The Cause

Aid Japan for Children is a group of Japanese and Irish volunteers based in Dublin. The organization raises funds to assist charities working to provide relief to earthquake victims in Japan, particularly children.

Through Aid Japan for Children, ticket proceeds from the Plum Blossom Concert will be donated specifically to a programme nurturing children suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder as a result of their experience of the disaster.


 

Midori no Tohoku Genki Fun Camps

PTSD and the Healing Power of Nature

Children in the Tohoku (NE) Region of Japan devastated by last year's Earthquake-tsunami may only now be showing signs of delayed Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.  They typically react in one of two ways, becoming either withdrawn or disruptive, even violent, in behaviour. Without expert help, many of them will fall irretrievably behind at school and take this behaviour with them into adulthood.

In its innovative programme, run in association with a professor in a leading Tokyo university, Midori no Tohoku Genki (loosely equivalent to 'wellbeing through Nature in the Tohoku Region') is transforming damaged young lives.

In forest fun camps children are introduced to a friendlier side of Nature than the one which produced a tsunami. They are free to climb trees, explore, make tree houses, go trekking and canoeing.  No child is pushed beyond his or her confidence limit. Those who cannot bring themselves to climb trees make furniture for the tree houses.  Those choosing to stay in camp cook for those who return after day-long treks and other activities.

Everyone learns a new skill and improves his or her confidence. Children begin to smile again for the first time in months.

Next Camp:

End of March.  Children will go into a snowy mountain forest and the plan is to make igloos and sleep in them.  The camp leaders have recently returned from a trial igloo camp.

The Midori no Tohoku Genki Programme urgently needs your help to continue its life-changing work. Go to the Plum Blossom Concert, enjoy wonderful music and support this worthy cause.