Tohoku Earthquake/Tsunami Relief Fund

We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to the many generous donors throughout the world who kindly contributed to our Tohoku Earthquake/Tsunami Relief Fund, which was established to assist those who were most effected by the March 11, 2011 earthquake and aftermath.

We have closed the official collecting of funds and have distributed all funds to various relief organizations. Thanks to the generosity of those who contributed, Saint Maur International School, Yokohama, was able to raise ¥7,517,607. Apart from household items sent via Peace Boat, the school earmarked funds to assist in the reestablishment of schools so that students could gain some normality to their shattered lives and have a place to gather, continue with their disrupted education, and feel safe among others, who like them, had been so devastated by the events of March 11, 2011.

Thanks to your generosity, here are some of the ways in which we were able to utilize funds to support the schools in Tohoku:          

Yamashita Daiichi Elementary School
January 2012 – Gift of donated books and 250,000 yen donation for their library.
March 2012 – Stoves, TV sets, blood pressure monitor, goal net for soccer, electronic blackboard, etc. Total cost: 2 million yen
October 2011 – International Exchange at Yamashita Daiichi Elementary School
December 2011 – Christmas Cakes, candy canes, etc.

Nakahama Elementary School
April 2011 – Shredder, laminator, laminator film, Tepras and tapes. Total cost: 90,000 yen
June 2011 – First Aid items, Stationery supplies, Sports equipment, electronic products. Total cost: 1 million yen
December 2011 – Kotatsu for 9 families. Total Cost: 100,000 yen
December 2011 - Christmas Cakes, candy canes, etc.
March 2012 – Refurbishment in a music room, an audio room, blackboards, lockers, digital textbooks, etc. Total cost: 2,300,000 yen

Kumamachi Elementary School in Fukushima
June 2011 –Two Inkjet printers. Total cost: 55,000 yen

Okuma Junior High School
June 2011 – One projector. Total cost 60,000 yen

JP & the Cezar's Kitchen crew volunteered their time and skill to prepare Christmas cakes for all the students & staff at both Nakahama/Sakamoto Elementary School and Yamashita Elementary School. The Saint Maur Relief Fund covered the cost of the ingredients, and also purchased a large candy cane for each child.

October 2011, a group of 7 Saint Maur teachers and staff visited the town of Yamamoto, just south of Sendai and home to Nakahama Elementary School. They visited both Nakahama and Yamashita Elementary Schools carrying gifts courtesy of our Tohoku Fund.