You're not alone! Rely on one another.
Support Center Fukushima News "UNITE(Tsunagari)" No.4

Issued by JDF Support Center Fukushima for Persons with Disabilities in Devastated Area on June 22, 2011
Address: B-101 Fukaya Bldg., 5-17, 1-Chome, Kuwano, Koriyama City,
Fukushima JAPAN 963-8025
TEL: +81-24-925-2428 / FAX: +81-24-925-2429

3 months have already passed away since the disaster. Situation and needs of PWDs are changing continuously by time. We will provide proper assistance to PWDs with considering their current conditions.

Let’s recover soil condition and everyone’s smile through “UF-787”project!

In Fukushima prefecture, people are still living in anxiety due to the nuclear accident of the Tokyo Power Company.
Soil has been damaged by radiation, and PWDs at workshops lost their smiles.
And so we are implementing “UF-787”project for all of people in Fukushima to get their smiles back.
In the word of UF-787, “F” stands for “Fukushima” and “787” for “Na-no-Hana (rape flowers)”.
In this project, sunflowers and rape flowers will be planted by PWDs and volunteer staff in all of support offices of Japan. It is said that both plants are able to decrease level of radiation of soil.
After harvesting seeds of both plants, all of them are supposed to send to the Support Center of Fukushima, and we will sell packs of those seeds and message cards for getting money to support the survivors with disabilities. Furthermore, we may be able to use the seed oil as a type of Bio-fuel. And finally we will expand this activity not only in Japan but also in the world.
The aims of this project are not only for making clean soils of Fukushima, but also for creating job for PWDs and Senior Citizens, and also for building new Fukushima, new Japan and new world where we can live without depending on nuclear.
Let’s work together to build up society for all to have peaceful life!

Picture1; Sunflower

Letter from volunteer

Here is an impression by volunteer from Osaka.
He worked for support office “Peanuts”, which is only place within 30km from the nuclear plant to provide assistance for daytime activities of PWDs. Support Center Fukushima can keep activities with such voluntary assistance from whole parts of Japan. Thank you! We will continue to work for the survivors with disabilities!

I joined to support activities from June 2 to 9.
I want to express my gratitude to all of staffs of the Support Center Fukushima. I was given opportunity to work on the frontline of disaster by them. I respect all of staffs of “Peanuts”, because they work so hard in spite of manpower shortage.
Through 3 days activities, I understood importance of place for people to laugh and cry as usual.
I learnt how common and usual things were important for human life in these 3 days.
I think now that it is important role for me to share my experience in my home town, Osaka.
I need to learn more, and will start it.

We are overcoming disaster and working hard!

Picture2; A workshop at the disaster (left) and the same workshop at the present (right)

The Workshop “Wai-wai” got damage from Tsunami of the disaster on March 11.
The Tsunami broke everything in the workshop. However, it has been recovered by supports of many persons including the Support Center Fukushima. And now they have finally re-started their job!
Furthermore, “Wai-wai” has started to accept survivors with disabilities in Iwaki city, 5 persons for their workshop and 2 for their group home.
It means that support-ee turned to support-er. The Support Center Fukushima will help this good turning movement to expand other support offices.

Information of consultation desk

The Support Center Fukushima now has fulltime staffs to provide information and consultation for the survivors with disabilities. Please contact with us.

Hours for consultation; 8:30am to 5:30pm (including Saturday, Sunday and holidays in June)
Ways of consultation; we have consultation by phone, Email, and visiting to our desk. Moreover, we can visit to your home if you want. At first, please contact with us.
Contents of consultation; on shelter’s life, life in future, available services of welfare, medical issues, education, and jobs.

Translated by Japanese Society for Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities
Volunteer translator: Mr. Makoto Kono