nin adı verilmiştir. Geçen Mayıs ayında Miyazaki ailesi, Türkiye’ye giderek Bay Atsushi Miyazaki’nin izlerini takip etmiştir. Ailesi ziyaret ettiği her yerde sıcak karşılanmıştır. Türkiye için canını veren Bay Atsushi Miyazaki’yi Türklerin unutmadığını biliyoruz.

Yardım çalışması sırasında arkadaşımızı kaybetmiş olmak, yaptığımız insani yardımın aslında tehlikeli olabileceğini bize tekrar hatırlattı. Bunun gibi acı bir olayın tekrarlanmaması için, geçtiğimiz bir yılda güvenlik yönetimimiz ve faaliyet sistemimiz hakkında tekrar inceleme yaptık ve halen incelemelerimiz sürdğrmekteyiz. 16 Kasım 2012 tarihinde ilgili kişilerle beraber gerçekleştireceğimiz ‘İnsani Yardım ve Kriz Yönetimi’ ’konulu Sempozyum’da, insani yardım faaliyetleri alanında doğabilecek riskler ve yardım faaliyetlerine duyulan ihtiyaç arasındaki dengenin nasıl sağlanacağı üzerinde durulacaktır.

Afet bölgesi olan Van’ın, her geçen gün hızla iyileşmesine rağmen hala çoğu depremzede konteyner kentte yaşamaktadır. Yakında soğuk kış başlayacaktır. Depremzedelere samimi geçmiş olsun dileklerimizi iletmek istiyoruz. AAR Japan, şu anda da Türkiye’deki yardım faaliyetini devam etmektedir. Engelli çocuklara rehabilitasyon ve eğitim fırsatını sağlamak amacıyla gönderilen ekibimizi tekerlekli sandalye dağıtmaktadır. Bugün, 9 Kasım 2012 tarihinde, Van’da tekerlekli sandalye ve rehabilitasyon ekipmanının hibe töreni gerçekleştirilecektir. Bundan sonra da uzun bir süre boyunca benzer yardım faaliyetlerini sürdüreceğiz.

Bay Miyazaki kuruluşumuza sunmuş olduğu başvuru formunda, Büyük Doğu Japonya Depremi’nden sonra ‘Dünyanın dayanışma üzerine kurulduğunu yeniden fark ettim’ diye yazmıştır. Biz, ‘nerede yardıma ihtiyacı olanlar varsa, oraya gideriz ve elimizden gelen her şeyi yaparız’ görüşünde olan AAR Japan’ın uluslararası yardımını bundan sonra da devam etrirmek suretiyle Bay Miyazaki’nin düşüncelerini yerine getirebileceğimize inanıyoruz. Ayrıca, diğer bir görevimiz de, yardım faaliyetler aracılığıyla dünya üzerindeki herkes ile dost olmaktır.

Bay Atsushi Miyazaki’nin aramızdan ayrılışının birinci yıl dönümünde, onun düşüncelerini unutmadan faaliyetlerimizi sürdüreceğimize söz veriyor ve onu saygıyla anıyor, nur içinde yatmasını diliyoruz.

 

Yukie OSA

Komite Başkanı
AAR Japan (Association for Aid and Relief, Japan)

Haiti: We are Supporting victims of the Earthquake Regain Self-Sufficiency

AAR Japan’s Assistance to Reestablish Welfare Facilities for Persons with Disabilities

It is estimated that more than 4,000 people suffered some form of physical disability in the earthquake that struck Haiti on January 12, 2010. In Haiti, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, the social welfare system is still insufficient, despite the government's attempt to support various programs assisting persons with disabilities.  

 
Haitian Organization for Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities (OHRHA: Organisation Haïtienne pour la Réhabilitation des Handicapés),a local non-governmental organization located in Port-au-Prince, provides the opportunity for persons with disabilities to share their concerns and encourage one another. OHRHA’s programs had been inactive since its main building was destroyed by the earthquake. AAR Japan decided to assist OHRHA by setting up temporary structures, including an auditorium that can accommodate nearly 200 people, a classroom for computer classes, barrier-free restrooms, and wheelchair ramps. These new buildings were designed and built to protect against natural disasters like earthquakes and hurricanes. All construction work was completed in April, 2012. Furthermore, AAR Japan helped to kick-start their programs by supplying equipment such as 100 foldable chairs, 4 office file cabinets, and printers.

March 7, 2012 – OHRHA building severely damaged beyond repair.

 

Japan: Portable Planetarium Shows in Soma City, Fukushima Prefecture

Delivery of Portable Planetarium Shows

Children of Soma City, Fukushima Prefecture, had been playing in their neighborhood parks and playgrounds before the Great East Japan Earthquake occurred in March 2011. However, they are now having a hard time being able to play outdoors as they want to, since many of those parks and playgrounds were swept away by the tsunami and some areas of the city still have high radiation levels.

Since the opening of its office in Soma City in April 2012, AAR Japan has assisted children of the city in many ways, including the installation of playground equipment at temporary housing complexes. As AAR Japan staff frequently visited the temporary housing complexes and subsidized housings in the city, they have become friends with children living there and often heard them voice their desire to see a planetarium show. In response, AAR Japan decided to hold “Mobile Planetarium Shows,” hoping that the projection of a starlit night sky would not only offer an educational experience to learn about the universe and constellations, but would also uplift the children so that they can pursue their dreams.

“Oh, the moon waxes and wanes this way.” Children eagerly look up at the planetarium’s ceiling.

Tonight, What Stars Are in the Sky Over Soma City?

Soma City has no permanent planetarium facility. Therefore, in order for the children of the city to see a planetarium show, they have to travel to the cities of Sendai or Koriyama, taking 1 to 1.5 hours by car. The mother of a second-grade boy said, “Since my son began to show interest in stars, we’ve visited planetariums in Koriyama and Sendai several times. But after the disaster, we now have fewer opportunities to see planetarium shows because we have to pass through areas with high radiation in order to go to Koriyama.

The venue for the mobile planetarium shows was Soma Municipal Nakamura First Elementary School. Inflating a sky-blue dome, we set up in the school gym a hemispherical planetarium that holds about 40 spectators per show. During the two days of September 29^th and 30^th, we ran 10 planetarium shows and had as many as 489 visitors consisting of students of elementary school in Soma City and their parents.  

“I can’t wait!” The visitors wait in line as they look forward to the show.

The presenter who gives live narrations is Mr. Miyuki TOHYAMA from “Yokohama Mobile Planetarium,” one of the organizations that made the shows possible. As soon as young spectators are seated inside the dome, light music starts playing and it begins to get dark. They became excited as stars come out in twos and threes on the ceiling that was merely dark. While having their eyes glued to twinkling stars, the children find themselves in total darkness but under a myriad of stars they have never seen before. “Oh, that’s the Milky Way!” they say, pointing to stars joyfully.

Projected on the screen was “The Starry Sky Tonight over Soma City.” Mr. TOHYAMA tells the children how to identify stars and constellations such as the North Star and the Great Summer Triangle. “The star, which is known in Japan as Orihime, is Vega in the constellation Lyra, which forms one corner of the Great Summer Triangle.” “Sitting low in the northern sky over Soma City tonight is the constellation Cassiopeia.” Under the fascinating starlit sky, every 20-minute show just flies by.

The planetarian Mr. TOHYAMA from “Yokohama Mobile Planetarium” carefully explains to the audience what they will see in the show.

“The stars looked clear and the explanation was easy to follow. I learned a lot today.” “The stars were so beautiful that I love them now.”

“This is my first time to see a planetarium show.” “I felt the stars so close to me.”

“This was a very timely event for us, because my son has just begun to show an interest in stars and we bought a constellation guidebook very recently. He was looking forward to this event so much that he filled in the application form by himself without bringing it home and completed the registration at school,” the mother of 8 year-old Kosuke joyfully told us. Kosuke’s father also said, “We’re very glad to be here today as there aren’t many events like this one where children can learn. It would be great if we have more events of this kind.”

“It was like seeing the real universe,” says Kosuke (age 8, center) and Yoko HAYASHI of AAR Japan Tokyo Office (left)

Over 80% of the visitors were children, and for most of them it was the first time seeing a planetarium show. During the intermission, they enjoyed bouncy ball scooping, bingo, and trampolining prepared in the gym.

It was unfortunately cloudy that day, but in clear nights, the sky over Soma City will also be jeweled with glittering stars. In winter, bright stars including the constellation Orion start to twinkle in the night sky. Chances are, the Geminids will also be making their appearance. We hope they will continue to enjoy observing the stars, applying what they have learned from the show. AAR Japan will continue its activities in Fukushima Prefecture.

The setting up of the mobile planetarium dome in the gym. With a passion for stars, grade-4 boys at Nakamura First Elementary School helped the preparation and reception of the show.

During intermission, children enjoyed bounce ball scooping and bingo all together.

With the spectators of the last planetarium show

Soma Planetarium Project was made possible by the support and cooperation of PEACE PROJECT, GlobalGiving, Yokohama Mobile Planetarium, Soma Municipal Nakamura First Elementary School in Fukushima Prefecture, and Nalelu.Co.,Ltd.

Yoko HAYASHI at AAR Tokyo Office

After graduating from university and gaining experience in an airline and Japan's overseas establishments, joined AAR Japan and worked in the Xieng Khouang office in Laos, wishing to be part of assistance that directly helps people in need. Started work at Tokyo Headquarters in October 2012, currently in charge of projects in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan.

East Africa: Installation of Clean Water Facilities for 5,500 Kenyans

Installation of Water Facilities in Progress in Eastern District of Kitui
 
Reports from 2011 indicate that the ongoing drought in eastern Africa is the worst in 60 years. In response to the latest outbreak, in August 2011 AAR Japan sent team members to the Republic of Kenya, delivering emergency rations and aid. From February of this year, AAR has also made strides to supply clean water to the area of Mutomo in Kitui District, where a water shortage continues. The installation of a water supply is seen as key to overcoming not only the current drought, but also to alleviating similar situations in the future.

September 13^th, 2012 – Extracting water from the riverbed during the dry season. It is sometimes necessary to dig up to 5m to access water.

Laos: AAR Japan Participates in Third Meeting of States Parties to the Convention on Cluster Munitions

The Third Meeting of States Parties to the Convention on Cluster Munitions was held in Oslo, Norway, from September 11th-14th, 2012. The treaty came into effect in August 2010, and as of October 1st, 2012, it has been signed by 111 countries and ratified by 76, including Japan, Afghanistan and Laos, where AAR Japan is active.
 
Government representatives from more than 120 countries, including 31 non-signatory states, participated in the meeting. AAR Japan sent two observers, Yoshino HORIKOSHI from the Tokyo office and Yumiko YAMASHITA from the Xien Khouang office, who attended the meeting and provided information on AAR’s multinational landmine/UXO (unexploded ordnance) efforts in the exhibition booth. In a side-event on the second day of the meeting, AAR made a presentation focusing on our victim assistance efforts in Southeast Asia.

60% of Bombs Destroyed in States Parties, But More Bombs Used in Other Nations

September 11^th, 2012 - The conference hall in Oslo.

Japan: Summer Event for Elementary School Children: “I Want to Know More about the World!”

Experiencing the Daily Lives of Children in Myanmar (Burma), Afghanistan, and South Sudan
 
AAR Japan hosted a summer event for elementary school children entitled, “Experience the daily lives of children around the world: Take a round-the-world journey in 90 minutes.” The event was held in AAR Japan’s Tokyo office once in the morning and once in the afternoon on August 21^st, and was attended by 21 elementary school children and their parents.

Children at the event “depart” on a world trip conducted by Takehiro HOZUMI, AAR Japan staff (left).

Myanmar (Burma): Community-Based Assistance for Persons with Disabilities

In Myanmar (Burma), a lack of understanding about persons with disabilities (PWDs) and poor infrastructural accessibility are making it difficult for PWDs to go to school or find employment. In order to assist PWDs in the country, AAR Japan has operated a vocational training center since 2000 and supported a school for children with disabilities since 2001. Since 2009, AAR Japan has been working striving to create a society in Myanmar that provides educational and employment opportunities for all people, with or without disabilities.

Getting More Involvement from the Community

In Dala and Shwe Phy Thar townships in the capital city of Yangon (Rangoon), AAR Japan is helping PWDs to establish and operate self-help groups. Each group, composed of 10-20 PWDs, is working to raise awareness about PWDs in the region and increase educational and employment opportunities for PWDs in the community. When a new group starts, AAR Japan staff members give them a lecture about basic knowledge such as the rights of PWDs and the advantages of working as a group. Next, AAR Japan conducts training sessions on topics such as leadership and accounting for efficient operation of the group’s activities. Later, AAR Japan helps them generate income by donating livestock and supporting the start of new businesses. Currently, six self-help groups are active in the two townships.

May 31^st, 2012 – A workshop conducted by an AAR Japan staff member for a PWD self-help group. The participants were all eagerly listening to the lecturer.

Japan: Symposium on Women and International Cooperation Commemorates Centenary of Birth of Yukika SOHMA

How We Can Play Our Part for World Peace

A celebration of the 100-year anniversary of AAR Japan founder and former chairperson Yukika SOHMA’s birth was held on June 16, 2012. The event, a symposium entitled ‘Women and International Cooperation’, was held in the U Thant International Conference Hall, United Nations University (UNU).

 
During her life, Ms. SOHMA spoke of an increasingly complicated international society in which “There will come a point in time when it won’t suffice to see this as a man’s world. At that moment, I hope that women throughout the world will be able to stand up and show their innate strengths.” The symposium gathered female guests to discuss the topic of international cooperation from a female perspective. Speakers included major contributors to society and international cooperation, as well as Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ms. Jody WILLIAMS.

June 16^th, 2012 – Roughly 300 guests braved the rain to attend the event. (UNU, U Thant International Conference Hall)

Japan: AAR Japan Holds a Nature Experience Workshops for Children

For the Children of Fukushima, Who Cannot Play Outside Freely

Because of the impact of the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, children of Fukushima Prefecture seldom have the opportunity to play outside. Furthermore, outdoor play areas for children are limited around the temporary housing complexes. Not being able to play outside not only leads to psychological stress for the children, but constant lack of exercise, which causes obesity and the weakening of the immune system, is also a concerning matter.

The city of Sukagawa located in central Fukushima, is no exception. According to a research conducted by the city, approximately 1,000 houses and 3,400 houses were completely destroyed and partially destroyed respectively, and more than 14,500 houses had been affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake (as of January 4^th, 2012). Even now, more than 1,800 people are living in the city’s temporary or subsidized housing complexes as disaster evacuees.

In response, AAR Japan held the “Nishi-Aizu Waku-Waku Kids’ School” (waku-waku describes a state of excitement in Japanese) to help reduce the stress that the children experience from living in temporary housing and to combat the problem of lack of exercise. We also hoped that this event would be a good opportunity for the children to create unforgettable summer memories during such tough times. For two days from July 22^nd to July 23^rd, the event was held in the town of Nishi-Aizu in Fukushima Prefecture’s Yama County. Twenty families from Sukagawa City were invited to Lotus Inn and the International Art Village to take part in nature experience workshops. With a population of about 7,000, Nishi-Aizu Town is a remarkably nature-rich area with a beautiful landscape that is located in western Fukushima. The amount of aerial radiation is relatively low at about 0.8 micro-sievert per hour, which is about the same level as that of the Kanto region.

Japan: Charity Concert – Friends Of Kodo And Wadaiko

In cooperation with Rolex of Japan, AAR Japan held a charity concert entitled ‘Friends of Kodo And Wadaiko: Sounds Of The Festival’ on June 19^th, 2012. Wadaiko refers to traditional Japanese drumming, while Kodo is the name of a renowned wadaiko troupe from Sado Island in Niigata Prefecture. The concert was held for the benefit of those affected by March 11, 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake in Japan’s Tohoku region.
 
Although the event coincided with the landfall of a typhoon over Tokyo, many still braved the inclement weather to come to Suntory Hall in Tokyo’s Minato Ward. Mr. Tamasaburo BANDO, artistic director of Kodo, delivered a message at the opening of the concert, telling the audience, “I hope Kodo can give you strength, and somehow inspire you for tomorrow.”

The JAA High School drumming club goes through pre-curtain nerves.