Dear Friends,
As we commemorate the one-year anniversary of the tragic disasters that befell Japan last March, the staff and directors of Give2Asia wish to thank everyone who contributed to the relief and recovery effort. Most experts believe that complete recovery of the region will take a decade or more. While this means we still have much to accomplish, we have built strong partnerships over this past year in Japan, the US, and elsewhere that will help to reinvigorate the local communities where we work.
With gratitude and optimism,
Barnett F. Baron
President & CEO, Give2Asia
Japan’s Recovery & Lesson’s Learned The recovery of the Tohoku region of Japan from last year’s earthquake, tsunami and resulting nuclear disaster will hinge on revitalizing the local economy, according to two new reports from Give2Asia. For the past year, Give2Asia has partnered with local responders in the Tohoku region of Japan for both immediate relief and long-term strategic impact. The two reports are intended for U.S. donors and giving professionals seeking expertise on the local disaster response to date and opportunities for future philanthropic investment. One-Anniversary Project Report for DonorsOur anniversary report on projects undertaken during the first year details Give2Asia’s partnerships and results in response to the Tohoku disaster. Click to download the full report. Tohoku: Lessons Learned“Lessons Learned: The 2011 Disasters in Tohoku, Japan” is written by Give2Asia’s disaster response lead Gillian Yeoh, and expands on Give2Asia’s lessons-learned from working within Tohoku. The report identifies the unique challenges and opportunities of disaster response in Japan. Click to download the full report. Peace Boat Volunteers has been cleaning mud and clearing debris from tsunami-ravaged Ishinomaki city for the past year. Last summer, as the heat and humidity started to rise, community members requested that Peace Boat clear the mud from their swimming pool. When volunteers arrived at the pool, local children were so excited to get their pool back that they jumped right into the mud and started cleaning alongside the volunteers. To read more about the community pool clean-up and see a slideshow of the transformation, click here. |
Meet Our Partners:Entrepreneurial Training for Innovative Communities (ETIC) is revitalizing the local economy of Tohoku by bringing young, educated professionals back to the region to lead and support social ventures. Meet some of the people who make that possible: Tsutomo Tamakawa
When the earthquake and tsunami struck, Tamakawa-san had been in Tokyo for two years. At the age of 24, he left his job to join ETIC as its representative in Miyagi Prefecture. Himself a boomeranged native, his job is to idenify other prodigal sons and daughters with the experience and expertise to rebuild Tohoku. Rina Sasaki
You can read more about ETIC and their fellowships by clicking here. |
Involving local communities in their own recovery is a critical aspect of Give2Asia’s disaster response strategy. After some time, “serving” survivors becomes counterproductive. This month, Give2Asia’s partner Peace Boat Volunteers shared stories of successfully involving local communities in their activities. 
lived in Tohoku for 22 years and earned a law degree from Tohoku University before he left his home for the greener professional pastures of Tokyo. In the capital, Tamakawa -san earned a job with Asahi Glass Co. Ltd., where he travelled the world developing innovative new businesses. 
is a 23-year old ETIC fellow from Iwate Prefecture, one of the areas badly damaged by the tsunami. Sasaki-san graduated from college four months before the disaster. As an ETIC fellow, she works with another entrepreneur for Guru Guru Ouen-dan. Through a collaboration with Community Taxi, Inc. she provides on demand transportation for people living in temporary housing to go shopping and visit family. The collaborative project was recently selected as one of the “Social Business Know-How Replication Projects” by the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.