Tohoku Disaster Relief Learning Support Program

A donation of 25,000 yen/month or 300,000 yen/year enables one disaster affected child to receive a high quality educational opportunity with excellent teachers for a sustained period of time. We also thankfully accept your partial donations.

The Difficulties Children Face

The Tohoku Earthquake Disaster severely impacted Japanese students’ educational achievement and opportunities. These students in Tohoku were unable to complete their school years or hold graduation ceremonies immediately following the disaster. Some schools postponed the beginning of the school year until after the disaster settled long past the normal start date of April. Students were forced to evacuate from their homes, relocate to another region of the country, and transfer schools multiple times. Such students have fallen behind in keeping up with the curriculums at their new schools and face additional academic and psychological difficulties, such as PTSD, during their transitions back to their “normal” lives.

Victims also face additional psychological and economic burdens due to the earthquake and subsequent nuclear disaster and evacuation. Many students find it difficult to learn as they had before, and it is also likely that their families will not be able to finance their education after having lost or left behind most of their possessions and assets. Students may no longer have access to tutoring or supplementary educational opportunities they need to make sure they do not fall further behind in school.

Our Approach

In response to these events, Learning for All is working to provide free educational support for the children affected by the disaster. We will be holding support sessions at least two times a week taught by carefully selected and trained teachers.

a child who evacuated Fukushima and his teacher

The teachers will consist of undergraduate and graduate students as well as adults in the workforce, who will be selected through a careful selection process. After they have been selected, teachers will undergo vigorous training including (1) fostering teaching skills, such as lesson planning skills, (2) obtaining general applied skills, such as critical thinking and problem solving skills, and (3) learning mental health knowledge crucial to interacting with the victims of the disaster. Additionally, participants will receive ongoing support during the program through daily reflection sessions, additional training, and a mentor program with professional teaching staff. Throughout the duration of the entire program, Learning for All will ensure to support the teachers’ commitment to supporting their students through a complete input and feedback process on the teachers’ and students’ progress.

Feedback Session of Teachers

Teachers will be responsible for identifying and executing goals with their students in order to relieve some of the pressures and stress students have faced since the disaster and to improve their academic achievement. Students will work with teachers either on a one-to-one basis or in a small sized class. In both cases, teachers will work closely with their students to set goals and construct learning plans appropriate to the students’ levels. We aim to enable students to re-establish a strong foundation for academic achievement, increase their academic achievement and passion for learning, and obtain regular study habits. We also seek to provide a unique educational enrichment opportunities through trust-building workshops in collaboration with specialists and in some instances with other volunteer organizations.

Support Our Efforts

We are currently accepting donations for our efforts to help the victims of the recent disaster recover a supportive educational environment through Learning for All’s program.

Your donation will help give a child consistent educational support for one full year. It will also provide opportunity for our teachers to be exposed to deep-rooted educational issues in Japan as well as to foster crucial skills for them to contribute as leaders in society. Your support is integral for the future of the victims, as well as for a new chapter for Japan.

All funds raised will be used for:

Students’ textbook and learning materials and school supplies.
Students’ transportation costs to and from our learning center.
Costs for the recruiting and selection process for participating teachers.
Participating teachers’ transportation costs to and from our learning center.
Operational costs for the enrichment workshops.

Activity reports (Optional):

1. Report on students’ progress (once every two months)
- Commentary on students’ experiences, including student reflections
- Reports by participating teachers on their students’ educational progress and changes in attitude
- Learning for All staff notes and reflections
- Feedback from participating students’ parents
- Photographs of workshop activities
2. Thank you letter (one every two months)
- Personal letters written by participating students
3. Financial report (once every two months)
4. Learning for All report

Please support our efforts  in creating a society where each and every child’s potential could be fully realized.

For more information, please contact us: info@learningforall.jp

Step 2. Submit Donor Information
Submission Form: http://learningforalldonatenow.blogspot.com/2011/07/donation-form-tohoku-disaster-relief.html