Activity Report IV
AMDA Scholarship for High School Students in Tohoku

July 2012

As part of recovery project of Tohoku Earthquake, AMDA is distributing AMDA International Scholarship tothe surviving students in the affected area since 2011. Seven eligible schools were Iwate Prefectural
Kamaishi High School, Iwate Prefectural Kamaishi Commercial & Technical High School, Iwate
Prefectural Otsuchi High School, Miyagi Prefectural Shizukawa High School, Sendai Medical HealthInstitute, Iwate Prefectural Ofunato High School, Tohoku North Korean School. Eighty Six selectedstudents recommended by the principals of each school received 15,000 yen per month (annual amountof 180,000 yen). Twenty four students among them graduated in the spring of 2011, and each graduate istaking a new step.
From a 2011 Graduate of Iwate Prefectural Kamaishi High School (Female)
On March 11th, I was in the corridor of my high school after the sixth class of the day as usual. The
destructive shaking arrived when I heard earth rumbling and everybody was screaming. Shaking did not
end but got stronger. Lights were turned off, and the water poured into the classroom from the ceiling.
We were all panicking. Our teachers were not around since the earthquake occurred during a break. Thiswas the scariest experience in my life. Because Tsunami had hit our town, most students were not able
to go home and spent a restless night in the gymnasium.
Now, I am taking a big step foward to a new stage of life as I graduate from high school. Looking backthis year, various aspects of my life has changed. I had many obstacles, but I had more support thanthose obstacles. Snacks with heartwarming messages from supporters made me feel cheered. Many ofthe supporters live away from Tohoku area, but still, I could feel their encouragement. It was a starting
point to study hard for the college exam when we, as preparatory high school students, received
stationaries as donations. Also, we received countless heartwarming messages.
Because of those messages and supports from each person who think of us, I could keep going until
today despite of scariness of endless aftershocks and stress of a new environment. I am thankful that I
can graduate now with support from many people. In the future, natural disasters of this scale mightoccur somewhere in the world. In those cases, I would like to return the support back to the affectedpeople, just like I did from various people during the difficult times of Tohoku Earthquake. I would like tocontribute to recover Tohoku by making some action that I can do. I am currently living outside of Tohoku
to go to college. However, my love for Iwate Prefecture and the ocean will never disappear. A year has
passed since the 311 Disaster. The landscape of the affected area is changing gradually. Nevertheless, itwill take long to complete the recovery. I don’t want people to forget about the disaster and its survivors
who are working hard to recover the area. Again, I appreciate your generosity and I will never forget yourkind support.
From a 2011 Graduate of Miyagi Prefectural Shizukawa High School (Female)
Last March, when I was living in an evacuation shelter, I was thinking that I might have to give up mydream to become a nurse. However, my parents let me go to a nursing school. They supported me bysaying “Hold on to what you want to do until you cannot do so.” Then, I worked through preparation for
the entrance exam. With support from teachers, who carefully guided me through my study, friends wholistened to me as if it were their problem, and others, I could be accepted the nursing school of my firstchoice.

I grew up and went to school from Kindergarten to High school in the same local area, and I have amixed feeling of anxiety and anticipation for starting my life in a new area. In the nursing school, I willlearn new subjects from various areas that are different from high school. I would like to foster a sense ofhumanity by having contact with patients, nurses at work, and my company for reaching the same goal to
be a nurse.
Now, I feel stronger than before that people should live well and I am willing to do something to makemyself useful. At a starting point to become a nurse, I would like to appreciate everyday life. I will work
hard to attain my goal for being an ideal nurse, who everybody feels comfortable to be with.

What are the Scholarship Students’ Future Goal?
Thanks to so many people who had donated generously to this scholarship program, it made it possible for us
to accept applications for the new scholarship students this year. We also completed funding the 62 existing
scholarship students from last year, excluding the already graduated students. AMDA decided to provide
scholarship to Miyagi Prefectural Kesen’numa High School, our new addition to the program. AMDA recently
heard from the school that they have finished choosing 15 students (5 first-graders, 5 second-graders, and 5
third-graders). In addition, Miyagi Prefectural Shizugawa High School also reported to us that they havefinished the scholarship recipient selection. The details of the students are 4 first-graders, 2 second-graders,and 9 third-graders.

As soon as all the paperwork is done, AMDA will start supplying the scholarship to the students, aroundsome time between mid August and early September. Furthermore, we have already notified Iwate
Prefectural Otsuchi High School that AMDA will be accepting additional application for the scholarshipprogram. We are currently waiting to hear back from the principal.
Below is the detail of the 30 students for the scholarship program 2012.
Future Occupation（new scholarship students）

Occupation
medical doctor
pharmacist

Kesen’numa Shizugawa
High School School
12
2

nurse
midwifehealth worker
clinical laboratory technician
radiation technologist

8111
1High

5

physical therapist

2care worker

2

other

4

Future Occupation (Entire scholarship students) as of July 19th, 2012
medical doctor
pharmacist
nurse
mid wife

9630
1

health worker
clinical laboratory technician
radiation technologist
physical therapist

12
2
14

care worker
nursing teacher
other3123