Fukushima Ambassadors Program - End of Program Report Fukushima University International Center
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
Fukushima Ambassadors Program
Program
End of Program
Proposal
Report
By:
Fukushima University International Center
Created By:
Fukushima University International Center
Messages written by program participants,
Haragama, Soma
Introduction
th
More than a year has passed since the March 11 disasters, yet the impact of the Fukushima disasters continues to affect
those living in the prefecture. Thousands of citizens remain without a permanent home or a stable source of income, and
concerns, often unsubstantiated, about radioactive contamination continue to bedevil small businesses and industry within
the prefecture. The Fukushima Ambassadors Program was an opportunity for students from the University at Albany
(hereon referred as SUNY Albany) to see, hear, and reflect objectively upon the challenges faced in Fukushima today. By
implementing a community-service based, hands-on approach to learning, the program helped students evaluate any
misconceptions they may have had about post-3/11 Fukushima, and become, if they wished, an agent for its recovery after
their return.
About the Program
Program Focus
To provide students from SUNY Albany with hands-on learning opportunities that focused on the physical, financial, and
social consequences of the tsunami and subsequent nuclear accident.
Overall Aims of the Program
・further the students understanding of the impacts that the 3.11 disaster has had on the lives of the people living in
Fukushima
・dispel any misconceptions they may have of Fukushima
・help students identify ways that they can become an agent for change in the recovery efforts for Fukushima after returning
home
Main Activities
- Program Orientation at Fukushima University
- Inspection tour of disaster-affected areas on the coast of Fukushima
- Discussions with city officials on restoration planning
- Homestay at Soma City
-Interaction with evacuated residents of Iitate Village, doing foot bath for evacuees and playing Karuta game with them
- Disaster relief volunteer work (clearing debris) at Odaka District
- Field study of local agricultural and tourism sectors affected by nuclear disasters
- Interaction with kindergarten and junior high school students living in disaster-affected regions
Program Dates
th
Arrival in Tokyo: Jan.8 , 2013
th th
Fukushima Ambassadors Program Jan.9 – 18 , 2013
Participants
Nine students from SUNY Albany and forty student volunteers from Fukushima University and Aizu University participated
in the program
* (Participated on Jan
th th
14 and 15 only)
9
8
49
participants
32
Chaperons
Danielle Leonard Program Coordinator, Office of International Education University at Albany
State University of New York
William DY McMichael Assistant Director, International Center Fukushima University
Program Itinerary
Day One (Tues Jan 8) ・Arrive in Tokyo. Travel to Fukushima
Fukushima City (Fukushima University)
Courtesy visit with Fukushima University President, Osamu Nittono
Day Two (Wed Jan 9)
Program Orientation, including photo scavenger hunt at Fukushima University
Seminar on Radiation Safety
Welcome Dinner
Fukushima City , Nihonmatsu City (Towa district)
Visit to Fukushima Radiation Decontamination Plaza
Day Three (Thurs Jan 10) Lunch and Discussions with evacuated residents of Iitate Village
Travel to Nihonmatsu, field research and lectureson farmers involved in decontamination work
Student-run dinners in Fukushima City
Soma City (Haragama District)
International day at Haragama Kindergarten
Day Four (Fri Jan 11) Site inspection of disaster areas
Volunteer Activities at Temporary Housing District
Homestay at Soma City
Soma City
Day Five (Sat Jan 12)
Free day with homestay family in Soma City
Minami Soma City (Odaka District)
Day Six (Sun Jan 13)
Debris Removal at Odaka District
Aizu Wakamatsu City
Visit to Nisshinkan, oldest Samurai school in Japan
Day Seven (Mon Jan 14)
Visit to Tsurugajo Castle, location for this year’s NHK period drama, “Yae-no-Sakura”
Farm stay at traditional Japanese famers homes
Kitakata City
Traditional crafts workshop (Akabeko dolls)
Day Eight (Tues Jan 15)
Workshop on local business , Kitakata City
Visit to local sake brewery
Fukushima City (Fukushima University)
Day Nine (Wed Jan 16) Closing lectures and wrap-up workshop
Farewell Party
Kawauchi Village
Day Ten (Thurs Jan 17)
International day at local Jr. high and elementary schools
Iwaki City
Visit to Aquamarine Fukushima, presentation on restoration efforts at the aquarium
Day Nine (Fri Jan 18)
Depart for Tokyo
Day One (Wednesday, January 9th, 2013)
Student Greeting at Train Station Meeting with President
Welcome Dinner
Seminar on Radiation Safety
Welcome party
Day Two (Thursday, January10th, 2013)
Visit to Fukushima Radiation Decontamination Plaza
Lunch and Discussions with evacuated residents
Field research and lectures on Agriculture in Fukushima
Day Three (Friday, January 11th, 2013)
Play Day with kids at Haragama kindergarten
Site inspection of Disaster – Affected Areas
Activities at Temporary Housing District
Day Five (Sunday, January 13th, 2013)
Debris Removal at Odaka
Site Inspection of Disaster-hit areas
Day Six (Monday, January 14th, 2013)
Goodbye with host families
Visit to Nisshinkan, oldest Samurai
school in Japan Visit to Tsurugajo Castle
Day Seven (Tuesday, January15th, 2013)
Say goodbye to farmer stay host families
Traditional crafts workshop
Work shop on Business RevitilizationDay Eight (Wednesday, January16th, 2013)
Closing remarks and wrap-up
Final Workshop and Opinion Exchange
Good Bye CeremonyDay Nine (Thursday, January17th, 2013)
Visit to Kawauchi Village Junior Highschool
Interactions with local students
Visit to Elementary SchoolDay Nine (Thursday, January17th, 2013)
Visit to Aquamarine Fukushima
Goodbye, Fukushima!
Sea-view lunch at IwakiMessages from SUNY Albany
Fukushima and it's people now have a permanent place in my heart. I did not believe that such
wonderful people could exist, and I owe a genuine debt of gratitude for being allowed briefly into your
lives. What I saw and felt can never be forgotten. I will return soon!
Aaron Heckler
Don’t forget Fukushima. For the longest time on the trip, I kept thinking that. I don’t want the world to
forget about Fukushima, but I also don’t want Japan to forget about Fukushima. From what I
concluded from this trip, the purpose of the program is not as straight forward as it seems. Despite the
challenges that Fukushima faces with the rest of the world, economically or socially, it also has
challenges in the domestic realm. I don’t want the rest of Japan to forget about Fukushima, like how
people in the United States might forget about its tragedies. Media has a short term memory and
people have even shorter memories. Word needs to spread to the world yes, but the word needs to be
spread to the rest of Japan first. It would be nice to have this program affiliated with other universities
or colleges in Japan. If students from other colleges were sent to Fukushima University and
experienced the same things that we experienced, I think that would make an even greater impact.
Before fighting the world’s perspective, Fukushima needs to fight Japan’s perspective of Fukushima.
What better way to do it by having allies in Japan that can help it recover. First Japan, then the world.
With more hands to work together, we can do many more things. Knowledge and cooperation is the
key in my opinion. I love Fukushima. Everywhere. Everything. I’m glad I came.
France Le
Thank you all for everything that you have given us! I would like to say that we were able to contribute
more to this program than we took away, but I know that isn’t true. We are humbled by your
generosity, courage, resiliency, and love. Fukushima is a special place unlike any I have been to, and I
will never forget it. We were all inspired by our experiences here, and we will continue our efforts at
home to spread the word and support you in any way we can. I only hope that our efforts in
Fukushima can be some small compensation for the gifts you have given us.
Joe MeringoloYou can also read
