Social Entrepreneurs of Japan's Disaster-Hit Areas

In only two weeks, Cross-Border Learning Journey 2017 will begin, and leaders from the US and Japan will meet with social entrepreneurs and nonprofit leaders in Fukushima, the prefecture heavily hit by the Great East Japan Earthquake.

Even six years after the disaster, there still many people who have not returned home, and in some areas, the evacuation order has just lifted in the spring of 2017. There are still zones designated by the government as difficult for local residents to return due to radiation exposure.

Some chose to / were forced to leave their hometown, others chose to stay / cannot leave. I respect each one's choice, and my heart tries to empathize with these choices though that is a very tough thing to do.

Then there are social entrepreneurs and nonprofit leaders, who have dedicated their hearts and minds to working with and supporting local residents. I and WIT sincerely believe in their passion and potential and in the power of encounterment of people from diverse perspectives to better the world and co-create our future.

This year, we will have an engineer, TV anchor, entrepreneurs, professor, corporate executive, journalist and others to join the CBLJ in Fukushima. We all hope to learn from each other, get inspired, and take a step forward to make a difference. Please look forward to our updates.

We sincerely thank for all your suppport including contribution, spreading the word, and many other ways. We look forward to sharing this year's stories of the participanting individuals and organizations with you.


With heartfelt gratitude,

Mio and WIT Team

Links:

• Report from last year's CBLJ
• Report (2) from last year's CBLJ