JAFA is putting together a team of volunteers to go to some of the most harshly affected areas to help with ongoing clean-up and relief efforts. We are working towards sending the first team of volunteers to Japan in early January.

We will send the teams of volunteers to assist with an established relief organisation named Peace Boat.  Since March 16th 2011 (5 days after the earthquake and tsunami hit) Peace Boat has been active in the city of Ishinomaki, one of the hardest hit cities on the coast of north-eastern Japan.

If you are interested in donating money to help send volunteers, click here. If you're interested in volunteering yourself, read on...

The teams will be involved in a number of critical activities in Ishinomaki such as:

- Salvaging fishing equipment, debris removal and cleaning up fishing port areas.

- Clearing mud deposited by the tsunami from private buildings (homes and businesses) and public places such as streets, parks, graveyards in partnership with the local community.

- Cooking and delivering hot meals daily to those out/inside the evacuation shelters and the local schools.

- Providing support and assistance to the local people in order to be self-sufficient by delivering ingredients and kitchen utensils.

The efforts of the team will increase sanitation, and enable people to return to their shops to begin to get their businesses active again, and return to their homes, for those lucky enough to have homes still standing, to try and begin bringing a sense of normalcy back to their everyday lives.

What is the next step?

Click here to download an application form.  If you are interested in helping, please take the time to fill in the form and attach the 500 word paper as to why you want to volunteer for the relief efforts.

Please note that if you are under 20, you will need a parent of guardian to sign the application form.  This is a requirement of Japanese law.

Applicants will be contacted shortly after receiving their application to organise an interview with the volunteer program committee members.