Tasukeai Japan 助けあいジャパン

 ひとつでも多くの命を救うために。被災者の救済と復興への足がかりを築くために。

「助けあいジャパン」は、内閣官房震災ボランティア連携室と恊働し、 現地の情報提供を受けながら、ボランティアによる救援を支援していくプロジェクトです。

http://www.facebook.com/TasukeaiJapan

Tasukeai Japan

March 11th, 2011. A huge disaster of a type that we had never experienced struck the Tohoku and Kanto areas of Japan.

While aftershocks continued and the media broadcasted images of the destroyed cities and reports of nuclear plants over and over again, we who did not suffer reflected on the sorrow and fear among people in devastated areas, and wished to DO SOMETHING for them.

There are lives that must be saved this very moment. And from here, we must gather our collective courage to move forward.

There are voices seeking information about the ones they love and care for. There are many people struggling to survive in shelters. Even outside these refuges there are many who experience difficulty every day. Meantime, many now wish to give their help and energy on the ground as volunteers. Many people and companies wish to provide relief goods and supplies.

“To gather and deliver accurate information to the people (victims, local government and volunteers) in devastated areas, and to the people in non-devastated areas who are willing to send supplies or go in for help."

This is the mission of this website, especially during the first few months when infrastructure is not fully recovered and difficult situations demand attention in devastated areas. We will collect information about the abundance and shortage of supplies in the area, what help is needed and what has been taken care of already. Through close communication with the Cabinet Secretary’s Disaster Volunteer Coordination Office, we will gather the most accurate information we can.

We will also be an information hub of wisdom and know-how for volunteers working on the ground, to support solutions of specific issues they face in helping people in front of them.

And, we will make the many prayers and encouragements visible to those who suffer in affected areas.

Many relief organizations and volunteers have valuable experience and knowledge from the Hanshin-Awaji earthquake, Niigata earthquake, and rescue operations from various disasters in other countries.

And in today's world, mobile phones, internet, and social media have developed so each person can have increased power to send and share information. We can hear the voices that could not be heard in the past, we can find a way to make full use of individual power and team’s power by absorbing detailed needs.

"Tasukeai" means people supporting and helping each other. We are proud that we have this word in Japanese. Now we can save life by embracing this word anew, and each doing what we can do.

Government, NPO, volunteers, city workers, self-defense force personnel, mothers, fathers, elder women and men… no matter what position or name you go by, we hope we can all help each other to save as many lives as possible.

We will pour all our efforts into making this website useful for all. We ask for many to join and work together here.