Relief fund coordinator Marty Tromburg with high school volunteers. AMERICAN SCHOOL IN JAPAN
In June, 18 high school students from The American School in Japan (ASIJ) volunteered to teach English to children from Fukushima who are staying in an evacuation centre in Tokyo. The children had their school year tragically disrupted, and many are worried about fitting in and keeping up when they are eventually able to return to school.
ASIJ students not only lent their English language ability, but also provided companionship and brought positive energy to their volunteer work. Students from high school grade, including recently graduated seniors, jumped at the chance to continue helping with relief efforts in the best way they could during summer vacation. Undoubtedly, it was also a learning experience for them as they embodied ASIJ’s mission of “developing compassionate, inquisitive learners prepared for global responsibility.”
The school hopes to continue to have opportunities to partner with the Japanese NGO Kids Door that has put together these much-needed summertime classes at the evacuation centre. — MATT WILCE
