Unleash the Potential of Young Changemakers

Dear GlobalGivers,

This is Hiroaki, Ashoka Japan’s Tohoku Youth Venture Programmatic Leader. Here in Japan,  it is starting to get colder and colder. This is especially so for the Tohoku area (Northeastern Japan) which suffered from the earthquake and tsunami. The cold is taking a toll on victims who live in temporary housing projects. 

However, I have some good news. We have recently had some of our teams finish our one-year Tohoku Youth Venture program.  As we continue to cheer them on, we have also welcomed into our program a new Venturer. I am thankful for all of our wonderful supporters and donators who have made this possible.

Today, I would like to introduce to you a Youth Venturer who started her activity earlier this year. She is also a victim of the tsunami disaster; her own house was washed away by it. Her name is Yuuri Tabata, a 17-year-old high school student. Please take the time to watch a video of a TV program in which her activity was covered, and to learn further about her “Kataribe” activity below.

The video: Fighting forgetting

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rT9fFQtDOfo&feature=youtu.be

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My name is Yuuri. I live in Minamisanriku, Miyagi. Today I will present to you an actual speech that I gave in English.

Below is my speech:

The disaster on March 11, 2011 left signs of damage in my hometown, Minamisanriku, Miyagi. Because my house was ruined by the tsunami, I was forced to live in a temporary housing project. I have not seen the reconstruction that has been repeatedly promised over the last two years. I started questioning what the adults, who had been promising reconstruction, had actually accomplished. I believed that the adults in charge of addressing the situation would actually get something done, but it soon proved to be just an illusion. However, I noticed one more important thing: like those adults, I had also not taken action yet. That is why I started up "Kataribe" a group of students who tell our experiences concerning the disaster to the young generation.

Now, I have activities with "Kataribe" after school and weekends. For example, I talked to students who came to Minamisanriku for a school trip. Some of them cried after hearing my story. I hope they will be the next "Kataribe", telling my story to friends, family, and other people. Sometimes I have a chance to tell my experience to foreigners. Most of them are very surprised because earthquakes and tsunamis are not common to them. Maybe my English is not good, but I believe my story have reached their hearts. Through my activities, the disaster would continue to be told to younger generations.

Through these experiences, I have realized one important thing. Anybody can think, but what is important is to take action. You can say "Thank you" anytime. However you can lose your friends, family, and lover at any moment. You should think and then take action so that you will not regret later. The young will create the future and make this country better. You should think and then take action. These steps will change you, people around you, and even the world.

Action is a message.

Links:

• Ashoka Japan Website