sweet treat 311
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Mission Statement
We need support in operating a regenerative learning center in a town destructed by tsunami in 2011. Rebuilding community of Ogatsu, in northern Japan, lost 80% of town from the tsunami of March 11, 2011. Although over ten years have been past, Ogatsu is still trying to recover from disaster. We feel that the time past and COVID taken interest of people towards this region. We have created a regenerative learning center for children in Japan and all over the world in 2015. Providing Fishery, Agriculture, Forestry, Cooking, and Arts/Crafts experiences with locals in rich natural environment. Creating jobs for the locals, educating children to become active for the our planet's future. The center restored old wooden school built in 1923, renovated in traditional way in order to accommodate children.
About This Cause
WHERE?; Tsunami disaster town, part of a National Park where untouched nature capture your heart Located 280 miles north of Tokyo. On the beautiful shores surrounded by mountains and ocean. Before the East Japan Great Earthquake, town of Ogatsu had 4,300 people living with nature peacefully. The town is known for its fishery, scallop, silver salmon, oyster and hoya (sea squirt) farming. Also, Ogatsu is the home of Japanese Ink Stone, 90% share of domestic market. Ogatsu inkstone is used for traditional calligraphy, but also for the roofing material called slate. One of the most famous Ogatsu slate is used on the roof of the Tokyo Station. Houin Kagura, a traditional dance ritual is designated as the National Important Cultural Property, with a heritage going back to the 600 years. This small town shows the best of Japan’s treasures ‒ rich nature, culture and the simple yet peaceful living of its inhabitants. On March 11, 2011, 60ft. tsunami hit the shores of Ogatsu, and took away the lives of 250 people, and destroyed 80% of the town. Today, population has decreased to one-forth, only 1,000 people. WHAT?; Rebuild community through education “Kuwahama Elementary School” was built over 100 years ago on a hill looking down the bay of Ogatsu. Closed down in 2002, the beautiful wooden school using traditional Japanese architecture with Ogatsu inkstone slate on its roof. "The Ogatsu School Restoration Project" was started by the locals and non profit organization to renovate this school to create, -sustainable learning center; various studios for experiential learning -accommodation -restaurant -library to receive children from all over the world and gathering place for the community. Our goal is to provide rich nature experiences like, agriculture, fishery, and forestry provided by locals. Also, cooking with the local produce and wood craft experience using the local trees. Also, IT program will be provided to children. Create application for smartphone/ tablet will encourage children to be creative and innovative. In the beautiful nature, children will digitally document the environment using tablets, witch will help to connect new skills for tomorrow’s children with nature. WHY?; Be regenerative, become global eco citizen! UNESCO states sustainable development in children is key to their future. In a rare natural environment of Ogatsu, surrounded by both mountains and sea, where water generates in the mountains become stream then river flowing to sea. A way of living which connects nature, cultural heritage, and people’s daily lives. Learning value and wisdom of nature from the locals, children will understand how to be sustainable, and coexist with nature. This will gain knowledge for sustainable lifestyle as well as sustainable urbanization. Many international supports have, and still delivered to us. Keeping the relationship, inviting children and adults from all over the world will create cultural diversity helping children expands choices, nurtures a variety of skills, human values and world views and provides wisdom from the past to inform the future. WHEN?; Opened July 2015 WHO?; Children age 5 to 15 are main target. Parents, school groups, and corporation, and locals. GOAL; 1. Attract 1,500 visitors yearly to provide alternative education 2. Provide job opportunities for the locals 3. Provide international exchange programs for US and Japan as well as other parts of the world 4. Try to encounter global warming as well as raise of ocean tempreture 4. Deliver the model to other rural area in Japan as well as in Asia where nature is rich but the community is over-aged and depopulated. ---> Create flow and network that did not existed before 311 and revitalize the community HOW?; - Inviting volunteers to involve in restore/ renovate school - Architectural design provided by Stanford University and other universities around globe - Individual, foundations and corporations have providing donation/ grant for the project - Professionals have gathered to create learning programs - Rebuilding process became learning program for five corporations in Japan sending staff as corporate training Why we do this? Gentaro Yui, director grew up in US and traveled around world, and discovered Japan's rich and beautiful nature. Nature where people coexist, "Satoyama" culture we call it. Japan was an agricultural country history going back for thousands of years. They always knew and had wisdom of how to live sustainably. We feel our generation need to provide sustainable learning platform for children. As population will keep growing, and natural resource decreases, children in future will have to face much more difficult time. Understanding sustainability as well as to create sustainable society is important learning for children. Also, one of the social issue Japan is facing is over aged depopulated society. Many part of rural Japan is depopulated. Like Ogatsu, beautiful and rich nature We are trying to create a model that rural community opens up to receive children to educate in the nature. This is not only rebuilding from disaster, but to create an opportunity for children around globe to gather, experience, interact with each other. I ask for your support in establishing a learning place for children and locals to go back to work!