Program Proposal By: Fukushima University International Center

Fukushima Ambassadors Program

End of Program Report Created By: Fukushima University International Center

Messages written by program participants,

Haragama, Soma

Introduction

More than a year has passed since the March 11th disasters, yet the impact of the Fukushima disasters continues to affect

those living in the prefecture. Thousands of citizens remain without a permanent home or a stable source of income, and

concerns, often unsubstantiated, about radioactive contamination continue to bedevil small businesses and industry within

the prefecture. The Fukushima Ambassadors Program was an opportunity for students from the University at Albany

(hereon referred as SUNY Albany) to see, hear, and reflect objectively upon the challenges faced in Fukushima today. By

implementing a community-service based, hands-on approach to learning, the program helped students evaluate any

misconceptions they may have had about post-3/11 Fukushima, and become, if they wished, an agent for its recovery after

their return.

About the Program

Program Focus

To provide students from SUNY Albany with hands-on learning opportunities that focused on the physical, financial, and

social consequences of the tsunami and subsequent nuclear accident.

Overall Aims of the Program

・further the students understanding of the impacts that the 3.11 disaster has had on the lives of the people living in

Fukushima

・dispel any misconceptions they may have of Fukushima

・help students identify ways that they can become an agent for change in the recovery efforts for Fukushima after returning

home

Main Activities

- Program Orientation at Fukushima University

- Inspection tour of disaster-affected areas on the coast of Fukushima

- Discussions with city officials on restoration planning

- Homestay at Soma City

-Interaction with evacuated residents of Iitate Village, doing foot bath for evacuees and playing Karuta game with them

- Disaster relief volunteer work (clearing debris) at Odaka District

- Field study of local agricultural and tourism sectors affected by nuclear disasters

- Interaction with kindergarten and junior high school students living in disaster-affected regions

Program Dates

Arrival in Tokyo: Jan.8th , 2013

Fukushima Ambassadors Program Jan.9th – 18th, 2013

Participants

Nine students from SUNY Albany and forty student volunteers from Fukushima University and Aizu University participated

in the program

Chaperons

Danielle Leonard Program Coordinator, Office of International Education University at Albany

State University of New York

William DY McMichael Assistant Director, International Center Fukushima University

9 8

32

* (Participated on Jan

14th and 15th only)

49 participants

Program Itinerary

Day One (Tues Jan 8) ・Arrive in Tokyo. Travel to Fukushima

Day Two (Wed Jan 9)

Fukushima City (Fukushima University)

Courtesy visit with Fukushima University President, Osamu Nittono

Program Orientation, including photo scavenger hunt at Fukushima University

Seminar on Radiation Safety

Welcome Dinner

Day Three (Thurs Jan 10)

Fukushima City , Nihonmatsu City (Towa district)

Visit to Fukushima Radiation Decontamination Plaza

Lunch and Discussions with evacuated residents of Iitate Village

Travel to Nihonmatsu, field research and lectureson farmers involved in decontamination work

Student-run dinners in Fukushima City

Day Four (Fri Jan 11)

Soma City (Haragama District)

International day at Haragama Kindergarten

Site inspection of disaster areas

Volunteer Activities at Temporary Housing District

Homestay at Soma City

Day Five (Sat Jan 12) Soma City

Free day with homestay family in Soma City

Day Six (Sun Jan 13) Minami Soma City (Odaka District)

Debris Removal at Odaka District

Day Seven (Mon Jan 14)

Aizu Wakamatsu City

Visit to Nisshinkan, oldest Samurai school in Japan

Visit to Tsurugajo Castle, location for this year’s NHK period drama, “Yae-no-Sakura”

Farm stay at traditional Japanese famers homes

Day Eight (Tues Jan 15)

Kitakata City

Traditional crafts workshop (Akabeko dolls)

Workshop on local business , Kitakata City

Visit to local sake brewery

Day Nine (Wed Jan 16)

Fukushima City (Fukushima University)

Closing lectures and wrap-up workshop

Farewell Party

Day Ten (Thurs Jan 17) Kawauchi Village

International day at local Jr. high and elementary schools

Day Nine (Fri Jan 18)

Iwaki City

Visit to Aquamarine Fukushima, presentation on restoration efforts at the aquarium

Depart for Tokyo

Day One (Wednesday, January 9th

, 2013)

Student Greeting at Train Station Meeting with President

Seminar on Radiation Safety Welcome Dinner

Welcome party

Day Two (Thursday, January10th

, 2013)

Visit to Fukushima Radiation Decontamination Plaza

Field research and lectures on Agriculture in Fukushima

Lunch and Discussions with evacuated residents

Day Three (Friday, January 11th

, 2013)

Play Day with kids at Haragama kindergarten

Site inspection of Disaster – Affected Areas

Activities at Temporary Housing District

Day Five (Sunday, January 13th

, 2013)

Debris Removal at Odaka

Site Inspection of Disaster-hit areas

Day Six (Monday, January 14th

, 2013)

Goodbye with host families

Visit to Nisshinkan, oldest Samurai

school in Japan Visit to Tsurugajo Castle

Day Seven (Tuesday, January15th

, 2013)

Say goodbye to farmer stay host families

Traditional crafts workshop

Work shop on Business Revitilization

Day Eight (Wednesday, January16th

, 2013)

Closing remarks and wrap-up

Final Workshop and Opinion Exchange

Good Bye Ceremony

Day Nine (Thursday, January17th

, 2013)

Visit to Kawauchi Village Junior Highschool

Interactions with local students

Visit to Elementary School

Day Nine (Thursday, January17th

, 2013)

Visit to Aquamarine Fukushima

Sea-view lunch at Iwaki Goodbye, Fukushima!

Messages from SUNY Albany

Don’t forget Fukushima. For the longest time on the trip, I kept thinking that. I don’t want the world to

forget about Fukushima, but I also don’t want Japan to forget about Fukushima. From what I

concluded from this trip, the purpose of the program is not as straight forward as it seems. Despite the

challenges that Fukushima faces with the rest of the world, economically or socially, it also has

challenges in the domestic realm. I don’t want the rest of Japan to forget about Fukushima, like how

people in the United States might forget about its tragedies. Media has a short term memory and

people have even shorter memories. Word needs to spread to the world yes, but the word needs to be

spread to the rest of Japan first. It would be nice to have this program affiliated with other universities

or colleges in Japan. If students from other colleges were sent to Fukushima University and

experienced the same things that we experienced, I think that would make an even greater impact.

Before fighting the world’s perspective, Fukushima needs to fight Japan’s perspective of Fukushima.

What better way to do it by having allies in Japan that can help it recover. First Japan, then the world.

With more hands to work together, we can do many more things. Knowledge and cooperation is the

key in my opinion. I love Fukushima. Everywhere. Everything. I’m glad I came.

France Le

Fukushima and it's people now have a permanent place in my heart. I did not believe that such

wonderful people could exist, and I owe a genuine debt of gratitude for being allowed briefly into your

lives. What I saw and felt can never be forgotten. I will return soon!

Aaron Heckler

Thank you all for everything that you have given us! I would like to say that we were able to contribute

more to this program than we took away, but I know that isn’t true. We are humbled by your

generosity, courage, resiliency, and love. Fukushima is a special place unlike any I have been to, and I

will never forget it. We were all inspired by our experiences here, and we will continue our efforts at

home to spread the word and support you in any way we can. I only hope that our efforts in

Fukushima can be some small compensation for the gifts you have given us.

Joe Meringolo