Volunteer Seminar Journal -special issue of introduction to volunteer-

Hi, I'm Y. Tsugawa from HARU Public Relations.

Recently, "Volunteer Seminar Journal -special issue of introduction to volunteer-" was published by Volunteer Assistance Division in Tohoku University. The journal introduces the volunteer groups associated with Tohoku University. New undergraduates were given the journal at an entrance ceremony.

We helped to edit the journal, especially to lay out and design, in order to make use of our past experience of HARU's paper. When editing the journal, we received many e-mails such as "I don't like the blank space.", "Balance will be good if..." and "You should add or change this like..." from the stuffs of Volunteer Assistance Division. The words sometimes inspired us, sometimes made us lose heart..., and we've finally finished up this!

We're very grateful for all the help of collaborators!

If you are interested in the journal, please contact us.

Best regards.

HARU was officially commended on subsidizing project on student volunteering, by student support center foundation.

      Hello, this is Kaisumi from HARU Public Relations. It has been quite chill lately, that snow just does not know when to melt.

      Few days ago, HARU was chosen to be a subsidized project on student volunteering by student support center foundation, and was officially commended. The student support center aims at contributing Japanese advanced education by promoting realization of fulfilled student life of heart and humanity, through subsidizing activities related to student life. The student volunteering subsidizing project is one of them.

The commendation ceremony was held in Tokyo on 26^th of January, to which our member Motoyama went;

“I feel that this certificate means evaluation on success of many people after HARU was founded. Many students from other universities also participated in the ceremony. A person who is from Miyagi and now going to school in Tokyo, told me that it was really reliable and grateful that HARU has been working hard since right after the earthquake.

              This time I received not only as a member of HARU, also for members that found HARU and all the volunteer students participated in any activities of HARU.”

              Now HARU is working on 3 projects: Study Support Project, Library Recovery Project, and Field Mustard Project. We are very grateful on this and keep on doing our best.

HARU Public Relations

Aya KAISUMI

Waon Project

Hello everyone, happy New Year. This is Eto from Public Relations of HARU.

How did you spend your New Year holidays? For me I went back home, met my old friends, and spent days with my family. But the best thing I was looking forward every year is Wiener Philharmonic New Year Concert! I felt ‘the power of music’ again when I enjoy watching it. People enjoy beautiful harmony and performance, which get us more energy.

Now let me introduce “Waon Project” which is working for disaster area in Japan with the power of music.

Check their website out: http://www.waon-project.com/

The ‘Waon Project’ has two main objectives. The first, collecting unused instruments lying in the cellar at home, and delivering them to the disaster struck regions of Japan. Second, to hold events and concerts to collect donations, which is used to support the ‘Zero-One Project’.

I had a chance to talk with Masayoshi Higashi, a representative of this Waon Project.

Q1. What made you start this project?

A1. I went to the affected area two weeks after the earthquake. I don’t know why but I just thought I should go see there. Then I went around Arahama, Ishinomaki and I was really shocked when I saw the sight with my own eyes. It was totally different from what I knew from TV. . The sounds, stench, scale, the feeling beneath my feet, they were printed in my memory, and I felt that I need to engage myself in lending a helping hand.

After travelling to the affected area, I held a number of charity events and concerts, but at the same time, I realized that they had little influence to the disaster. Half an year later in early October, I went to the sites again and visited the city halls and shelters, to find out ‘what I could really do’. Since my occupation was a music teacher, I made use of my network and met colleagues in the region. There, I found out about the ‘Zero-One Project’, in which the victims themselves ran. Living in Shizuoka Prefecture, which is rather distant from the Tohoku region, I felt that participating in this project would be significant and meaningful. Thus, I decided to support the people who had been organizing musical events, to help rehabilitate North East Japan with the ‘Waon Project’.

Q2. How is the project working so far?

A2. Since this project started last November, there are yet to be achievements. However, as for collecting guitars, we now have over 10 and its number is gradually increasing. As for donations, we have tens of thousands, and they two are increasing by the day.

We have members operating in Shizuoka, Nagoya and Kyoto. 2012 is going to be a big year, as the group will begin fully-fledged activities, and we hope to expand outwards!

Q3. So what are you going to do? What’s your plan?

A3. There will be events held in various places to raise donations. At the same time, we will be looking for partner events to support our project. For further information, please take a look at our website, as we will be notifying from time to time

Q4. Please give us some words for people in the affected area.

A4. I hope that fun times as before or even better times than the past are soon to arrive!

H.Eto