日豪ジュニアプロジェクト
2011年3月の東日本大震災で被災した中学生をオーストラリアに招待し，日本の復興の役に立てていくプロジェクト
2011年3月の東日本大震災で被災した中学生をオーストラリアに招待し，日本の復興の役に立てていくプロジェクト
この日豪ジュニアプロジェクトも５回目という節目を、無事終え、６名の中学生（岩手県、宮城県）も、貴重な体験を胸にもどられました。２６名の学生さんがこのプロジェクトに参加されたことになります。
２０１１年３月１１日の震災から１か月後、岩手県被災地を回らせて頂く機会を得ました。（支援物資を運んでいた 平野ユキ子先生（大学教授）の車に乗せて頂きました。）ここは戦場だろうか、と思われる光景に、胸が詰まる思いでした。その時、他の多くの皆さまが思われたと同じように、「私にできることはないだろうか。」と考えました。私の専門は、オーストラリアで日本から来る留学生のコーディネイトの仕事です。 ですので、この被災にあった若い方たちこそ、海外に出て視野を広め、復興の一旦を担える力になって欲しいと考えました。たとえ、短い期間でも、現地の学校体験などを通して異文化を理解し、日本のすばらしさを見直すことは、長い目でみた復興の力になると信じています。
しかし、いろいろな方たちの所に出向き、被災地の学生を呼ぶ意義を説明し協力をお願いしても、ほとんどの方から「今必要なのはお金なのだから、そんなことをするより寄付した方がよいのではないか。」と取り合ってもらえませんでした。その時、友人を介して東日本大震災チャリティカレンダーを製作されていたアトキンソン加奈さんに出会いました。 すでに、寄付の行先は決まっていましたが、私の考えに賛同してくださり、半分をまわしてくれました。 また、私の主治医の津島ルリ子医師主催の女性医療ネットワークからも寄付金を頂きました。 岩手県側では 斎藤恵子医師から、その主旨に賛同頂き、被災地の中学生を送り出してくださり、２０１２年８月に、５名の岩手県の被災地の中学生を呼ぶことができ、このプロジェクトはスタートしました。
今は、多くの方たちがこのプロジェクトに賛同、協力してくださり、一つのプロジェクトとしての形となり、５回目を無事終えることができました。 あの震災から６年が経過しましたが、来て頂いた中学生からその時の体験やいまだに仮住宅に住まわれていることなどをお聞きすると、頑張ってもらいたいという気持ちと共に、この経験が彼らの中で育って、いつか復興の力になっていって欲しいと願わずにはいられません。
このプロジェクトは、若い方の力で復興の一歩を踏み出して欲しいという願いの元に立ち上げました。 ２０１１年の東日本大震災から６年がたち、その間にも日本国内・海外でも多くの災害や震災がありましたが、この思いは他の災害や震災にあわれ方たちに対しても同じです。 私たちは、被災にあった方たちの復興を願い、いつまでも心を寄り添って、応援し続けていきたいと思っています。
On the 5th year of the project In 20016, six Japanese students from Iwate and Miyagi had spent valuable time in Melbourne, through home stays and attending a local Melbourne school from 29th August until sixth of September.
Twenty-six students had experienced this project since it commenced in 2012.
One month after the 3.11 Earthquake in 2011, I visited the worst hit area, Iwate-ken and observed the area’s extensive, severe structural damage.
I thought the ruins of the war would not be different. Ms Yukiko Hirano, an University Professor, was involved with the rescue teams delivering the aid to people in the affected area. I got into her car and I saw the aftermath of the devastating earthquake. I was shocked; there are no words, which can adequately express it.
However, I thought that we could help the people who had suffered from this disaster. My job was to coordinate the group of the students from Japan and the home stay family/Australian school. So I wanted help them in this way.
The young students who had most unfortunate experiences suffering from the devastating earthquake could come to Australia and have the experience of home stay and Australian student life even for a short period. This new experience in a new environment may inspire them to cope with this harsh and traumatic experience, which they had been through. Having a new school life and homestay in Australian may be able to empower and encourage these young Japanese students. They may come to recognise the value of being Japanese and of Japan. I will be happy to assist even a little, and in the future, these students may be able after this valuable experience overseas, to be leaders in their Japanese community, which suffered from the natural disaster.
At the beginning when the idea of” Home stay In Australia” occurred to me, I could not get any cooperation to make this idea to come to fruition in Melbourne. The majority of people suggested me to collect donations, because the money is really needed for the people suffering in this fourth most powerful earthquake in the world since modern record keeping began in 1900.
Having met, however, Kana Atkin who planned to issue the Charity Calendar of “The Great East Japan Earthquake” agreed with my project, and she promised to donate the money from the sale of this Calendar. An organization of women’s Medical network, which have been led and run by my private doctor, Dr. Ruriko Tsushima generously donated some of funds. I also found another supporter; Dr. Keiko Saito from Iwate (the epicenter of this Earthquake) Dr Saito could bring students from Iwate for Homestay and attending Australian school. The Nichigo Junior Project was launched in August 2012 and we just finished the Fifth year in the last month.
There are increasingly people who want to cooperate with this charity plan, and by the time of this fifth Project, our efforts appear to be forming one solid regular Project.
Six years has elapsed since aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami, both a humanitarian crisis and a major economic impact, but I heard from the students who had homestays and school life experiences in Melbourne that they have been living in temporary houses. We want to encourage them to fight against misfortune and continue to think always about them. They will be able to become the central force in Japan in the near future and rebuild the severely affected area.
This project was established in order to assist the young people who were shocked with this natural disaster, which brought enormous trauma to their young life. We are hoping that they can surpass this hardship and trauma and accept the challenge to a new life.
We know that many more disasters occurred overseas even before or after 2011; we feel of course the same concern to all the people who had suffered from the unpredictable natural disaster. We would like to continue assisting and encouraging the people who suffered from natural disasters.