Thank you for your donations to the APFS Disaster Relief Project

Since the Great East Japan Earthquake, our organization has been continuing to provide support (earthquake disaster project) to Rikuzentakata City and Ofunato City in Iwate Prefecture. We asked for donations for the project and received 148,000 yen. As the amount was insufficient to provide the soup kitchen service that was initially planned, we used your donations to provide supplies (food and electrical appliances) for our organization's third earthquake disaster project, which took place from May 26th to 30th, 2011. The breakdown is as follows:
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Food: Rice, miso, soy sauce, salt, retort pouches, milk that can be stored at room temperature
Electric appliances Electric fans 7 units
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We were able to deliver the food purchased with your donations directly to Tada Kobo, a local leader. As the food aid from the Self-Defense Forces was just about to end, some disaster victims immediately took the food after we handed it over. We would like to express our sincere gratitude for your donations.

In the third project, in addition to providing material support, foreign residents (from Iran, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and the Philippines) who have been living in Japan for more than 21 years went directly to the affected areas to get involved in the relief efforts.

[APFS "Earthquake Disaster Project" 3rd installment summary]————————————————-
Purpose: To contribute to the disaster-stricken areas as a foreign resident who has lived in Japan for many years
Date and time: Thursday, May 26, 2011 to Monday, May 30, 2011
Contents: Supporting the reconstruction of private homes (clearing mud, removing rubble, etc.)
- Removal of trash from residential areas
- Demolition of the walls of private houses
- Clearing mud from local gutters
- Providing relief supplies
Participants: 6 people (from 5 countries: Iran, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Philippines, and Japan)
Location: A private house in Takadacho, Rikuzentakata City, Iwate Prefecture
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Following the first project, which was a Bangladeshi food soup kitchen (March 27th) and the second project, which was a Myanmar food soup kitchen (April 9th), the third project was to help rebuild houses. With a strong desire to "contribute to Japan, their second home," the participants devoted themselves to the work. In some cases, they were able to complete work in just one day that would take a construction company three days. The disaster victims were very pleased with the work.

The location where this support activity took place was within walking distance of the sea, and nearby the police were still searching for bodies. In such a dangerous location, the foreign residents continued their support until the very end. Tada Shigeki of Tada Kobo, who accepted the support activity, said, "At first, I was worried about whether we would be able to communicate with them because they were foreigners, but they were actually very reliable." This support for the disaster area demonstrated that foreign residents are definitely changing from being "supported" in Japanese society to being "living together."