What is the Support Our Kids Project?

With the cooperation of embassies of 12 countries (Ireland, USA, UK, Australia, Canada, Republic of San Marino, New Zealand, France, Switzerland, Belgium and the Republic of Poland,Cuba) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Support Our Kids Project assists children from the affected areas of the Great East Japan Earthquake. This project concentrates on children who are still living under stressful circumstances in the aftermath of the disaster. We believe that children will play a big role in the reconstruction of Tohoku and our aim is to nurture these children into becoming future reconstruction leaders, through experience overseas. It is our mission to provide this support and “push“ them to make this happen. We have assisted 449 children to these countries so far（as of October 2019）.Through this program, these children have gained a wider global view and experienced new, different cultures. This became a great opportunity to think of their own future and home town. Upon seeing the positive effect this had on children, we decided to commit and continue this project for 10 years until year 2020. We would like to help as much children as we can, and we need your continuous support to make this happen.

 

 

Homestay overseas – for a better and brighter future

We provide a 2-week home stay program to children in middle to high school, in order to create and nurture them into future reconstruction leaders. The curriculum is designed to build leadership skills through a wide range of activities such as home stay experience, cultural exchange, language study, volunteer work and presentations on their experiences during the disaster. We also include programs they can only experience in that country – such as the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand, London Olympics and the Le Mans 24-hour race in France.

 

2011 Activity

・ New Zealand 50 children (28th July- 19 August, Rugby World Cup NZ)

2012 Activity

・ England 10 children (10-24 August London Olympics supported by the British Embassy)
・ New Zealand 14 children (8-22 August supported by New Zealand Embassy)
・ Support Our Kids Reunion (22 December)

2013 Activity

・ USA 46 children (March, in association with the 2013 Kizuna Strengthening Project)
・ France 10 children (16-29 June, Le Mans 24 hour race)
・ Ireland 9 children (24-9 August, courtesy call on Prime Minister at his official residence)
・ Canada 10 children (4-19 August, exchange with Japanese-Canadian community)
・ New Zealand 10 children (8-23 August, supported by New Zealand Embassy)
・ Support Our Kids Reunion (22 December)

2014 Activity

・ USA 23 children (16-29 March, in association with MOFA KAKEHASHI Project)
・ France 10 children (4-20 June, Le Mans 24 hour race)
・ Ireland 10 children (24 July – 8 August, Embassy visit)
・ Canada 10 children (6-22 August, exchange with Japanese-Canadian community)
・ New Zealand 10 children (6-21 August, visit Christchurch)
・ Switzerland/San Marino 6 children (20 October – 4 November, attend 150th anniversary commemorations and visit Red Cross Headquarters.
・ Support Our Kids Reunion (21 December)

2015 Activity

・ USA 12 children (18-30 March, in association with MOFA KAKEHASHI Project)
・ France 10 children (2-17 June, Le Mans 24 hour race)
・ Ireland 10 children (25 July – 9 August, visit Kendo Association)
・ New Zealand 10 children (30 July – 15 August, visit Christchurch)
・ Australia 10 children (30 July – August 15, attend local school)
・ Canada 10 children (3-17 August, exchange with Japanese-Canadian community)
・ Poland/Switzerland 6 children (12-27 December, visit to Auschwitz and Red Cross Headquarters)
・ Support Our Kids Reunion (29 November)

2016 Activity

・ USA 10 children (5-18 August, visit NASA and Google)
・ Ireland 9 children (24 July – 7 August, visit World Rugby)
・ Canada 8 children (1-15 August, attend Summer Camp)
・ New Zealand 10 children + 1 former member as an assistant (3-19 August, Rugby experience)
・ Australia 9 children (2-16 August, attend local school)
・ Support Our Kids Reunion (13 November)

2017 Activity

・ France 9 children (10 – 21 June, Le Mans 24 hour race)
・ Ireland 5 children (29 July – 14 August, visit World Rugby)
・ Canada 8 children (10 – 24 August, attend Summer Camp)
・ New Zealand 5 children (2 – 16 August, visit Christchurch)
・ Australia 6 children (31 July – 13 August, attend local school)
・ Support Our Kids Reunion (19 November)

2018 Activity

・ France 9 children (9 – 20 June, Le Mans 24 hour race)
・ Ireland 6 children (21 July – 5 August, attend English school)
・ Canada 8 children (9 – 22 August, attend Summer Camp)
・ New Zealand 6 children (13 – 28 March 2019, Rugby experience)
・ Australia 6 children (2 – 16 August, attend local school)
・ Switzerland 5 children (22 March – 5 April, Visit IOC)
・ Support Our Kids Reunion (11 November)

2019 Activity

・ France 9 children (9 – 20 June, Le Mans 24 hour race)
・ Canada 9 children (20-31 July, attend Summer Camp)
・ Ireland 10 children (20 July – 4 August, attend English school)
・ Australia 6 children (13-25 August, attend local school)

2023 Activity

・ New Zealand 6 children (17 – 25 November 2023, Japan New Zealand Business Council)

2024 Activity

・ BizVenture Japan 2024 8 children (16 – 17 February 2024, Tokyo)

 

Reunion – after the homestay

After participating in the homestay program, we hosted an event named “REUNION HABATAKI” for all children to gather and share their personal experiences, thoughts and plans for their future. We hope for this event to also become a chance for them to think and consider about the future of Tohoku. In 2012, this event was held for the first time and called REUNION. As a result, the students decided to start the “HABATAKI Project” (to fly in Japanese). This project aims to repay all the support these children received, and to “fly” on their own someday.
・2012 Achievements：22nd Dec, held at Shichigahama Kokusaimura
・2013 Achievements：22nd Dec, held at Tohoku Fukushi University
・2014 Achievements：21st Dec, held at Tohoku Fukushi University
・2015 Achievements：29th Nov, held at Tohoku Fukushi University
・2016 Achievements：13th Nov, held at Tohoku Fukushi University
・2017 Achievements：19th Nov, held at Tohoku Fukushi University
・2018 Achievements：11th Nov, held at Tohoku Fukushi University

 

 

Support Our Kids International Supporting Committee

Chairman
H.E. Mr. Damien Cole, Ambassador of Ireland
 
Members of Committee
H.E. Mr. Manlio Cadelo, Ambassador of the Republic of San Marino and Dean of the Diplomatic Corps
H.E. Mr. Hamish Neville Francis Cooper , Ambassador of New Zealand
H.E. Mr. Philippe Setton , Ambassador of France
(and more to be confirmed.)
 
 

Secretariat

Planning Advisor
Tomoyo Miyazaki / Executive Officer of New Zealand Embassy
Masakazu Hirano / Former President of Labo International Exchange Foundation
Akemi Niiyama / Managing director Sendai New Zealand Society
 
Secretary general
Kazuki Iso / Chairman of NPO Jidai no Souzou koubou
 
 

Support Our Kids Honorary Council

Honorary Chairman
H.E. Mr. Ian Kennedy, Former Ambassador of New Zealand / Founder
 
Vice Chairman
H.E. Mr. Mark Sinclair, Former Ambassador of New Zealand
H.E. Ms. Anne Barrington, Former Ambassador of Ireland
H.E. Mr. Paul Kavanagh, Ambassador of Ireland
 
Honorary Members
H.E. Mr. Luc Liebaut, Former Ambassador of Belgium
H.E. Mr. Bruce Miller, Former Ambassador of Australia
H.E. Mr. Urs Bucher, Former Ambassador of Switzerland
H.E. Mr. Cyryl Kozaczewski, Former Ambassador of the Republic of Poland
H.E. Mr. John V. Roos, Former Ambassador of the United States
H.E. Sir David Warren, Former British Ambassador
H.E. Mr. Jonathan T. Fried, Former Ambassador of Canada
H.E. Mr. John Neary, Former Ambassador of Ireland
H.E. Mr. Christian Masset, Former Ambassador of France
H.E. Mr. Thierry Dana, Former Ambassador of France
H.E. Mr. Stephen Payton, Ambassador of New Zealand
H.E. Mr. Jean-Francois Paroz, Ambassador of Switzerland
H.E. Mr. Richard Court, Ambassador of Australia
H.E. Mr. Laurent Pic, Ambassador of France
Mr. Yojiro Terada, Chairman of NPO Jidai no Souzou Koubou
 
Founder
Yukiatsu Akizawa / Former Chairman of NPO Jidai no Souzou koubou

 

 

 

 

We also received donations from individuals.
(Honorific Titles are omitted)

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