Comprehensive List of Volunteer Opportunities

* Posted in FVJ by Professor David H. Slater

Below is a list of volunteer opportunities, compiled from your suggestions and my Jochi students' fast net-work. (Thanks to both groups!)

No information on radiation or economics or donation--just volunteering. We hope it is useful to some.

Also, here are some advice from organizers:

Our first step in relief is still to give money; contribute to local organizations; or even to organize food and supply drives yourself where you are. Much of the work esp. up north is still being done by professionals. Let's support them.

But many people want to donate time and energy, esp. up north. That is great, too. But if you go, do NOT go on your own. It might be dangerous, but mostly it probably is a poor use of your time and energy. Go through an organization or group already set up. MOST ACCEPT VOLUNTEERS AS THEY NEED THEM, NOT ALL THE TIME. So, don't just show up; contact them first.

We have tried to find places that foreigners would be able to volunteer at, but of course these are organized to solicit and support Japanese volunteers first. (If you have no Japanese language ability, go with someone else who does; otherwise you will be draining off resources that could be spent other places.)

Remember, there are all sorts of work that needs to be done for all ages and levels of physical strength. But this work is not easy, whether you are cleaning out homes, moving
drift wood, bathing elderly people or cooking 2 meals a day for 500 people. If you are not healthy yourself, get full information on the sort of work expected.

If you go, please keep these in mind:

1. Dress appropriately for the cold.
2. Wear work clothes, including boots and gloves, etc.
3. You should have proper identification and insurance--some places will not accept you unless you do.
4. No picture-taking (no “disaster tourism;” what a term!)
5. For day-work, you are usually expected to supply your own food and water, and toilet paper, etc
6. Be ready to work hard, at least for a while; but be ready to stand around waiting, also. That is part of the deal.
7. Go with others....

It was suggested that you in groups—either groups of friends or better, with some school or work group. This work is stressful and rather shocking esp. if you head up north, and support for the supporters is useful.

Also, it is more likely that people will continue to volunteer again if there is some institutional link, eg., "Smash Tennis Club Relief to Miyagi” or “Hedge Fund Directors’ Collection Agency,” etc. that could organize things where you are and repeat trips to other sites.

Disclaimer: some links might be down or a bit different. And while all of these groups have some at least one recommendation, of course, we cannot guarantee all of the organizations here are working smoothly by the time you read this. Check it out yourself.

Good luck,

dhs


*************************



Some Volunteer Opportunities for Tohoku



This is a clearly incomplete list of volunteer sites, as of April 4, 2011.

Please send updates to d-slater@sophia.ac.jp


Contents: 1. First stops, 2, General info, 3. Foreign groups, 4. Faith-based groups, 5. Other NPO, 6. Facebook groups, 7. Aggregator sites, 8. Social welfare offices, 9. List of city offices.


(Language of the site noted.)



1. FIRST STOPS

Good sites that give you guidelines how, and how not, to volunteer.

Please read these first; English and Japanese



http://www.foreignvolunteersjapan.org/

Foreign Volunteer Japan

https://japanvolunteers.wordpress.com/
Put up by Sarajean Rossitto, who is all over the NPO scene in Japan!

http://www.pippikochi.or.jp/2011/03/post-32.shtml

Similar instructions in Japanese for Tohoku




2. GENERAL INFORMATION, INCLUDING VOLUNTEERING

http://disasterjapan.wordpress.com/
Disaster Japan: a useful clearing-house of information, including on volunteering

Also has a Facebook group of the same name.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Japan-Guide-Consortium-Volunteer-Interpreters-Earthquake-Relief/149712655091836

"Japan Guide Consortium Volunteer Interpreters- Earthquake Relief." Particularly for those with Japanese and English ability



3. KEY SITES FOR FOREIGN ORGANIZATIONS

These three are established organizations in Japan set up for foreign volunteers, little or no Japanese is necessary. (For the vast majority of sites listed here, even if part of the homepage is in English, it would be desirable and maybe necessary for you to speak some Japanese.)


http://www.2hj.org/index.php/

Second Harvest is Japan’s largest foodbank, and they are in full-swing, although now they are stressing donations as the most urgent need. Bilingual


http://www.peaceboat.org/index_j.html

http://www.peaceboat.org/relief/

Peace Boat is now coordinating teams of volunteers to travel to Ishinomaki City as soon as possible to assist in rebuilding the lives of those affected, and particularly to prepare hot meals. Bilingual


http://hands.org/2011/03/29/japan-project-tohoku-announcement/
All Hands is a US-based volunteer non-profit already set up in Ofunato, Iwate: English



4. FAITH-BASED INITIATIVES

Church groups appear to have gotten to the scene very quickly and have organized volunteer groups. Most accept volunteers of all faiths and affiliations.


https://sites.google.com/a/sendai-ymca.org/volunteer_support/home

仙台ＹＭＣＡボランティア支援センター; 東日本大震災支援のため全国YMCAを通して活動するボランティアのコーディネートを行ないます。

YMCA Volunteer Center in Sendai

ttp://www.crashjapan.com/

Christian Relief, Assistance, Support and Hope (CRASH) is a network supporting Christians to do relief work in Japan and around the world, and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/crashjapan: English

http://www.caritas.jp/
カリタスジャパンとは、日本カトリック司教協議会の社会司教委員会を構成する一委員会です

Caritas Japan is a committee of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Japan which cooperates with the activities of the worldwide Catholic Church in the field of relief,
welfare and development.



http://www.lutheranchurchcharities.org/

Lutheran Church Charities; English



http://ja-jp.facebook.com/FBNERJ#!/FBNERJ?sk=wall&filter=2

宗教者災害救援ネットワーク; Faith-based network for Earthquake Relief in Japan: Japanese



http://www.tohokuhelp.com/list_relief.asp
A list of other faith-based groups; not clear how many of them are accepting volunteers: English




5. NPO SITES SPECIFIC TO A PARTICULAR GROUP OF TYPE OF VOLUNTEERING

http://blog.ap.teacup.com/bi-vo/
Volunteers to bring supplies by motorcycle
全国からバイクボランティアの有志が各被災地入りして、小さな声 を拾い、きちんとした声にして支援体制を再構成したいと考えています.

http://resemom.jp/article/2011/03/29/1753.html
Homestay for children. Osaka: Japanese; looking for host family for the children made homeless東北地方太平洋沖地震等による被災 児童のホームステイ受入れボランティアの募集

http://www.seikatubunka.metro.tokyo.jp/volunteer2/volunteer2.html
Tokyo Volunteers; looking for interpreter for those who can’t speak Japanese.

日本語がわからなくて困っている外国人を助け るための語学ボランティアを募集しています。



http://sites.google.com/site/jgcvolunteers/for_supporters

Japan Guide Consortium, looking for interpreters



http://nikkeiyouth.com/2011/03/26/day-0-and-day-1-in-ishinomaki/

A group of youth volunteers already up and running, doing good work; English



http://www.earthdaymoney.org/topics_dt.php?id=391

Earth Day Money: Calling for Host families for Earthquake Evacuees: English

6. FACEBOOK GROUPS
Facebook has been a important source of updated information, but are sometimes hard to find information in their format. Many of the references on this list were culled from different Facebook pages—many thanks to them! Reading them should give you an idea of the range, tenor and needs of different organization as they evolve. The experiences of different volunteers are often shared on these pages.

http://www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#!/home.php?sk=group_178425178871091&ap=1

Tokyo Quake Cleanup, a Facebook group devoted to gathering and circulating information about volunteer work in the Tokyo area.



http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_160310604024009
About the need and opportunities for English translators: English

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Youthfor311/156551637736665?ref=ts
東北地方太平洋沖地震、被災地復興のためのボランティア支援
Japanese FB page for youth volunteers

http://www.facebook.com/OGAFORAID

東日本大震災救援

Set up by OGA International School in Aomori



http://ja-jp.facebook.com/FBNERJ#!/FBNERJ?sk=wall&filter=2

宗教者災害救援ネットワーク; Faith-based network for Earthquake Relief in Japan: Japanese




7. AGGREGATOR SITES WITH USEFUL LINKS; MOSTLY JAPANESE

http://www.sinsai.info/ushahidi/

このサイトは震災情報をみんなで集め公開しているサイトです。被災地復興を願うボランティアスタッフが運用しています

A general site that brings earthquake, relief and volunteer information; Japanese



http://311.chofu-cw.com/

東日本大震災被災者支援のための調布ボランティア情報を掲載しています。

Useful site of up to date volunteer opportunities



http://volunteerjapan.jp/
東日本大震災におけるボランティア支援プロジェクト-

Volunteer Support Project for Earthquake Disaster in Eastern Japan

http://www.jpn-civil.net/

「東日本大震災　災害ボランティア活動に初めて参加される方へ」基礎事項フォーマットを掲載; Japan Civil Network for Disaster Relief in East Japan: Japanese



http://www.jifh.org/

日本国際飢餓対策機構（Japan International Food for the Hungry: 略してJIFH）は、非営利の民間国際協力団体（NGO）です。



http://www.nhk.or.jp/nhkvnet/spots/_volunteer.html

NHK’s portal; points out the importance of volunteers being insured; in Japanese




8. SOCIAL WELFARE OFFICES

This appears to be the biggest single volume of volunteers? Due to the huge destruction, in many cases they were not up early, organized or ready to accept volunteers. They seem to be ready now, although not all are accepting volunteers when this list was compiled. But be sure to call first—do not just show up! All in Japanese unless otherwise noted.


http://blog.goo.ne.jp/vc00000

全社協　被災地支援・災害ボランティア情報

National Volunteer Information Network



http://www.tvac.or.jp/tuna/21011.html

東京都では、このたびの東北地方太平洋沖地震による被災地の方々へ送る救援物資を都民から集めております

Tokyo Bureau of Social Welfare and Public Health: Bilingual in parts



http://www.fukushimakenshakyo.or.jp/frame/saigaibokin.htm

社会福祉法人福島県社会福祉協議会では、災害ボランティア活動のための支援資金を募集しております。皆様の温かい善意をお待ちしております。

Fukushima Disaster Volunteer Center

Their blog: http://ameblo.jp/pref-f-svc/



http://www.city.iwaki.fukushima.jp/topics/010548.html
いわき市災害救援ボランティアセンターでボランティア募集。いわ き市内在住の方、避難所での支援物資の受け入れ作業です

Iwaki City volunteer center: A volunteer helping out the procedures of receiving supplies.

http://minamisouma.hida-ch.com/
Minami-souma volunteer center
① 引越手伝い　－　ひまわりデイサービスセンターを避難 所として開設します。その準備のため、引越しの手伝いをお願いします。
<volunteer to help out moving out>
② 在宅者確認手伝い　－　鹿島区在住で在宅の高齢者等の 安否確認をしております。地域の民生委員さんとペアで安否確認で訪問していただきます。
<finding alive elderly – working in pair with the area’s welfare commissioner>

http://msv3151.c-bosai.jp/

宮城県災害ボランティアセンターは、市区町村災害ボランティアセンターの運営支援と情報提供を行う協働型の組織です

Miyagi Disaster Volunteer Center



http://www.miyagi-sfk.net/

宮城県災害ボランティアセンター
宮城県災害ボランティアセンターを設置し、情報を収集しております。なお、一部の市区町村でも災害ボランティアセンターが設置されています。

Miyagi Social Welfare



http://www.shakyo-sendai.or.jp/

地域で活動する地区社協、民生委員児童委員、NPO、ボランティア団体等と連携・協働して、「だれもが安心して暮らすことができる福祉のまちづくり」を推進しています。

Sendai Social Welfare Counsel



http://www.hachinohe-shakyo.or.jp/

Hachinohe Social Welfare



http://www.iwate-shakyo.or.jp/

Iwate Counsel of Social Welfare



http://misawa-shakyo.jp/

Disaster Volunteer Center Misawa

http://awshakyo.exblog.jp:80/

Disaster Volunteer Center, Aizu-Wakamatsu



http://www.joso-shakyo.jp/
Joso City Center disaster



http://www.mito-syakyo.or.jp/
Disaster Volunteer Center, Mito City



http://www.ibaraki-welfare.or.jp/

Disaster Volunteer Center Ibaraki

http://chiba-saigai-vc.info/

Disaster Volunteer Center Chiba

http://urayasu-shakyo.sakura.ne.jp/

Disaster Volunteer Center Urayasu

http://www5.plala.or.jp/asahishi-syakyo/saigaiborannvorasen.html

Disaster Volunteer Center, Asahi City

http://www.abiko-shakyo.com/

Disaster Volunteer Center Abiko

http://www.pref.kanagawa.jp/osirase/02/0051/saigai-v/index.html

Kanagawa Volunteer Support Center Citizens



9. List of city groups accepting volunteers (no net access; just telephone numbers)

http://49981367.at.webry.info/201103/article_6.html