Category Archives: Volunteering and Charity

Here you will find all of our Volunteering and Charity news and info. If you have specific questions about volunteering in certain areas, call the local social welfare council or volunteering center, for general suggestions about volunteering, please send an email vol.aid@ajet.net at any time.

Donating Supplies by Foreign Buyers Club

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Currently one of the most pressing needs in the Tohoku region is a steady supply of food and other necessities. Food drives and donations in local areas are useful but the cost of shipping can sometimes be more expensive than the items themselves.

FBC is working with Second Harvest Japan to ensure that the food and supplies purchased on its website site are delivered to the people who need them the most, with minimum being spent on overhead charges such as shipping.

By offering only a small range of disaster-specific items, FBC can ensure these products are as cheap as possible and the items on offer reflect the current needs of the area. As previously mentioned, FBC is working with Second Harvest Japan, who is making regular deliveries to the affected region. Due to Second Harvest’s regular, direct contact with the people living in Tohoku they are able to gather information about what is needed and quickly relay this to FBC.

The road to recovery will be long and FBC wants to join with Second Harvest, AJET, Smile Kids Japan, JETWit and all their member in giving what help they can.

Thank You.

VIA: FBC

The Fruit Tree Project

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Fruit Tree ProjectHello, my name is Paul Yoo and I am a current JET in Yurihonjo, Akita.  In wake of the recent disaster, we, in Akita, have actively been involved in the relief efforts and are doing our best to contribute in this time of need. The Fruit Tree Project spawned from our trip down to Kesennuma to drop off supplies.  While at the shelter we had the opportunity to talk about what their needs were, and FRESH FRUIT was their unanimous answer.  After leaving the shelter we contacted a local store manager who agreed to help us in our efforts, and offered to make orders for us from his wholesale fruit provider (located in Kesennuma!!!).  He assured us that all of our orders could be accommodated for as long as we placed them the day before.

The details for this plan are SET.  The only thing we need now is funding.  It is heart-breaking to know that the people aren’t able to get what they need, especially with a source so close to them.  We have to change this.  Right now, the shelter we are in contact with accommodates 1,100 people and receives prepared meals from the Japanese military.  They get a bowl of rice and miso soup for meals.  For this first project, our goal is to establish the infrastructure it takes to get fresh fruits into the shelters, while also raising awareness of this issue.  Our hope is that others, who are looking to make a difference, will continue The Fruit Tree Project in other cities and towns effected by the disaster.

Please visit VolunteerAKITA for more information on how you can help.

Taylor Anderson and Monty Dickson JET Community Tribute

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AJET are collecting letters/postcards from the community for an online tribute to two devoted and sorely missed JETs -  Taylor Anderson and Monty Dickson.

Please visit http://najettribute.blogspot.com/ to read the current post cards received.

Letters/cards can be anonymous or signed, and messages will be uploaded without editing.
If you would be interested in sending messages, hopes, thoughts or wishes to either Taylor or Monty, their friends, family or the JET community at large, please send your cards or letters to

Apt. 111, Haitsu Poronia, Katase 44-28-1, Katsuyama-shi, Fukui-ken, 911-0811.

Our Condolences

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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

AJET Cares

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Dear JET Participants,

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.

Click here to SEND a care package
Click here to REQUEST a care package

For questions, comments, feedback, please contact: care@ajet.net

The Crane Campaign

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Crane CampaignThe 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!

Blood Donation Form

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Many people have tried to give blood but have been turned away.  If it’s a language barrier problem, please print this translated blood donation form, complete it, and bring this form the next time you try.

Blood Donation Form – 154KB PDF

Volunteer & Donation Information By Prefecture

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The following chart is a breakdown of prefecture volunteer & donation activities.

Volunteer Information

Donations Information

Event Information
Hokkaido

Volunteer

Donations

Events

Tohoku (Aomori, Iwate, Miyagi, Akita, Yamagata, Fukushima)

Volunteer

Donations

Events

Kanto (Ibaraki, Tochigi, Gunma, Saitama, Chiba, Tokyo, Kanagawa)

Volunteer

Donations

Events

Chubu (Niigata, Toyama, Ishikawa, Fukui, Yamanashi, Nagano, Gifu, Shizuoka, Aichi)

Volunteer

Donations

Events

Kansai (Mie, Shiga, Kyoto, Osaka, Hyogo, Nara, Wakayama)

Volunteer

Donations

Events

Chugoku (Tottori, Shimane, Okayama, Hiroshima, Yamaguchi)

Volunteer

Donations

Events

Shikoku (Tokushima, Kagawa, Ehime, Kochi)

Volunteer

 DonaSagamtions

Events

Kyushu (Fukuoka, Saga, Nagasaki, Kumamoto, Oita, Miyazaki, Kagoshima)

Volunteer

Donations

Events

Okinawa

Volunteer

Donations

Events

Peace Boat taking volunteers from Tokyo to Tohoku Area

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日本語

National AJET is coordinating with the NGO, Peace Boat, to send JETs wishing to volunteer in the Tohoku area. Peace Boat is working specifically in the town of Ishinomaki, in Miyagi prefecture. Each Friday for the next 3-4 weeks they will bring volunteers to Ishinomaki for one week shifts. Volunteers will help by: providing meals to those affected, helping at local evacuation sites, transporting goods, etc. Volunteers will work in teams of 5-6 people, with foreigner volunteer teams having a bilingual team leader.

Insurance options are provided and policies can be purchased at your pre-departure meeting.
If you are interested in volunteering please read the information below to see if you meet the requirements to volunteer. Finally, be sure to discuss when you will be absent from work and your leave situation with your supervisor before applying.

Read More

Can Up for Japan!

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First you Maned up for Japan, now it’s time to Can Up!

National AJET would like to thank everyone who Maned Up for Japan. The response was amazing with over 4500 people signing up to the Facebook campaign. For many of you, you might be thinking ‘what’s next?’. How about showing the same giving spirit and joining the new campaign Can Up for Japan!

Although monetary donations have been a huge help to the relief effort, supplies and food donations are equally important in the near future.  Many people have been displaced from their homes and are currently living in shelters. Donations of food and other essentials such as plastic cutlery, paper plates, wet wipes and masks can help improve the quality of life of those who have lost almost all their material possessions.

Read More

Guide to Creating Food and Supply Drives

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Contents

Introduction

By this point chances are that you are already very familiar with the terrible events that have happened due to the M 9.0 earthquake in the Tohoku region of Japan. The aftermath is something that Japan will be coping with for many years to come and, certainly in the immediate future, food and supply donations are just as important as monetary ones.
It can be difficult to know how to contribute to the relief effort but a food and supply drive can make a big difference.

This guide was made by National AJET. Please contact Victoria Murphy at block8@ajet.net if you have any questions or problems.
Read More

Taylor Anderson Tribute

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Our deepest sympathy goes out to the family and friends of Taylor Anderson, a 3rd year ALT in Miyagi prefecture.  The loss of a JET community member is a devastating one and she will not be forgotten.  She was a valuable member in her community and was dearly loved.  With the permission of Taylor’s sister, we are asking JETs and community members to honor Taylor’s memory by sending postcards, letters, or notes to us to be shared on a blog that will be open to everyone. Submissions can be anonymous, but please feel free to share memories, thoughts or wishes about Taylor. Please send postcards or letters to Apt. 111, Haitsu Poronia, Katase 44-28-1, Katsuyama-shi, Fukui-ken, 911-0811.

Taylor’s high school has established the Taylor Anderson ’04 Memorial Gift Fund. All money raised will be given in Taylor’s memory to benefit the relief efforts in Japan, hopefully to help with the rebuilding of the schools in the region where Taylor taught.

Our thoughts and prayers are also with Monty Dickson’s family and friends at this time. Please keep them in your thoughts.

Kansai Cares – Osaka AJET

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日本語
Osaka AJET in collaboration with the fine establishment owners of Osaka are collecting food, daily needs supplies, and money for victims of the Tohoku Earthquake of March 11th, 2011.

From Tuesday, March 29th through April 1st, volunteers will be stationed between Wax and Kama Sutra to accept material donations from the hours of 8 to 11 pm. Cinquecento is also accepting donations now and during the hours the AJET table is not in …operation. In addition, on April 1st, there will be a charity Bar Night at participating bars around Osaka.

For 1000 yen, attendees can purchase a coupon and ticket sheet that contains vouchers good for: one free drink, one “Buy 1, Get 1 Free” drink, one 200円 off any cocktail, and one 300円　beer. Participants can buy as many of these sheets as they want and will be available at all participating bars while supplies last.

All proceeds and materials will go to Second Harvest Japan, a foodbank in Central Honshu who are currently directing their efforts to feeding victims of the earthquake and tsunami. You can find out more about Second Harvest Japan at www.2HJ.org

For more information please go to to this page.
You can also follow us on Facebook.

The following locations are participating in the April 1st Charity Night. Locations with a “*” are also accepting food and supply donations.

  • Wax
  • Kama Sutra
  • Cinquecento*
  • P’ Ka’s

Second Harvest Japan currently needs unexpired and unopened food that does NOT require refrigeration and the following items:

Ear plugs, earphones, eye masks, rice, retort-pouch food, canned food,　emergency ration type of food, baby bottles, baby formulas, baby food,　calorie-mate (energy bars), portable water tanks, bottled water,　portable water filters, paper cups, plastic bottles, portable gas stoves,　solid fuels, camping pots, lanterns, blue sheets (plastic sheets), ropes, portable toilets, toilet paper, tissues, wet wipes, paper diapers,　menstrual pads, medicines, emergency kit, masks, gargles, soaps,　shampoos (the kinds that don’t need water are good),　underwear (not used), towels, blankets, sleeping bags, gloves,　helmets, flash lights, slippers, batteries, candles, can openers,　bottle openers, folding knives, trash bags, headache medicine,　gastrointestinal medicine, pain killers, sanitizers, paper plates,　paper cups, plastic spoons, plastic forks, and chopsticks.

*unmailable items left off of list


この度2011年3月１１日に起こりました東日本大震災の被災者へ義援金、救援物資提供、食料を集めるという事業を大阪の企業と大阪AJETが協力することになりました。

３月２９日（火）より４月１日（金）、８時〜１１時までボランティア員がWAX,KAMA-STRAで救援物資の引き取りを行います。
加えまして、４月１日の最終日には大阪周辺のバーにてチャリティーイベントを行います。下記ご参照ください。
４月１日だけ８時から閉まるまでご利用できます。
【費用】1,000円
【内容】クーポンとチケットシート(
ドリンク一杯無料券、ドリンク一杯かってもう一杯ついてくる券(BUY1 GET1)、カクテル２００円OFF券、ビール３００円券を含む）
物がなくならない限り、参加しているバーにて欲しいだけのチケットを参加者は購入することができます。

この物資やお金等は、フードバンク組織「セカンドハーベストジャパン」に送られ、今回の地震と津波の被災者へ届けられます。セカンドハーベストジャパンは本州の中心に構えるボランティア組織です。是非URLをご覧下さい。→www.2HJ.org

その他の詳細はこちらのウェブページまで。
facebookも情報満載！

下記のバーはチャリティーに参加するバーです。

  • WAX（上記期間中８時〜１１時のみ救援物資引き取り可能）
  • Kama-Sutra（２上記期間中８時〜１１時のみ救援物資引き取り可能）
  • Cinquesento（期間以前にも救援物資引き取り可能）
  • P’ Ka’s

-その他協力バーを増加予定。

ハーベストジャパンが現在必要としているものは、賞味期限がなく、未開封、且つ冷蔵が必要でない食物、そして必要物資等。
参考物資は以下ご確認ください：

耳栓、イヤフォン、アイマスク、お米、レトルト食品、缶製品、非常食、ベビー食品、粉ミルク、哺乳瓶、カロリーメイト、水筒、飲料水（ボトル）、飲料水フィルター、紙コップ、紙皿、プラスティックスプーン、プラスティックフォーク、お箸、簡易ガスストーブ、燃料、キャンプ用鍋、懐中電灯（ランプ）、ブルーシート（プラスティックシート）、ロープ、簡易トイレ、トイレットペーパー、ティッシュ、ウェットティッシュ、紙おむつ、生理ナプキン、薬（頭痛薬、胃腸薬、鎮痛剤含む）、救急キット、マスク、うがい薬、石鹸、シャンプー（水が必要ない種類がベスト）、未使用の下着、タオル、毛布、寝袋、手袋、ヘルメット、スリッパ、充電池（充電器）、ろうそく、缶切り、栓抜き、折りたたみ式ナイフ、ゴミ袋、アルコール除菌液等。

＊皆様もテレビでご覧いただいている通り、東北地方の状況は悪化するばかりで、心が痛みます。
今こそ、国境関係なく協力して助け合っていく時ではないかと思いませんか？
あなたの行動一つで何人もの被災者が救われます！

是非皆様のご協力のほど、よろしくお願いいたします。

大阪AJET