Before the tsunami hit north east Japan, Kunie’s family bred scallops on the Oshika Peninsula. The tsunami washed away their house, equipment, farm land, and rice paddies. It also took the life of Kunie’s husband. Now, she lives at the Ohara Junior High transitional shelter with her two sons.

Your donation helped JEN to be able to provide services and activities for all of the residents at Kunie’s shelter. She especially loved the chance to plant flowers, since she used to work in the field. The shelter is fairly isolated, so the simple act of planting flowers really “warmed her heart.” She can’t wait to see the tulips bloom next spring.

Thank you for providing this essential support for Kunie.  Thanks to you, Yumi, she’s getting the courage and strength to slowly rebuild her family’s scallop farm.

Miwako enjoyed attending the tea party put on by JEN, as it allowed her to socialize with her neighbors and make new friends. She also loves flowers, so the opportunity to plant flowers at the shelter was a joy for Miwako. These are just some examples of the various events and services such as health consultation, legal advice, and bench building that JEN provides the residents of the Transitional Shelter. Thanks to your donation, Miwako is slowly recovering and enjoys thinking about memories and her old life.

Shizue was worried about how she would arrange her new place at the shelter, but she found out that JEN had already prepared everything for her before she arrived. This made moving easier and helped Shizue be comfortable in her new home. Thanks to the donation you made at the Compassion Japan event back in April, JEN is providing events and services for people in transitional shelters in north east Japan.

Thanks to the help of JEN, Shizue has made friends with her neighbors and is recovering little by little. She is very grateful to you, and to everyone else who has helped her through this tragedy.

Shoko’s house was completely devastated by the tsunami, so when she came back to Ishinomaki, she went to live at the Omori Danchi Transitional Shelter. Despite being so depressed about her life situation, Shoko managed to attend the tea parties and crafts put on by JEN at the shelter. Through these get togethers, including a knitting group, Shoko is recovering little by little. She “feels a strong gratitude towards JEN for giving such a great opportunity for me to find joy.”

Thanks to the donation you made at the Compassion Japan Event in April, JEN is able to visit remote shelters in the disaster struck areas to provide these healing events and services to residents. Today, Shoko is knitting a sweater for her son and thinking positively about the future. Thank you for your generous donation!

Takeko is a resident of the Oppagawa Transitional Shelter in north east Japan. Many beneficiaries at the Oppagawa compound lost family members, including children or grandchildren, when the tsunami hit. The shelter plays close attention to psychological care of its residents.

JEN organizes community events and services for the residents at the shelter. Takeko participated in the “Occhako-nomi,” which means tea party in Japanese. The tea party gave her the chance to talk with staff and community members, which made her feel joy that someone was there to listen and to laugh about common past memories. Takeko says, “Just after the earthquake, I didn’t feel like singing or dancing, but through these events organized by JEN, I feel like singing a song or dancing again.”

Thanks to the donation you made at the Compassion Japan event in April, JEN is able to provide essential social events and services for people like Takeko who lost everything in the tsunami. Thank you for your generosity and compassion!

Riyoko’s life was completely devastated when the tsunami hit northeastern Japan. So many people, Riyoko included, were left with nothing. Loneliness and boredom have been the most difficult challenges for Riyoko at the Oppagawa Transitional shelter. Thanks to the donation you made at the Compassion Japan event in April, Riyoki is able to participate in activities put on by JEN at the Shelter.

Riyoko had never planted a flower before the “Let’s Plant Flowers in Planters” event organized by JEN.  This is just an example of the various events and services such as tea parties, legal consultation, and bench building that JEN provides the residents of the Transitional Shelter. Riyoko “had a lot of fun talking with her neighbors” and is very thankful to you, and to JEN, for helping her to make friends.

Like most people in the northeastern region of Japan, Rika’s life was completely devastated when the tsunami hit. Thanks to the donation you made at the Compassion Japan event in April, Rika is able to participate in JEN activities at the Oppagawa Transitional Shelter where she says ochakko-nomia (tea parties) have finally given her a sense of community and social activity.

Rika “feels uplifted” since JEN started providing various events and services such as tea parties, legal consultation, and bench building to enhance the outdoor space that all of the residents share.  She knows that this shelter may be her home for a while, and she is very appreciative Jen has helped her to see the bright side of things, including the joy of helping others! Thanks for lifting up Rika!

Just recently, JEN came and organized an “Ochakko-nomi,” which means tea party in Japanese. Mr. Iwai says the tea party has changed his life for the better, as it gave him a chance to become acquainted with his neighbors and develop new relationships. A huge source of relief, Mr. Iwai feels much less alone and anxious now that he has companionship in his life once again.

In addition to these community building activities, JEN also provides such services as health and legal consultation for residents of the transitional shelters. Thank you so much for your donation, and for giving hope to tsunami survivors during the recovery period!

JEN came to the Oppagawa Transitional Shelter and put on a tea party for the residents. They were also given a chance to craft bags and photo-frames. JEN fulfills other needs of the residents as well, such as legal and health consultation. Both Tae and Kimie would like to thank you for giving them the joy of new challenges and the motivation to start new hobbies and a new life!

Thanks to your generous support, JEN will continue to provide services for the residents of the Oppagawa Transitional Shelter throughout the disaster recovery period.

Like most people in the Oshika Peninsula, Tetsuko lost everything in the tsunami. The temporary shelter and JEN’s support has given her a chance to rebuild her life and regain her happiness. She never thought she would be feeling so cheerful and positive again, and she thanks you for this opportunity!