Recreation volunteers taking action in disaster-affected areas

　Recreation volunteers have begun to take action in areas affected by Great East Japan Earthquake.

The Miyagi Recreation Association has started volunteering at the evacuation center in Ayukawa district of Ishinomaki City. Despite sustaining enormous damage by tsunami, flow of aid and assistance to Ayukawa district has been very slow as it's located at tip of Oshika Peninsula.

On 12 April, over 40 elderly and children gathered in the lobby of "Seiyukan", a Health and Welfare Center which has temporarily become an evacuation center. Here, people were encouraged to take their mind off the disaster and relax by playing games of paper-scissors-rock, followed by activities such as singing, exercise and brain teasers. The volunteers really helped to bring smiles and laughter to the face of people there.

The evacuation center has since requested the volunteer program to be held every Tuesday and Friday. In response, Ms Naoko Yamauchi, the executive director of Miyagi Recreation Association said "We will do our best to serve their needs. This is going to be a long term project so we need to ensure proper coordination of volunteers".

　On 17 April, a recreational program for children of Iwate Prefecture from Otsuchi, Kamaishi, Ofunato and Rikuzentakata was launched. The purpose of the program is to let children take part in recreational activities away from the disaster zone by taking them out to Tono city. This program is a collaborative effort of regional social welfare councils, Iwate Recreation Association and Tono Recreation Association. As support grows, the program will be able to serve greater number of children and have additional activities such as camping.

Similar programs are starting up in Fukushima Prefecture as well. Aizuwakamatsu Sports & Recreation Association and Hanawa Recreational Association are running daily exercise and activity programs at evacuation centers. Fukushima Recreation Association has also begun running programs at two evacuation centers. The association is also working with Fukushima Youth Center to help organize accommodation for volunteers from other prefectures.

In order to support the initiatives of these disaster-stricken communities, National Recreation Association of Japan is now accepting applications for recreation volunteering. A successful applicant will receive information on volunteer work so he/she can be matched with a suitable job.