We are all now aware of the tragic circumstances that were caused by an earthquake in Japan. The loss of life has been heavy and the disruption to everyday life has been catastrophic for hundreds of thousands of Japanese people. The National Coordinator in Japan has asked for a special financial appeal. He sees a major need that iscurrently not being given full attention:
Bicycles – Due to a major fuel shortage and damage to the roads and train tracks, people are unable to travel by train or cars in the affected areas. Youth for Christ will purchase a number of bicycles that have cargo capabilities to be able to transport the sick and injured to clinics and hospitals regardless of the condition of the roads. They will also provide people access to food and water.
 Donate a cargo bike like this including delivery to the affected area for US$220 each |
 Donate a cargo bike like this including delivery to affected areas for US$370 each. |
From Our Workers in Japan
We have just heard from Endo – our National Coordinator in Japan. Below is an excerpt from his recent correspondence:
“… The team staff of Youth for Christ went to the devastated area. The damage of those areas was very severe and our national government has a plan to transfer almost all the residents to another area. So that area will not be recovered by the original residents. I thought that they would stay near their houses and clean up. But the recovery process must be done basically by machines. And some companies like Toyota are preparing apartment houses for them.
Youth for Christ staff and volunteers with bikes purchased for relief efforts.
We have more than 2,000 shelters now along the 500 km long coastal area. And many others are not counted in the official records. Furthermore, only a few hundred of the shelters in the most devastated area are covered by the governmental big transport project. More than half of the shelters are the temporary refuges for those who are willing to go back.
The mothers who are pregnant or have babies are not happy in the shelters. The pregnant mothers need a special care, and the mother who has a baby is under big stresses. The babies cry at night and the others around her can not sleep well. So many of them go back to their damaged but not collapsed houses without electricity and water.
I think that the bikes and the trailers should be used by some volunteer workers who carry the supplies to such houses for these 3-6 months. And we will give them away to such mothers or families after that period.
So we, Japan YFC decided to concentrate on sending the bicycles. We want to send 200 –300 of them if possible… Thank you for your care…”
UPDATE – 27 April 2011
We have asked you to consider giving to Japan Relief Appeal, to assist the Youth for Christ team and the Christian community in their relief efforts towards the disaster that struck the north of the country. We were overwhelmed by the response that came back, at the point of writing this letter, our workers in Japan have purchased 44 bicycles and trailers, as well as five barrels of diesel fuel, which is in short supply. The bicycles were put straight to work by the community, and are now being used to transport medical and food needs, as well as people back and forth. Once the roads have been repaired and there is no longer a need for such flexible transportation Youth for Christ will donate the bikes to needy parents with young children.
Youth for Christ in Hong Kong not only responded with finances to the crisis, but asked local school students to write cards in Japanese for students who had been majorly impacted by the disaster.
Our workers in Japan are now delivering thousands of the cards along with small gifts to students.
Our on the ground workers are also now assessing what the next level of action will be including crisis counseling.
Update – 10 May 2011
We have managed to raise over US$26,000. Japan YFC distributed 25 trailers last month and 35 more trailers and bikes are going to be distributed next week.
Will you consider supporting such a worthy cause at this time of crisis?
To give via mail, including EFT, please click here to download an Adobe PDF form and note Japan Relief under Donation Preference.
