Japan: Saint Maur School Community Rallies for Sendai

Selling like hotcakes: the Saint Maur “Hope for Japan” reversible wristbands (photo: Saint Maur International School).

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Almost before the ground stopped shaking, various sectors of the Saint Maur International School community in Yokohama, Japan started to find ways to assist and support the devastated people of the Sendai area.

During the period of time that school was closed (for a couple of weeks), teachers were collecting immediate, essential items as well as cash for the evacuees; these were sent to the most devastated areas through an organization called Peace Boat.

Some teachers got students together to bake bread for evacuees in the Yokohama area nearby.

Saint Maur put a hold on fund-raising for its new state-of-the-art science center (which had opened on 14 February), to focus entirely on raising funds for the victims of the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami disaster, which devastated the lives of so many people.

Immediate collection of funds, and the speedy initiation of a Saint Maur Japan Earthquake Relief Fund through the Saint Maur International School’s home page, brought in well over a million yen (upwards of US$12,000) prior to the school’s reopening on 4 April.

As soon as school got under way, three student councils in the elementary, middle, and high schools got together to find ways to collect money for the needy. Students put on their uniforms and went to busy shopping centers and churches, collecting several hundred thousand yen more.

There was also a relief committee, comprised of teachers, administrators, students, and parents. Several activities were initiated.

The middle and high school student councils purchased a 40-meter clear plastic tube, which was then taped to the stairway for four floors leading down to the cafeteria. Anyone walking by could put coins into the two openings at the top floor.

School staff and administrators decided that the usual raffle ticket sale, which is a major fund-raiser for the school’s needs, would be used completely for the Tohoku purpose. That brought in well over two million yen.

The Parent Support Group’s (PSG) half-million yen pledge, also intended for the betterment of the school, was re-routed to earthquake relief.

Red and white reversible wristbands, that say “Hope for Japan” in both English and Japanese, became big sellers immediately upon delivery from California. Those continue to sell well, which has brought intermediate receipts to over five million yen, roughly US$65,000!

Saint Maur students and community members have not slowed down at all. They have “adopted” a school in the Miyagi area, for which they will try to purchase all necessary supplies—for students as well as teachers.

A disastrous event brought the total Saint Maur Community together like never before, and we are all committed to pursuing this effort for many months to come. It will take at least that long to help the people most affected to regain a sense of normality. l

Mr. Rucci is Coordinating Principal at Saint Maur International School.

---

Please fill out the form below if you would like to post a comment on this article:

Nickname

(this will appear with your comments)

Email

Comments

---

Comments

There are currently no comments posted. Please post one via the form above.

MORE FROM

ONLINE ARTICLES