East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami DisasterJapan Committee for UNICEF
Emergency Relief and Reconstruction Support
Two-Year Report—Toward a Child-Friendly Reconstruction

unite forchildrenForeword

Two years have passed since we were entrusted by UNICEF headquarters with performing the vitalrole of extending support to children in Japan for the first time in approximately 50 years. The many
messages of encouragement we received were a great source of strength for us.
Immediately after the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami in March 2011, we received thecooperation of numerous partner associations, companies and many Japanese UNICEF staff aroundthe world who returned to Japan to help. Our programme began by distributing drinking water, clothing, and other supplies to the affected people. We also worked on making evacuation centers “ChildFriendly Spaces.” After just a few days, we expanded interventions to include mother and child healthcare services, support for reopening schools, and other activities. This response showed how knowledge gained by UNICEF over many decades is equally effective in developing and developed countries. Following the earthquake, this expertise proved crucial in one activity after another.
As we were providing emergency relief, I realized we had fallen behind in assistance for the care andeducation of preschool children, in comparison with support for school-age children. This is also true
for after-school care centers for children. Following the earthquake, our staff conducted what theycalled the Going Around Taking Orders Project. They visited kindergartens and nursery schools toprovide assistance that matched the needs of each location. We distributed eating utensils, toys, furniture and blankets, cleaned up dirty buildings, and performed other tasks. This led to support forrebuilding facilities for children, which was the highlight of our second year of earthquake recovery
programme.
Children are now enjoying their time at nursery schools, kindergartens, library, and after-school carefacilities that we helped reconstruct. The sight of children playing at these bright, welcoming facilities
built from local materials gives the affected people and those who extended support even more motivation to continue moving forward.
The full-scale reconstruction programme is underway with many initiatives being undertaken bynational government bodies and local authorities. At the front line of this emergency relief, community associations and residents have long been taking the lead in providing assistance. The Japan Committee for UNICEF (JCU) remains committed to continuing its programme and to assisting the Area
Asssociations of Japan Committee for UNICEF, local governments and individuals with particularfocus on three areas: psychosocial support, child protection, and child-friendly reconstruction plans.
I am very grateful for the assistance we have received from many people in Japan and overseas.
I ask for your continued support for the children who will play an important role in the revitalization of
the areas affected by the earthquake and tsunami.
March 2013

Ryoko Akamatsu
Chairperson
Japan Committee for UNICEF

Contents
Our Goals and Approach

Cover photograph:Children delighted at receiving
letters from friends overseas (Sanpo
Nursery School, Fukushima)
All uncredited photographs
appearing in this document are
© JCU

1

Child Protection

11

Two Years After the Disaster2
Review of Programme ................................................ 2
Regional Casualty and Damage Report ...................... 2
Donations .................................................................... 3

Child-Friendly Reconstruction Plans

13

Communication and Advocacy/ From Affected Areas/ From Support Sites

14

Highlights of the Two Years andPlans for the Future

4

Two-Year Income and Expenses Report

16

Education

6

Health and Nutrition

9

Psychosocial Support

10

Programme Contributors
17
Cooperating Corporations and Organizations . ......... 17
Support and Supplies at a Glance ............................. 17

Our Goals and Approach

Toward a Child-Friendly Reconstruction
By providing specialist knowledge and information to people
who interact with children, we have broadened the scope ofprogramme for creating support structures in the region.
Moreover, we have continued to support forums and processes in which children could look back upon the disaster andexpress their opinions and thoughts about the future of theirown towns.

UNICEF’s emergency response manual states that in all
natural disasters, it is always the children who are most vulnerable. JCU has been providing emergency and reconstruction support for the children affected by the East Japan
Earthquake and Tsunami Disaster, in collaboration with
UNICEF headquarters, partner corporations and organizations.
In the second year of the programme, we have been working
hard on psychosocial support and child protection as progresscontinues on rebuilding nursery schools, kindergartens andother facilities.

Six Pillars to the Emergency and Reconstruction Programme

4. Psychosocial
Support
3. Education
Goal: Rebuild and reopen schools,
nursery schools, and kindergartens
as quickly as possible.
Activities: Distribute stationery andschool supplies; provide facilities andfurniture and fixtures; support
transportation services to and fromschools and kindergartens; andother services.

2. Health andNutrition

Goal: Strengthen the psychosocial
support system for children.
Activities: Donate bookshelves,
furniture, and fixtures to create ChildFriendly Spaces; dispatch experts tostudy provision of psychologicalsupport for preschool children;and other related services.

5. Child Protection
Goal: Strengthen the national childprotection system to protect children
in harsh environments, such as beingorphaned, or those in need of careand protection.

Build Back Better

Goal: Resume health care,
especially infant health checkups andvaccinations, and nutritional services
for mothers and their children.

Rebuild areas to be child-friendly:
places that allow children to feel safe
and at ease again.

Activities: Dispatch experts; provide
life skill training to children andraising awareness; conduct
advocacy;* and provide otherrelated services.

Activities: Provide technicalassistance by dispatched experts;
distribute food, nutritional
supplements, and equipment
and materials; anddisseminate information.

6. Child-Friendly
Reconstruction Plans
1. Emergency Relief
Supplies

Goal: Ensure the opinions ofchildren are reflected in municipalreconstruction plans, and expand
the support for children andchildcare.

Goal: Provide supplies toemergency shelters and othercenters.
Items supplied: Water, food,
School-in-a-Box Kits, Recreation
Kits, and other supplies.

Activities: Mobilize experts andconduct advocacy.*

Our programme in 2012 centered on the above-mentioned
initiatives 3-6* Advocacy includes working with partner organizations,conducting surveys, providing information, raisingawareness, and making strategy recommendations tolocal government authorities.

1

Two Years After the Disaster
Review of Programme

Note: Expenses includes planned expenses

Emergency Relief Supplies

page 4

Expenses: ¥187,309,517
Water, underwear, clothes for children etc.
* See “Support and Cooperation Participants List” on page 17 for details.

Health and Nutrition

page 9

Expenses: ¥962,942,456• Number of municipal bodies resumed infant healthcheckups: 18(Iwate: 4; Miyagi: 14)• Number of infants who received health checkups: 27,000(Iwate: 4,000; Miyagi: 23,000)• Number of people potentially covered by influenza vaccination:
Approx. 140,000 (2011–2012)
Max. 160,000 (2012–2013)• Number of children able to receive prepared school lunches
due to the provision of utensils and support for school lunch
preparation centers: 15,216 (Miyagi)• Number of children who received supplemental food(school snacks) support at nursery schools andkindergartens: Approx. 830 (Iwate: 25 facilities)

Education

page 6

Expenses: ¥2,615,312,658
Back-to-School Campaign• Number of children receiving essential back-to-schoolsupplies: 26,376(Iwate: 17,540; Miyagi: 6,906; Fukushima: 1,930)• Number of students / schools receiving supplies andequipment: 33,276 / 638(Iwate: 10,380; Miyagi: 21,621; Fukushima: 1,275)(Iwate: 48; Miyagi: 488; Fukushima: 102)
Back to Nursery School and Kindergarten• Number of children / nursery schools and kindergartens
receiving furniture or fixtures support: 4,284 / 73
(Iwate: 1,976; Miyagi: 2,214; Fukushima: 94)(Iwate: 38; Miyagi: 34; Fukushima: 1)
Rebuilding Nursery Schools and Kindergartens Project• Number of children going to nursery schools andkindergartens receiving reconstruction support: 994*
(Iwate: 216; Miyagi: 673; Fukushima: 105)
• Number of nursery schools and kindergartens receiving
reconstruction support: 14(Iwate: 4; Miyagi: 9; Fukushima: 1)*As of the end of February 2013

Psychosocial Support

page 10

Expenses: ¥511,700,206• Number of participants in play therapy and psychologicalcare seminars: 2,200(Iwate: 770; Miyagi: 1,380; Fukushima: 50)• Number of parents and children receiving psychologicalcare from Fukushima Society of Certified ClinicalPsychologists: 9,949 (5,929 adults, 4,020 children)

Regional Casualty and Damage Report
Miyagi Prefecture

Iwate Prefecture[Population before the earthquake]• Children between 0 to 15 years old: 141,059*1(within 0 to 6 years old: 57,936)• Mothers with children under 6 years old: 35,770*1[Population before the earthquake]• Children between 0 to 15 years old: 36,103*1(within 0 to 6 years old: 13,217)• Mothers with children under 6 years old: 7,431*1

Note: 16 cities and towns in coastal Miyagi

Note: 12 cities and towns in coastal Iwate[Population after the earthquake]• Deceased: 10,365*2• Missing: 1,394*2• Deaths among 0 to 19 year olds: 617*3• Bereaved or orphaned children: 902 (bereaved), 135 (orphaned)*4[Population after the earthquake]• Deceased: 4,976*2• Missing: 1,205*2• Deaths among 0 to 19 year olds: 164*3• Bereaved or orphaned children: 482 (bereaved),
94 (orphaned)*4[Target Areas][Target Areas]

1. Sendai, 2. Ishinomaki, 3. Osaki, 4. Tome, 5. Kurihara,
6. Kesennuma, 7. Natori, 8. Tagajyo, 9. Shiogama, 10. Tomiya,
11. Iwanuma, 12. Higashimatsushima, 13. Shibata,14. Shiroishi, 15. Watari, 16. Rifu, 17. Kakuda, 18. Kami,
19. Misato, 20. Taiwa, 21. Ogawara, 22. Shichigahama,
23. Wakuya, 24. Minamisanriku, 25. Yamamoto, 26. Marumori,
27. Matsushima, 28. Zao, 29. Murata, 30. Onagawa,
31. Kawasaki, 32. Osato, 33. Shikama, 34. Ohira,35. Shichikashuku

1. Morioka, 2. Oshu, 3. Ichinoseki, 4. Hanamaki, 5. Kitakami,
6. Miyako, 7. Takizawa, 8. Ofunato, 9. Kamaishi, 10. Kuji,
11. Shiwa, 12. Ninohe, 13. Tono, 14. Hachimantai, 15. Yahaba,
16. Rikuzentakata, 17. Yamada, 18. Shizukuishi, 19. Hirono,
20. Otsuchi, 21. Iwaizumi, 22. Nishiwaga, 23. Sumita,
24. Noda, 25. Tanohata, 26. Fudai

2

Donations (As of December 31, 2012)• Number of books delivered by Children’s Mini Library
Project: Approx. 330,000 books• Number of children participated in Children’s Bus Field Trips:
4,485 (Iwate)• Number of children participated in Let’s Play! The Outdoors
Playtime Project: 47,583 (Fukushima)• Number of parents and children participated in Fukushima
Child Recuperation Project*: 3,476

Emergency relief donations received by the Japan Committee
for UNICEF
From within Japan
¥3,393,860,571
From outside of Japan ¥1,212,946,130
Allotment of Donations by Programme Pillars
On-Site Operations of Programme 1%

Programme Reports and Communication 2%
Child Protection 3%*JCU bears a portion of expenses for the project and arranges events forpreschool childrenChild Protection

Child-Friendly Reconstruction Plans

page 11

Expenses:¥123,701,892• Number of certificated CAP (Child Assault Prevention)
specialists: 115• Number of participants in CAP Workshop: 7,069(3,862 adults, 3,207 children)• Number of trainees who completed training for Father
Supporters: 315(Iwate: 208; Miyagi: 107)

Child-Friendly Reconstruction Plans

4%
4%
11%

Provision of Emergency
Relief Supplies
Psychosocial Support

20%

Health and Nutrition

Education

55%

Note: Donation allotment proportions are calculated based on total amountreceived including the expected expenses. (For the Two-Year Income
and Expenses Report, please see page 16.)

page 13

19

Expenses: ¥166,154,402• Number of children living in project participated / targetedmunicipalities: 22,878(Otsuchi, Iwate; Ishinomaki, Miyagi; Sendai, Miyagi; Soma,
Fukushima)

12
10
14

24
26
25

21

7
1

18
15

6
11
20

4
22

13

17

9

5
23
2

16

8

3

Fukushima Prefecture

6
5[Population before the earthquake]• Children between 0 to 15 years old: 77,906*1(within 0 to 6 years old: 30,901)• Mothers with children under 6 years old: 18,144*1

33
20

Note: 10 cities and towns in coastal Fukushima[Population after the earthquake]• Deceased: 2,686*2• Missing: 226*2• Deaths among 0 to 19 year olds: 98*3
• Bereaved or orphaned children:151 (bereaved),
24 (orphaned)*4

23
19

34

32

27 12
10
16
8 9

1

24

4

3

18

31

7
29
13 11
21
15
14
17
25

2

30

22

28
35

3

[Target Areas]

15

14

1. Iwaki, 2. Koriyama, 3. Fukushima, 4. Minami-soma, 5. Date,
6. Shirakawa, 7. Nihonmatsu, 8. Soma, 9. Motomiya,
10. Nishigo, 11. Yabuki, 12. Miharu, 13. Ishikawa,
14. Inawashiro, 15. Kawamata, 16. Tomioka, 17. Kori,
18. Kunimi, 19. Otama, 20. Shinchi, 21. Futaba, 22. Hirono,
23. Tamura, 24. Iitate, 25. Naraha, 26. Kawauchi, 27. Ookuma,
28. Namie, 29. Katsurao, 30. Aizuwakamatsu

1718
5

30

10
6

19

7

2

12 23

11 13

26

20
8

24

4

28
29

27
16
26
25
22
1

21

Notes:
1. Programme areas areindicated according to
the administrative
boundaries of the local
municipalities
2. The numbers on themap correspond withthe cities indicated in“Target Areas.”*1. 2010 Population Census of Japan.
*2. The Fire and Disaster Management Agency (FDMA)’s report on the Great East
Japan Earthquake (No. 146) announced on September 28, 2012.
*3. The National Police Agency’s report on the Great East Japan Earthquake (forthe period from March to September 2011) announced on September 15, 2011.
*4. Iwate Prefecture Children and Families Division, Miyagi Prefecture ChildRearing Support Division, and Fukushima Prefecture Children and Families
Division (As of January 2013).

3

Highlights of the Two Years and Plans for the Future

Main Activities and Status

Post-disasterMonth 1
Provided emergency
supplies and health andhygiene support to mothers
and children. Also provided
nutritional support.

Post-disasterMonth 2
Expanded support
for reopening schools,
preschools, andkindergartens, and forpsychological support.

• Procurement and distribution of supplies including drinking
water, children’s clothes, hygiene products, and shoes• Health services support for mothers and children• Care support by setting up Child-Friendly Spaces and offering
play therapy and psychological support seminars• Advocacy for international standards-based alternative carefor disaster-affected children• Back-to-School Campaign Phase I
a. Provision of school supplies, such as school bags and stationeryb. Provision of primary and junior high schools with desks,
chairs, computers, fixtures, portable toilets, and othernecessities• Provision of nutritional school lunches and snacks• Provision of Early Child Development Kits, desks, chairs,
eating utensils, and other goods to preschools, kindergartens, and after-school care centers• Psychosocial Support
a. Children’s Mini Library Project: Children’s books received
from all over the country are combined into sets and distributed to preschools, kindergartens, and homesb. Children’s Bus Field Trips: Began offering bus trips thatgive children a chance to play outside or enjoy various fun
activities in safe locationsc. Support through play therapy and psychological support
seminars by clinical psychologists© JCU/2011/K. Goto

Post-disasterMonths 3–6

4© JCU/2011/K. Goto

Support for the resumptionof basic government
services for children• Back-to-School Campaign Phase II.
Assistance for purchasing school goods for primary andjunior high school students, including gym clothes, Japanesecalligraphy tools, paints, and supplementary materials• Assistance for opening junior high and high school interscholastic athletic meets• Support for supplying materials for health checkups at schools• Support for full-scale restart of mother and child health careservices, such as health checkups for babies and vaccination
programmes• Support for rebuilding nursery schools, kindergartens andother childcare facilities• Support and advocacy for construction of child-rearing
support centers on temporary housing sites• Implementation of child abuse and domestic violence prevention campaign

Post-disasterMonths 6–12
Medium- to long-termreconstruction support

Post-disasterYear 1–2
Support for creating
the foundation forreconstruction

Future Plans• Health care assistance, such as sending obstetricians
and gynecologists, providing dental examinations, building
temporary public health centers, and funding for influenza
vaccines• Support for providing child caregivers• Support for rebuilding nursery schools, kindergartens andother childcare facilities: Mainly assistance for replacing
temporary facilities with permanent buildings• Psychosocial Support
1) Play therapy and psychological support seminars
2) Provision of clinical psychologists
3) Tegami Project4) Prayer Tree Project• Child Protection
1) Training to prevent child abuse
2) Child abuse prevention campaign (information distribution
and educational programmes using radio commercials, etc.)
3) Support for Fathers, Mainly for Single Fathers and Their Children• Child-Friendly Reconstruction Plans
1) Otsuchi workshop and park construction2) Furusato Soma Children’s Reconstruction Council• Support for rebuilding nursery schools, kindergartens andother childcare facilities• Psychosocial Support1) Dispatch of psychologists and construction of consultation room2) Fukushima Child Recuperation Project3) Tegami Project4) Prayer Tree Project• Child Protection
1) Training to prevent child abuse
2) Child abuse prevention campaign (information distribution
and educational programmes using radio commercials, etc.)
3) S upport for Fathers, Mainly for Single Fathers and Their Children4) Family Risks and Child Protection Seminar Series5) Support for foster parents and foster children6) After school child minding / child care7) Seminar on strengthening community network to protect
children• Child-Friendly Reconstruction Plans
1) Children’s town Ishinomaki2) Otsuchi’s future classroom workshop
3) Furusato Soma Children’s Reconstruction Council
4) The future of Shichigo Village – Vision for the community
on my 20th birthday• Support for children forced to leave Fukushima Prefecture• Support for providing child caregivers• Support for subsidizing the expense of influenza vaccines

We will continue to provide assistance by supporting theactivities of prefectural UNICEF associations, local governments and individuals. One example is psychological support
for children, which began with the creation of Child-Friendly
Spaces. Another is creating frameworks for the social protection of children, including assistance for single-parent households, chiefly single fathers. Upcoming activities will continue
to focus on creating frameworks that enable children to participate in many ways in the reconstruction process.

5

Education

Rebuilding Nursery Schools and Kindergartens Project
In response to requests from local governments in Iwate,
Miyagi, and Fukushima Prefectures, we have helped rebuild
nursery schools, kindergartens and other child welfare andhealth care facilities as well as supported large-scale renovation projects.
The reopening of nursery care services at many preschoolsthat suffered damage from the earthquake and tsunami wasdelayed and problems with the safety of the ground at thesites and other issues have resulted in no estimates being
made so far about when nursery care buildings can bereopened at the same sites. Consequently, we have decided
to support the rebuilding of these buildings. As a result,
Otsuchi Nursery School reopened at a temporary building on
June 1, 2011, after a gap of roughly 80 days. The project
started off with the construction of temporary buildings. It continued with the construction permanent buildings based on thefollowing basic principles and policies:

4. Achieve harmony with the community’s customs and culture.
5. Build a structure that can co-exist with the environment.

All construction supported by JCU was completed by January
2013.
On January 20, 2013, the completion ceremony for the final
child welfare facility of the project was held in Watari, Miyagi.
Mr Hiroshi Namikawa (Vice President and director of K.ITO
Architects & Engineers Inc.) who kindly acted as head of thecommittee for the planning management collective of design,
construction and management companies for this projectmade the following comment: “I pondered the questions ofwhat a truly representative UNICEF building actually is whenit comes to creating a permanent one and of what sort of

Basic Principles
1. Create environments that are centered on children and their
participation.
2. Create childcare spaces that are warm and child-friendly.
3. Integrate the buildings with nature and the local environment.
Basic Policies
1. Implement participatory construction projects that reflect
everyone’s thoughts and input.
2. Create a “forest for learning” to provide environmental education for children.
3. Create a space for children that is safe and secure.

Local people also participated in the roof raising ceremony for the WatariChild Care Facility and prayed that the work would continue and becompleted safely

1. Otsuchi Nursery School(Otsuchi, Iwate)
The temporary school wasconstructed about three kilometers
inland from the previous school in alocation full of greenery

2. Kirikiri Nursery School(Otsuchi, Iwate)
Children helped build the wood deck

3. H
 imawari Nursery School(Ishinomaki, Miyagi)
The school building has a brightsunflower-yellow entrance

4. S
 anpo Nursery School(Iwaki, Fukushima)
Building temporary schoolrooms
while decontamination continues in
the playground

5. Midori Kindergarten(Otsuchi, Iwate)
The temporary school building islocated in a pleasant area away fromthe coast

6. Takekoma Nursery School(Rikuzentakata, Iwate)
The school held an opening
ceremony to welcome 37 children

7. Oshika Area Nursery School(Ishinomaki, Miyagi)Children love the colorful red andblue school building

8. Inai Nursery School(Ishinomaki, Miyagi)
With a floor area of 700 square meters,
this was the largest construction projectin Ishinomaki after the earthquake at
the time of its completion6

building is it that puts children first? The various buildings thathave been completed all have wonderful features and points
but it’s not simply the excellence of the heating or of the ventilation systems that is truly wonderful – a really wonderful building is one where children feel that “I’m happy when I’m here”
and “being here will be something I’ll always remember.”
Looking back on the completed project, he remarked that“perhaps working on this project has shown what sort ofbuilding is really right for children.”

Report 1 Takekoma Nursery School (Iwate)
The new Takekoma Nursery School was supported by JCU
with a temporary building. The school’s ceremony for incoming children took place on April 4, 2012, at a nearby community center. There were 37 children between the ages of one
and five. All children answered energetically and went
forward when the teacher
called their names.
At the ceremony, Wakae
Murakami, the head of thenursery school, welcomed
the children. “This day was
made possible by the
support of the Japan Committee for UNICEF. Thank
A student walks happily to the teachers
you very much. We haveupon having her name called

9. Asahi Kindergarten(Minamisanriku, Miyagi)
Made with a Japanese cedar treethat has withstood 300 years of
disasters

11. M
 other’s Home
(Kesennuma, Miyagi)
Support facility for children withdisabilities created in the multiservice welfare facility complex

13. Ashinome Kindergarten
Child-Rearing Support Center(Kesennuma, Miyagi)
This center was constructed as a childrearing support center for the area

Chika Kato, a teacher, said that “our goal is to create a nursery school thatmakes children want to come here every day”

received encouragement and support from many people overthe past year. I hope that your happiness at this school will
repay everyone for their kindness. It was a long year as we all
waited until the children could be together again.”
After the ceremony, attendees went to the new school. Its
bright interior features light tones of wood and hand-written
messages of congratulations from the teachers. Parents
were just as happy as the children. One mother of a boy
remarked that “I’m glad to have a school that everyone cango to together. We were waiting for this moment for a longtime.”

10. Fuji Kindergarten(Yamamoto, Miyagi)
Working with disaster-stricken woodis the motif

12. Makisawa Kibou Nursery School(Kesennuma, Miyagi)
The layout of the rooms is designed
to encourage interaction amongchildren

14. Watari Child Care Center(Watari, Miyagi)
Disaster-stricken wood used for theexternal panels

Name of Facility

NumberofChildren1

Otsuchi Nursery School (Otsuchi, Iwate)77

May 2011

2

Kirikiri Nursery School (Otsuchi, Iwate)

43

August 2011

3

Himawari Nursery School(Ishinomaki, Miyagi)

91

November 2011

4

Sanpo Nursery School (Iwaki, Fukushima)

105

November 2011

5

Midori Kindergarten (Otsuchi, Iwate)

56

January 2012

6

Takekoma Nursery School(Rikuzentakata, Iwate)

40

March 2012

7

Oshika Area Nursery School(Ishinomaki, Miyagi)

31

June 20128

Inai Nursery School (Ishinomaki, Miyagi)

81

July 2012

9

Asahi Kindergarten(Minamisanriku, Miyagi)

51

July 201210

Fuji Kindergarten (Yamamoto, Miyagi)

110

August 201211

Mother’s Home (Kesennuma, Miyagi)

33

September 201212

Makisawa Kibou Nursery School(Former Ikkeijima Nursery School
Kesennuma, Miyagi)

26

September 201213

Ashinome Kindergarten Child-Rearing
Support Center (Kesennuma, Miyagi)

179

December 2012

14

Watari Child Care Center (Watari, Miyagi)

71

December 2012

As of the end of February 20137

Completion Dateoil. This creates a safe environment for children with atopy
and asthma. I hope everyone will enjoy this building formany years.”
We have also supported after-school care for children in a
trailer house in Onagawa, Miyagi, and for the construction of
the single-storied, wooden “Natori Library Donguri Children’s
Library” in Natori, Miyagi.
Children can enjoy time with their friends after-school andparents can do their jobs without worrying about their children. This is a big step toward reconstruction.

Report 2 Child-Rearing Support Center,
Ashinome Kindergarten (Miyagi)
The completion ceremony took place on January 19, 2013.
Junichi Onodera, head of Ashinome Kindergarten proclaimed
a new beginning for the community. “Rebuilding Kesennuma
will take a long time. But we don’t want to make our children
wait any longer. Our role concerning the care of preschool
children is to provide a place where they can spend time theway they want to. I will do my best to see that this building
fulfills that role and helps the children of Kesennuma develop
in a healthy manner.”

Continuing Child Caregivers
There is a shortage of child caregivers at the areas affectedby the earthquake and tsunami. In response to this issue, we
continued the Project to Support Child Development in
Affected Areas since October 2011 as a joint initiative withThe Japan Overseas Cooperative Association (JOCA).
JOCA sent Disaster Relief Specialist Volunteers, all former
JICA volunteers and members of the National Cooperation
Volunteers (for long-term assistance) to regions affected by
the earthquake. These individuals continue to use their specialized skills and experience from past aid activities toextend assistance from a medium-term perspective. National
Cooperation Volunteers (child caregivers), who mainly giveassistance for childcare and development under this joint programme, have been sent to two locations since November
2011: Otsuchi Nursery School and the Yamada Community
Childcare Support Center, both in Iwate.
We have already sent short-term volunteers to Otsuchi
Nursery School in August 2011 with the cooperation of theChild Caregiver Committee of the Tokyo Council of Social
Welfare. This was an emergency measure to assist in childcare.
The Yamada Community Childcare Support Center was notaffected directly by the tsunami. However, the center had tosuspend operations due to a shortage of workers. In
response to a request from the town of Yamada, two JOCA
National Cooperation Volunteers are working at the center.
They are involved with the Wai-Wai Kids programme, which isheld every weekday and the monthly Suku-Suku Hiroba eventfor parents and children. Volunteers also take part in manyother activities to deepen ties with community residents.
Children need a place where they can spend a stress-free
day with child caregivers. This helps children develop andis also important for mothers and other family members.
This joint undertaking with JOCA is scheduled to end in
March 2013.

The entrance has a “Greeting Children were excited to make wallWall” made by the students decorations

A Safe Place to Go After School
The Kesennuma Elementary School After-School Childcare
Center completion ceremony took place on April 26, 2012.
This was the first permanent structure that was built in thecity after the earthquake. Many parents and children who had
been waiting for this day attended.
“The tsunami frightened everyone,” Kesennuma mayor
Shigeru Sugawara said at the ceremony. “But we overcame
this disaster and worked hard over the past year. I am thankful that we have a new Kesennuma Elementary School
where our children can learn and develop.” Architect Hideo
Satsuta, who designed the center, said, “This region is
known for cedar trees, so I used the local Kesen cedar in thebuilding.” Children were surprised to hear this. Mr. Satsuta
continued, “The ceilings are made of this cedar to provide
the aroma of wood. Also, the wood is coated with a natural

Kesennuma Elementary School After-School Childcare Center
Children say they want to play hide and go seek and tag at the new center

Onagawa Orange House is an afterschool care facility on weekdays anda place for mothers to gather onweekends

A JOCA National Cooperation Volunteer spends time with children at the
Otsuchi Nursery School(Photograph provided by JOCA)

Donguri Children’s Library, which isfilled with the aroma of wood, is aplace for children to discover the joyof books

8

Health and Nutrition

Many medical institutions in the area told us that the vaccination funding increased the uptake of vaccination and prevented children from severe influenza cases. In 2012, we decided
once again to provide support for influenza vaccinations for
160,000 children from six months to junior high school age inthe same 29 municipalities with JCU funding ¥2,000 per vaccination, through health departments and other organizations.

Support from a Medium- to Long-Term Perspective
Immediately after the earthquake, we began health and nutrition programmes such as health checkups for infants, vaccinations, supplementary meals and nutritional support for
nursery schools and other facilities, and dietary guidance.
These health and nutrition programmes have been resumed
thanks to the efforts of municipalities and other parties.
However, there are shortages of facilities and supplies inareas that were severely affected. To meet the needs ofthese areas, we supported programmes in 2012 from a
medium- to long-term perspective.

Reconstruction of the Minamisanriku Health Center
The public health centers in the Shizugawa and Utatsu districts of Minamisanriku, Miyagi, were destroyed by thetsunami. They borrowed unused classrooms in primaryschools and started up infant health checkup services.
In response to the need for a timely reopening of the key
health centers, we decided to support the reconstruction of
the two health centers at the request of Minamisanriku in
November 2011. Reconstruction of both centers finished in
April 2012 and the completion ceremonies were held.

Eating utensils with
the UNICEF logo

©JCU/K. Goto

Supplying Eating Utensils
The earthquake and tsunami caused severe and widespread
damage in coastal areas of the city of Ishinomaki, Miyagi.
Three of the city’s six school lunch preparation centers wererendered unusable. With the hard work of many people, thethree centers restarted operations. However, supplying
meals requires more than merely purchasing ingredients andpreparing meals. The centers also need eating utensils, dishwashing equipment, and storage space.
In response to a request from the city of Ishinomaki, we supplied enough eating utensils for all 15,000 elementary andjunior high school students in the city as well as with dishwashing, sterile storage, and other equipment.
In April 2012, after a full year, the regular lunch menu finallyresumed at Ishinomaki schools. Children were excited tohave these meals.

Minamisanriku Shizugawa
Health Center

Minamisanriku Utatsu
Health Center

Coordination with Governments and Universities
We collaborated with the town of Yamada in Iwate and the
Aomori University of Health and Welfare to conduct a project
to provide support for raising children and providing them aproper diet. Registered dieticians were sent to Yamada from
June to November 2011. The dieticians visited local preschools to implement and coordinate dietary assistance projects, and visited shelters and temporary housing to monitor
children’s diets and extend nutritional guidance to parents.
In addition, the dieticians carried out a survey of dietary
habits before and after the disaster. A “Children’s Diet Newsletter,” which contained the results of the survey along withanalysis, was distributed to parents and guardians throughnursery schools. This information was used to give advice toguardians with preschool children and to local governments.

Supported repairs for the Onagawa
School Lunch Preparation Center

Funding for Influenza Vaccinations
After the earthquake, there were concerns about a decline inphysical strength and resistance to diseases among children.
In addition, the number of children in each school increased asthey were transferred away from affected areas. Economic difficulty in many households
was another problem. As aresult, there were concerns about an influenza
outbreak in the winter of
2011. We responded byfunding influenza vaccinations for children in 29
coastal municipalities inChildren receive influenza vaccinations
Iwate, Miyagi, and Fuku(Photograph provided by Watari, Miyagi)
shima.

The project ended with the Yamada
Town Family Cooking Café

9

Psychosocial Support

useful in recovering a sense of safety. This project started inlate March 2011 and by the end of December 2012, a total of
2,200 people participated in it.
In March 2012, we published a “Manual on Emotional
Support Using Play for Trauma-Affected Children,” which
covers the content of these training seminars. This manual,apart from being used in seminars, is being utilized in support
activities in the disaster-affected areas and has been distributed to nursery schools, kindergartens, facilities and local government authorities where the training has been conducted.
In addition, a specialist play therapy course for psychologists
has been held at the Miyako Child Consultation Center. In
Rikuzentakata, training in skills for interacting with parents andchildren has been provided for child and family counselors andparenting support staff on a monthly basis throughout 2012.
These trainings were very well received. This local capacitybuilding effort aims to contribute to
the long-term implementation of
psychological support for children.

What is Psychosocial Support?
Children, having witnessed an unprecedented disaster, having
lost significant things in their lives, and having experienced
sudden and dramatic changes in their living environment,
suffer from considerable anxiety. Even now, two years since
the disaster, it is frequently reported that although children
may appear to be leading normal lives, they show hyperaroused reactions toward earthquakes and are easily scaredby loud noises. Receiving support and care from close adults
is an important part of the process whereby these children try
to overcome their painful experiences and emotional trauma.
The range of psychosocial support provided by JCU isexpanding. The aim is to create a structure that provides psychological support in the daily lives of children affected by thedisaster. We also seek to pass on knowledge and techniques
about how to play with and relate to children in ways that are
effective in promoting their psychological recovery to guardians, childcare professionals, nursery school teachers, those
providing parenting support, administrative officers, and otherindividuals in contact with children. JCU’s psychosocial
support advisers hold workshops and training courses invarious locations, and conduct regular visits to the local
authorities, nursery schools and other facilities in areas affected by the disaster.
In association with the Fukushima Society of Clinical Psychologists, clinical psychologists were sent to places where activities for parents and children are held, such as healthcare
check-ups and recuperation projects for the children of Fukushima, to provide psychological support and advice to children and their guardians.
Support is also needed for the many households that havefled from Fukushima, with children and mothers living apartfrom other members of their families that remain in Fukushima. Separation from one’s own community leads to many difficulties such as increased anxiety about child-rearing, daily
life, and prospects for the future.
More than 10,000 people have fled to Yamagata Prefecture,
and we, in association with the YAMAGATA CHILD AND FAMILYSUPPORT CIRCLELAND, provide support to children andmothers by providing places and opportunities where children
and mothers can get together and connect with each other.

Nursery school and kindergarten teachers
taking part in training conducted in
KamaishiManual on Emotional
Support Using Play forTrauma-Affected Children

Construction of the Kesen Child Care Center
Consultation Room
The “Kesen Child Care Center” was established in the “Child
Family Support Center Taiyo” located in Ofunato, Iwate, in
July 2011. Since the disaster, the Child Family Support Centerhas started to provide outreach services by visiting evacuation centers in addition to its usual role as a consultation
center. Since some staff members of “Taiyo” have also been
affected by the earthquake and the number of children inneed of psychological support has increased because of thedisaster, we, with the cooperation of the Japan National
Council of Child Family Support Centers, dispatched a total ofnine psychologists from the Child and Family Support
Centers nationwide to lighten the burden of “Taiyo” staff
during October 2011 andMarch 2012.
There was an urgent needto build another consultation room to protect theprivacy of children andtheir families as well as torespond to the increasing
number of the consultation Kesen Child Care Center Consultation
Room. The private room creates ancases. In response to atmosphere in which consultations
r e q u e s t s f r o m I w a t e can be held with peace of mind

Support Activities with the Japan Association
for Play Therapy
The most natural way for children, who are in the process ofdeveloping to become able to express themselves, is toexpress their feelings and experiences through play. Throughseminars that have been conducted in collaboration with theJapan Association for Play Therapy, teachers and guardiansare provided with knowledge on common reactions observedin children that have suffered terrible personal experiences,and trained in play skills that can be helpful in overcoming
painful experiences. These seminars, titled “Psychologicalsupport for children through play” and “Parent and child play,”
are conducted by clinical psychologists. Other topics introduced in these seminars include how to talk to children who
have lost a family member and play strategies that can be10Prefecture, we supported the establishment of a temporaryconsultation room in October 2012. The newly built consultation room has been used for the interviews by the pediatricians and child psychiatrist as well as by the Center’s
psychologists when several children and their families visit
the center. The room has also been used by the children who
refuse to go to school, as coming to the Center can becounted as school attendance.

Tegami Project
Following the disaster, letters have kept arriving from children all over the world. Through the “Tegami (Letter)
Project,” those letters have been delivered to more than
1,700 children living in Tohoku. New relationships havebeen forged as a result between the children sending theletters in 34 countries/areas and the children receiving
them in the region. In July 2012, high school students ofFukushima and Afghanistan reunited using video
chat. They discussed
troubles and disasters
seen through the eyes ofchildren and exchanged
views about issues forrecovery and their hopes
for the future.

Fukushima Child Recuperation Project
Following the nuclear power station incident, concerns aboutdamage to their health meant that the children of Fukushima
could no longer play freely outside as they had done before.
Although two years have passed, many families are still livingwith the fear that they may suffer damage to their health.
The Fukushima Association for UNICEF is aware of the needsof guardians living in fear of the health of their children being
affected and so it has set up the “Fukushima Child Recuperation Project” together with the Fukushima Consumers’ Cooperative Union and the Fukushima University Institute ofDisaster Recovery and Revitalization with the aim of supporting them. JCU is engaged inproviding support for this initiative by helping children
spend weekends and longer
holidays in low-radiation
areas through this project.
Carefree play in an area
where children can enjoy
outdoor activities as well as
parents, children and infantsChildren taking part in the
can all relax, is clearly a partprogramme say that “it has beenof the necessary psychologireally fun to play outside because
we can’t play outside in Fukushima” cal support.

Prayer Tree Project
The Prayer Tree Project was also held in 2012. Ornaments
produced by some 1,200 professional creators and finearts university students decorated the areas affected by
the disaster. Approximately 100 volunteers
visited the region justbefore Christmas to give
ornament-making workshops to the local children. The project brought
an enjoyable experienceand smiles to children.

Child Protection
single parent households and the care of children orphanedby the disaster are also newly emerged challenging issues.
We provide medium- to long-term support to meet thevarious needs of children, families and the authorities so thatanxieties and stressful feelings about the ongoing process ofrecovery do not result in the form of violence against children
such as domestic violence and abuse and to rebuild the childprotection system.

What is Child Protection?
The Great East Japan Earthquake completely changed the circumstances facing the children of the areas affected. Manyof them lost close family members, relatives and friends andwere forcibly separated from the homes and areas they had
grown up in and had no choice but to change their schools.
The construction of temporary housing in their schoolyards
reduced the amount of play area left to them. After the disaster, the support forch i l d r e a r i n g b y
grandparents andneighbors was notavailable as before
since the adults ofchildrearing age havebeen stressed, given
heavy responsibilities to play important
View of after-school child minding projects
role in regional reconundertaken by NPO Kids’ Door at Tokura/
struction. Providing
Shizugawa elementary schools at the request
support for theof the Minamisanriku Board of Education
increased number of(Photograph provided by NPO Kids’ Door)

Collaboration with J-CAPTA in Support of the Preventionof Violence against Children
In association with Japan CAP Training & Action (J-CAPTA),
we promote the CAP Programme (Child Assault Prevention) –an educational programme that teaches children how toprotect themselves from all kinds of violence. The Programme aims to protect children from violence, defend thechild rights and strengthen the resilience and life skills of children affected by the disaster. We supported the training of“CAP specialists” (115 specialists completed training) in thedisaster-affected areas and provide CAP workshops to children, teachers and officials in nursery, kindergartens, primaryand junior high schools as well as in public locations such as

11

trainings were conducted between May and August 2012. A
total of 208 participants attended the training and 33 “Papa
Stations (where father supporters are located)” were established in Iwate. Those who became Father Supporters
provide information to fathers in need of support and organize the events where single fathers / fathers and their children can participate and enjoy themselves with otherfamilies. Follow-up trainings were held in three towns / cities
of Iwate in January 2013.

community centers. CAP workshops have been also provided
in teachers’ training and other training for professional staff.
As of December 2012, a total of 7,069 people (3,207 children
and 3,862 adults) participated in the CAP workshops in Fukushima, Miyagi, and Iwate.

Support for Foster Parents and Foster Children
Most of the children orphaned by the Great East Japan Earthquake were taken care of by their relatives who have also
been registered as “foster parents” since bringing up thechild in family environment is for the best interest of thechild. However, there are some cases where “foster parents”
need support since some of the child’s grandparents are too
old to raise children by themselves.
We, in association with the Japan National Council of Child
Family Support Centers, and the Child Family Support Center“Taiyo” that deploys Foster Parent Support Worker, initiated a
project in the Kesen area of Iwate Prefecture in September
2012. Seminars to raise awareness on the support of children
in need of protection and learn how to support for foster
parents were conducted in Rikuzentakata and Ofunato in
October–November 2012. A symposium was also conductedin December 2012 in Morioka to raise awareness on theissue of foster parents. In 2013, the project is planning toprovide support for foster children through organizing an
event where foster children can also participate.

Adult participants making a “freedom” pose in the CAP workshop

Developing Brochure to Prevent Dating Violence“Dating Violence” refers to violence occurring between
couples before marriage. Because of a lack of knowledge,
both victims and perpetrators can fail to recognize this as violence, with the result that the problem continues and thecase escalates. We received a request from Rikuzentakata
City in Iwate Prefecture and created a brochure about dating
violence for teenagers starting to form intimate partnerships.
The brochure uses cartoons portraying various situations tomake it easy for readers to grasp
its message. It provides information on issues including what itmeans to have relationships inwhich you respect both yourself
and your partner, what kinds of
behaviors damage individual’s
rights to safety and security, andwhat sort of actions you shouldtake for your safety and security.
Distribution of the brochure to children and use in schools areplanned to prevent teenagers who
Dating violence prevention
have been affected by the disaster,brochure prepared inlost their homes and are feelingcollaboration with
anxious about their future from
Rikuzentakata City, Iwate
being caught up in dating violence.

Conducting “Family Risks and Child Protection”
Seminar Series
We, with the cooperation of the prefecture and local authorities, organized a “Seminar Series for Child Supporters: Family
Risks and Child Protection” during May 2012 and January
2013. It is aimed to prioritize the protection of children andrights of children by preventing violence against children in
the six coastal towns / cities.
Four to five different topics such as “How to Support
Fathers,” “Protecting Children against Violence through CAP
Workshop,” “Child Care through Play,” “Identification of Families at Risk and Supporting the Children at Risk,” “Foster
Parent Support” and “Building Networks to Prevent Abuse”
were incorporated in each of the seminar series conducted ineach six locations.
This contributed, not merely to the transmission of knowledge and information through the seminars, but also to thebuilding of networks among the supports for children in eachtown / city.

Support for Fathers, Mainly for Single Fathers andTheir Children
We intend to prevent the neglect, other abuse and domestic
violence involving children by providing support for thefathers who have been stressed due to the pressures forreconstruction of the disaster-affected areas.
The NPO Niiza Child Care Support Network, to which the“Support for Fathers, Mainly for Single Fathers and Their Children” project was initially assigned in October 2011, has organized trainings for “Father Supporters” to teach skills andknowledge and to strengthen their capacity to provide
support for fathers including single fathers who have beenrearing children. The trainings were participated by nurseryteachers, public health nurses, staff and volunteers working
for child welfare and personnel of local government.
Following the trainings conducted in Sendai and Ishinomaki,
Miyagi in 2011, with the cooperation of Iwate Prefectureand six coastal municipality and town offices, a total of ten* In Otsuchi and Kamaishi, this seminar series were conducted as “Training
Seminars for Supporters of Children and Families Affected by theDisaster” with the initiative of the “Coastal Region Promotion Office.”

Valuable opinions exchanged at group
discussion in the seminar on “Family Risks
and Child Protection”

12Child-Friendly Reconstruction Plans

Listen to Children when Rebuilding Communities
In association with specialists, we are conducting a series oftechnical support and advocacy with the aim of realizing a childfriendly reconstruction plan that incorporates the children’s own
voices and in which the children participate to the process offurthering the reconstruction of disaster-affected areas.
As a part of this process, we have implemented a “Reconstruction Programme together with Children” and have provided support so that the children’s ideas are reflected as anintegral part in the plans for the programme of reconstruction of each local authority. We are providing support to theinitiatives undertaken by Otsuchi in Iwate, Ishinomaki and
Sendai in Miyagi,and Soma in Fukushima to achieve restoration and revival, create opportunities for children to participate in the process, and for them to become towns inwhich people can live pleasant and secure lives.
A town that is friendly to children—the most vulnerable insociety—is a town that is friendly and comfortable for everyone. The aim of this urban development process is to allow
children to confront the disaster and shed light on the issues
at hand, while exchanging views with them and deepening
their interest in the future of their city.

Ishinomaki, Miyagi:
Learning the Structure of Society. Town-building on an
Actual Experience Model
A “Children’s Town Ishinomaki” event was held in the downtown shopping district of Ishinomaki in October 2012. This
was a study programme for town-building on an actual experience model and involved children working in public andshops, earning money, and having fun spending it shopping.
Almost 2,000 children participated in this programme, tentimes more than originally expected. By holding an event in
the local commercial areas, the children came to know thesocial structures. By playing responsible roles, they experienced the fun of town-building, learned about the culture,industries and traditions of theirhometown, madenew friendships
with other children
in their town andare likely to help
raise the community. This event willcontinue in 2013.
Ishinomaki’s downtown shopping district full of

Otsuchi, Iwate:“Classroom of the Future” Workshop
Ninety fifth-year students from four schools in Otsuchi whowere learning together in a temporary classroom took part ina workshop called the “Classroom of the Future,” which washeld from October to November 2012. In the workshop, theycreated a model of classroom and school facilities which theywould think as ideal. These four schools will be merged into
one as Otsuchi Elementary School in April 2013.
The workshop was held on three occasions with the guidance from specialists, and the children had fun building theirmodels. They created the model freely, adding their ideas thatcame from their experience in an evacuation shelter, temporary housing and temporary classroom.
We expect the desires of the children of Otsuchi will beconnected to the reality of their future school facilities andthe building of their new town. We plan to continue tosupport them.

childrenSoma, Fukushima:
Furusato Soma Children’s Reconstruction Council
In November 2011, the “Report on the Great East Japan
Earthquake by the Children of Soma” was made. As a follow
up, a presentation of the “Furusato Soma Children’s Reconstruction Council” was held in Soma, Fukushima, in November 2012. Three-person teams made up of representatives
from ten elementary schools and five junior high schools
made presentations using visual materials with content provided by each school. At last year’s event, children presented
their feelings and thoughts about life and death, and about
the great change in lifestyle resulting from their personal
experience in the disaster. However, in the one year sincelast year’s event the children have grown to become morepositive and cheerful, allowing for a fresh, revitalized tone at
this year's event. This year they spoke their own words about
the current state of reconstruction in their hometown ofSoma, impending issues, and their visions for the future of
the town—facing straight ahead with bright, shining eyes.
We continue to support this approach which is a part ofreconstruction plan ofSoma. By giving the children the power to stage
their own presentation andthinking about their home
town of Soma, the children’s voices can be positively incorporated in theplans for reconstruction,
Presentation of the materials preparedand they can participate in by the representatives of the schools
the town-building plans for at the “Furusato Soma Children’s
Reconstruction Council”
the reconstruction.

“I want to study somewhere like this. I would
love reading and playing in this sort of place” –the “Classroom of the Future” as imagined by
the children

13Communication and Advocacy / From Affected Areas/ From Support Sites
Stimulus to National Policy
JCU participated in the “Exchanging Ideas about Supporting
the Children of the Great East Japan Earthquake Conference”
which was held from May 26 onwards at the National Diet
Assembly Hall. Many members of the diet participated several
times in the conference, at which we reported about the situation in the areas affected by the earthquake and about the initiatives being undertaken by JCU in the region. We also
provided ongoing support to representatives from local
authorities in the disaster-affected areas to enable them toparticipate in the conference by subsidizing their travel andother expenses.

Communication and Advocacy
Children and the 2011 Japan Earthquake and Tsunami –UNICEF at Work
Featuring photographs recording the disaster provided free ofcharge by 25 newspaper and media companies and 21 photographers, the exhibition was put together as a record of the
support activities of JCU. The exhibition was held for about
one month in the United Nations Headquarters from March 5,
2012. We also held the exhibition in several prefectures inJapan, including Iwate, Miyagi, Fukushima, Ibaraki, Chiba,
Saitama, Kanagawa, Osaka, Okayama, Hiroshima, Ehime,
Fukuoka, Miyazaki, Saga, and Kumamoto.
“EYE SEE TOHOKU,” a collection of photographs taken by children in the disaster-affected areas, has been exhibited in New
York and 16 other locations whilst “Happy Birthday 3.11,”
which is made up of photographs taken by children born on
the day the disaster struck, has been shown in 13 prefectures
across Japan.

From Affected Areas[Iwate] Keeping the Smiles on the Children’s Faces
Iwate Association for UNICEF, Secretary General
Ms. Ayako Fujiwara
In August 2011, the Iwate Association for UNICEF invited the
Otsuchi Agudomame Kids’ Chorus to the “Iwate UNICEF
10th Anniversary Event” and supported social interaction
with the Morioka City Kyara Hall Boys’ and Girls’ Choir. Agudomame also took to the stage in a lively fashion at a regularly scheduled performance in February 2012 and impressed
everyone with the fantastic power of their singing.
Furthermore, a large number of events were staged bymany different cooperating groups. Children’s movies
were screened at ten locations in disaster-affected areas,bulb planting sessions were held at nursery schools andkindergartens, children in Fukushima were invited to Mt.
I wa t e Ya ke h a s h i r iInternational Exchange
Village (over threenights and four days),and children spenttime with student volunteers.
We, and all our volunteers, want to continue to do whatever we
Tulip bulb planting with Otsuchi nurseryschool children
can to help in Iwate.

Visitors gazing with serious expressions at the photographs of the sceneof the disaster (At the United Nations Headquarters)“How were the children protected? A record of
the evacuation of Iwate Prefecture nursery schools”
How were the children protected in this unprecedentedly
huge disaster and what measures
were taken at the nursery schools
in disaster-affected areas?
JCU, together with the Child andFamily Division of the Iwate Prefecture Health and Welfare
Department, launched a study
with the aim of establishing asafer nursery environment for the
future. The results of this survey
were published as “How were thechildren protected? A record of
the evacuation of Iwate Prefecture
nursery schools” based on the The survey was undertaken by
evacuation activities and the train- means of questionnaires anding and preparedness of the personal interviews and theauthorized nursery facilities within report of the results extends
over more than 40 pages in
the prefecture in place at the time. total[Miyagi] Staying Close with the Children on TheirLong Journey
Miyagi Association for UNICEF, Secretary General
Ms. Hideko Igarashi
More than 10,000 people were killed or are missing in Miyagi
as a result of the Great East Japan Earthquake with almost all
the casualties being the result of the devastation caused by
the tsunami that struck the coastal regions in the east of theprefecture. Although progress is being made, the road torecovery is long.
JCU is currently undertaking six initiatives and all of them are

14

being implemented in Miyagi.
2012 brought the completion of the entire “Rebuilding
Nursery Schools and Kindergartens Project” and the children
are now running around their new schoolyards playing happily.
As a local prefectural associate, JCU attended almost all thegroundbreaking, roof raising, and completion ceremonies forthe project.
We were delighted JCU Ambassador Agnes Chan took partby reading picture
books to the nurseryschool children. We
aim to continue tofurther our CAP(Child Assault Prevention) initiative in elementary and juniorhigh schools in theChildren danced at the completion ceremony
future in associationin Kesennuma
with “CAP Miyagi.”

The organization in charge of the development and reconstruction of the area is the local authority but, because of thedevastating scale of the destruction suffered, many local
authorities did not have even the capacity to receive support
groups. Consequently, I played a role in coordinating theneeds of the area and of the local authorities by repeatedly
matching up what could be achieved by the local authorities
and how far they had got in dealing with the issues with what
was needed at the time on the ground. This is what I learned
from my experiences on the ground with UNICEF.
As part of the psychological support framework for the affected children, we created opportunities to play in natural environments by making Child-Friendly Spaces in which children
could play safely and securely and took them away from their
rubble-strewn urban environment on Children’s Bus Field Trips
to the countryside.
Each one of these initiatives helped the children of the disaster-affected area regain some sense of the day-to-day lives
they had lost in the disaster and was linked to their psychological and social recovery. They were also implemented on
the basis of the UNICEF support model.
As a result of my activities in the wake of the Great East
Japan Earthquake, I strongly felt that, whether in Japan oroverseas, the basic principles of UNICEF of guaranteeing anenvironment in which children can grow healthily, safely, andin accordance with the rights of the child, remain the same.

[Fukushima] Aiming to Reduce Stress for Children
and Their Parents
Fukushima Association for UNICEF, Secretary General
Mr. Kazuo SatoJCU is receiving support from cooperative societies and otherorganizations for its “Fukushima Child Recuperation Project.”
This project has been planned to concentrate on the extraordinarily large amount of mental stress felt by those caring for
infants and preschool children.
However, there are no indications as yet of any improvementin the living environment for the approximately 130,000 children needing care in the disaster-affected areas. Only 7% of
the children are receiving care and only 3% are receiving careon weekends. Moreover, although the total number of applicants for care on weekends was 7,310 groups, only 1,024
groups actually received care.
JCU plans to request
continued aid fromthe various groups
concerned in fiscal
2013, based on theissues made clear by
the results of a participant survey and thepoints for considerA play day was held as part of the weekend
ation emerging fromcare programme. Both children and adults
the implementation
had fun competing in the “dangling breadof the plan.
eating” contest

Note: N ote: Ms. Chiharu Kondo kindly provided his cooperation to the
publication of “How were the Children Protected? A record of theevacuation of Iwate Prefecture nursery schools”

UNICEF Recreation Kits used in developing countries to provide psychologicalsupport for children proved a great success in the support activities

Japanese UNICEF Staff Dispatched
to Provide Support
The following 12 Japanese experts working for
UNICEF in developing countries rushed back toJapan from locations around the world to provide
emergency relief and rebuilding support after the
East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Disaster.

From Support Sites

Noriko Izumi, Nigeria Office; Naoko Imoto, Haiti Office;Yuko Osawa, Yemen Office; Mariko Kagoshima, Honduras Office; Masahiro Kato, Afghanistan Office; Osamu
Kunii, Somalia Office; Yoko Kobayashi, Sri Lanka Office;Yuji Taketomo, Afghanistan Office; Maki Noda, Iraq
Office (formerly with the Cambodia Office); Miho Fukuhara, New York Headquarters; Masaru Mizunoya, Kenya
Office; and Tadashi Yasuda, Vietnam Office.

UNICEF Know-How in Action in Japan
Former JCU Great East Japan Earthquake
Emergency Support Head Office Iwate Field Manager
Currently studying for a doctorate in education studies
at the University of Pittsburgh
Ms. Chiharu Kondo
I first entered the disaster-affected area in Iwate Prefecture in
mid-April about a month after the earthquake. The first nurserycare reconstruction project I helped out with was the erectionof a temporary schoolroom at the Otsuchi Nursery School.

* Refers to activities undertaken within the half-year from March 201115

Two-Year Income and Expenses Report[Income] (March 14, 2011 to December 31, 2012)

(Units: Yen)

*1. Donations, including those directly contributed by overseas individuals, corporations, organizations, and other bodies.
*2. UNICEF national committees exist in 36 developed countries and territories
around the world and serve as pipelines for private contributions to UNICEF.
Since March 2011, 16 of those committees (Australia, Austria, Canada, theCzech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Israel,
The Republic of Korea, Luxembourg, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and theUnited States) have contributed donations to JCU.

IncomeFrom JCU’s domestic operations expenses account

100,000,000
3,393,860,571

Donations received in Japan*1
Donations received from overseas*2

1,212,946,130

Total

4,706,806,701[Expenses] (March 14, 2011 to December 31, 2012)

(Units: Yen)

Expenses

Item / Details(to Dec. 2012)

Confirmed
Expenses*9

Planned
Expenses*10

Planned
Expenses*10(to Dec. 2013)(to Dec. 2013)(from Jan. 2014)

Total

A. Emergency Relief Programme Expenses
1. Emergency Relief Supplies

Supplies Procurement Support

180,300,028

0

0

0

Technical Support*3

7,009,489

000

7,009,489

Subtotal

187,309,517

0

0

0

187,309,517

Restarting Health Checkups andSupplies Procurement Support

53,724,008

0

0

0

53,724,008

Nutrition Support Project

26,942,676

0

0

0

26,942,676

Mother and Child Health (Breast feeding and pregnancy support,
vaccinations, facility building, etc.)

483,571,405

176,913,000

00660,484,405



School Feeds and Supplemental Food Support

128,695,355

0

0

0

128,695,355

Technical Support*3

93,096,012

0

0

0

93,096,012

Subtotal

786,029,456

176,913,000

00962,942,456

Report P. 4
2. Health and Nutrition
Report P. 9

180,300,028

3. Education

Back-to-School

534,874,151

3,189,400

00538,063,551

Report P. 6

Back to Nursery School and Kindergarten

100,925,563

1,403,650

00102,329,213

Reconstruction and Repair for Nursery Schools and Kindergartens 1,839,804,151

1,043,700

12,075,000



7,554,600 1,860,477,451

Junior High and High School Interscholastic Athletic Meets

67,528,498

0

0

0

67,528,498

Technical Support*3

40,499,945

1,914,000

2,500,000

2,000,000

46,913,945

Subtotal

2,583,632,308

7,550,750

14,575,000

9,554,600 2,615,312,658

Bus Fieldtrips and Let’s Play! The Outdoors Playtime
and Fukushima Child Recuperation Projects

126,031,933

3,100,606

30,000,000

60,000,000

219,132,539

Children’s Mini Library Project,
Tegami and Prayer Tree Projects

40,819,773

0500,000

041,319,773

Supplies Procurement

5,146,8850005,146,885

IEC Materials, etc.*4

2,196,1220002,196,122Technical Support*3

120,471,371

2,929,716

40,219,800

80,284,000

243,904,887

4. Psychosocial Support
Report P. 10

Subtotal

294,666,084

6,030,322

70,719,800

140,284,000

511,700,206

Advocacy*5

1,434,510

05,000,000

10,000,000

16,434,510

Report P. 11

IEC materials, etc.*4

2,021,302

0002,021,302

Technical Support*3

44,853,080

0

20,131,000

40,262,000

105,246,080

5. Child Protection

6. Child-Friendly Reconstruction Plans
Report P. 13

7. Programme Reports and Communication 
Report P. 14

Subtotal

48,308,892

0

25,131,000

50,262,000

123,701,892

Advocacy*5

1,427,717

925,668

5,000,000

10,000,000

17,353,385

Child-Friendly Reconstruction(creating play spaces and playgrounds)

33,820,161

20,701,800

15,000,000

20,000,000

89,521,961

Technical Support*3

13,802,391

11,976,665

14,500,000

19,000,000

59,279,056

Subtotal

49,050,269

33,604,133

34,500,000

49,000,000

166,154,402

Reporting and Communication*6

81,598,327

1,000,000

500,000

1,000,000

84,098,327

1,000,000

84,098,327

Subtotal

81,598,327

1,000,000

500,000

Total

4,030,594,853

225,098,205

145,425,800

Local Offices Rental, Communications, Transportation Expenses, etc.

32,753,666

0757,600

510,000

34,021,266

Project Staff and Volunteers to Sites*8

21,403,977

0

81,00081,00021,565,977

Subtotal

54,157,643

0838,600

591,000

55,587,243

Total

4,084,752,496

225,098,205

146,264,400

250,100,600 4,651,219,458

B. On-Site Operations of Programme*7

250,691,600 4,706,806,701

expenses at the start of disaster-related activities. Based on auditor direction,transportation expenses for emergency relief activities, which was included in
On-Site Operations of All Activities on the six-month report, has been transferred to Emergency Relief Expenses.
*8. Project Staff and Volunteers to Sites expenses include living expenses and volunteer insurance, but not salaries. Staff are considered employees of UNICEF
or JCU.
*9. C onfirmed Expenses are those amounts where the programme has alreadyoccurred, so that only payment and other administrative procedures remain. It
also includes activities for which the details and costs have been determined,
and the activity is currently being implemented.
*10. Planned Expenses are amounts forecast as of January 31, 2013, and could change if
there is a change in future conditions or the programme in the disaster-affected area.

*3. Technical Support includes outsourcing expenses for programme or experts
arranged through the JCU’s partner organizations (including local public bodies)in the implementation of its operations.
*4. IEC Materials, etc., comprises the production of information materials for theaffected people.
*5. Advocacy consists of collaborating, organizing, and information sharing with
JCU’s partner organization (including website creation, consultation, holding
information meetings)*6. Reporting and Communication covers expenses for the production of reports
and publications, photo exhibitions, English translation of websites, and film
costs for videos and photographs.
*7. On-Site Operations of Programme expenses are covered by the 100 million
yen that was allocated by JCU for this purpose from its domestic operations

16

Programme Contributors
Currently, we are providing support in the disaster-affectedareas through our partnership with various professional organizations, Area Asssociations of Japan Committee for
UNICEF, local governments, and individuals.
Reports on our website of the progress of our support in thedisaster-affected areas are frequently updated. We hope thatyou will continue to take an interest in our programme.

We could not have carried out our programme for the East
Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Disaster without the cooperation of many individuals, corporations, and organizations. We
would like to thank the people from Japan and overseas who
donated generously.
We are deeply grateful to the many corporations and organizations for their donations of supplies and effort to quickly
procure and deliver those supplies during a time when procuring and delivering supplies was difficult, as well as otherendeavors. Similarly, we are deeply grateful for those of you
who cooperated on a pro bono basis in and taking part incommunication and advocacy for the programme.

Website: www.unicef.or.jp

Support and Cooperation Participants List (At January 31, 2013)
Cooperating Corporations and Organizations (In no particular order)

Corporations and Organizations Contributing 10,000,000 JPY or More
AEON MALL Co., Ltd.; ITOHAM FOODS INC.; FNS Charity Campaign (Fuji Television Network, Inc. and its 28 affiliated stations
including Kansai Telecasting Corporation); MPS17; CROSS COMPANY CO., LTD.; SAGANO REALESTATE CO., LTD.; Sharp Corporation, Sugarlady Cosmetic Inc.; Sugarlady Inc.; START TODAY CO., LTD.; Sony Corporation; DANONE S.A.; Danone Japan
Co., Ltd.; The 27th Annual Meeting of Japanese Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition; Thomas & Agnes Inc.; Nichi-Iko
Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.; NIPPONKOA Insurance Company, Limited; Noble Japan K.K.; B-R 31 ICE CREAM CO., LTD.; Plenus
Co., Ltd.; Sumitomo Mitsui Asset Management Company, Limited; MITSUBOSHI BELTING LTD.; YAOKO CO., LTD.; JAPANPOST BANK Co., Ltd.; Words & Music; WABCO Holdings Inc.
Grants Received for Fundraising
American Express International, Inc.; Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation
Organization, Corporations, and Other Bodies Cooperating in the Implementation and Operation of Support Activities
DENTSU, Japanese Board on Books for Young People (JBBY),
Japan Association for Play Therapy, Fukushima Society of Certified
Clinical Psychologists, Fukushima Transportation, Fukushima Kotsu
Kanko, Fukushima Junior Chamber, FamilyMart, YAMAGATA CHILDAND FAMILY SUPPORT CIRCLELAND[Health and Nutrition]
Aomori University of Health and Welfare, NPO Humanitarian
Medical Assistance (HuMA), Special Committee for Supporting
Mothers and Children Under the Stress of Natural Disasters, Genero
Technologies, DENTSU, The Japan Dietetic Association, JapaneseMidwives’ Association, Japan Primary Care Association, Hakuhodo,
NPO HANDS, Japan Liaison Council of Breastfeeding Organizations[Child Protection]
Kids’ Door, J-CAPTA, Child Family Support Center Taiyo, Japan
National Council of Social Welfare, Japan National Council of Child
Family Support Center, Niiza Childcare Support Network, Hakuhodo,
MIYAGI Child and Family Support Center[Education]
The Japan Overseas Cooperative Association, DENTSU, Tokyo
Council of Social Welfare Child Caregiver of the Committee,
Hakuhodo[Child-Friendly Reconstruction Plans]
Association of Children’s Environment, General Research Instituteof the Convention on the Rights of the Child, Takenaka Corporation,
Yamagata University[Psychosocial Support]
Iwate Kenpoku Kanko, Iwate Kenpoku Bus, JTB Business WorldTokyo, Japan National Council of Child Family Support Center,

Support and Supplies at a Glance
Baby wipes, ethanol disinfectant, health and nutritional support (including nutritional supplements, food, and cod liver oil), printing machines,
folding umbrellas, various toys, coloring books, coloring pencils, folding paper, large-sized vehicles, children’s underwear, children’s socks, clothes
for children, disposable diapers, oral rehydration solutions (ORS) for children, milk, antibacterial and deodorant agents, school supplies (including
desks for teachers and students, chairs, wheeled tables, bookshelves, free-standing closets for storing cleaning equipment, curtain, school lunch
eating utensils, first aid kits, and movable blackboards and whiteboards), school-use stationery (including paper, magic markers, tape, file folders,school notebooks, instructional book, and drill), learning equipment (including pianicas, recorders, painting sets, Japanese calligraphy sets,
sewing sets, math sets, instruments for experiments, celestial globes, gym wear, jerseys), indoor and outdoor shoes, red and white team hats,disaster hoods, school lunch aprons, kindergarten uniforms, school bags, carrying bags, bells to scare off bears, crayons, dryers, air cleaners,
temporary toilets, changing rooms, mini cars, motor scooters, helmet for children, gas stove, rotary boiler, cool box for milk, equipment forschoolchildren facilities , children’s library (constructed), sanitary napkins, health checkup sets, multifunction copier and fax machines, projector
screens, speakers, fans (stand-up and wall-attached), washing machines, septic tanks, CD/radio/cassette tape players, vacuum cleaners, partitions for use when breast feeding, automobiles, school buses, bicycles, fire extinguisher, educational items for disabled children, dental lights,
hand disinfectant liquid, data communications kits, flashlights for use when going to or returning from school in the dark, batteries, desktop
lights, TVs, DVD players, electric water pots, bread for breakfast, juice, electric heater, adult’s and children’s boots, infant weight scales, heightmeasurement for infants and children, clay, maternity jackets, printers, personal computers, projectors, Early Childhood Development Kits
(heated pools, school lunch eating utensils, cooking utensils, rugs, mats, nap corner, wireless amplifier, balls, push cart, and fireproof curtain),temporary facilities (constructed) for nursery schools, personal anti-crime alarms, radiation detectors, toothbrush (infants, children), masks, computer mouse devices, sewing machines, storage sheds, yogurt, USB flash memory sticks, UNICEF Recreation Kits, UNICEF School-in-a-Box Kits
for preschool , vaccination storage refrigerator, vaccines, rotary presses, raincoats, candles (for events), refrigerator* We received donations, special assistance, collaboration and cooperation, free of charge, from a large number of corporations and groups in sourcing anddistributing the material. Please refer to the “One Year Report” for further information.

17

We have held consultations and discussions about the activities of JCU and the role it should be playing with local
authorities and other associated organizations concerning the results achieved so far and the current situation. As aresult, we have decided to continue to programme concentrated in the following three areas: psychosocial support,child protection, and child-friendly reconstruction plans.
Because we project that the donations already contributed and expected to be contributed should suffice to finance theprogramme undertaken over the course of the next several years, we plan to receive donations for the Great East Japan
Earthquake Emergency Fund until the end of March 2013.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank every one of you all very sincerely for your kind support.

©JCU/satomi matsui

Japan Committee for UNICEF
4-6-12, Takanawa, Minato-ku
Tokyo 108-8607, Japan
Tel: +81 (3) 5789-2011
Fax: +81 (3) 5789-2036
www.unicef.or.jp