April 2012
O.G.A. FOR AID update

This Month of April was a busy and productive time for O.G.A. FOR AID. In partnership with HOPE-JP and GlobalMedic from Canada we completed a Shelter Construction Project in the area of Utatsu, Minamisanriku. These tents and shelters were set up to support local fishermen and farmers store their equipment, which is vital to reviving these industries. Through GlobalMedic and HOPE-JP’s support we were also the happy recipients of 3 shelters. O.G.A. FOR AID will use these to further support the GFA & CLC projects, mainly for storage of equipment i.e. tractor, mowers, grass cutters, pots, and seedlings.
The food and water supplies will be stored in the larger dome shelter, allowing us to expand support to the local survivors through distribution of supplies.
A special thanks to INJM who supplied the much needed manpower to get these shelters up in just a few days!

The children of Niranohama were especially excited this week to have us working in their neighborhood. Every day after school they came by to play ball, ride their bicycles and show us how many English words they could say! They also laughed and made friends with the many volunteers who were helping us.

The CLC project went outdoors for its Cherry Blossom Event this month. Various local communities worked together to make this celebration of spring possible. Of course we were also happy to have guest and volunteers from Tokyo, Aomori, Sendai and even Canada.
Thank you Belva, Makoto and Elizabeth for bringing up food and drinks; the hotdogs, muffins and cookies were favorites among the elderly ladies.
Thank you to the “Irish Network” for volunteering their time to visit and talk to us all about Ireland, its tastes, sounds and style. A very successful first International Culture Day it was.
Thank you Biervana and Trevor Allen for the Irish Murphys Stout!
Thank you Melanie Brock at Meat & Livestock Australia for the delicious steaks!

The Sea Side Center (CLC project) is growing steadily as a place of relaxation, recreation and learning for local residents.
We now have scheduled English and computer lessons on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.
Mothers spend time there with their children playing and watching cartoons. Other times residents will just pop by for coffee and a chat. (Volunteer teachers needed, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. )

GFA Season 2: The tilling, fertilizing and liming are almost finished. Mr. Abe, the head farmer of this Co-op will begin with planting mid-May.
O.G.A. FOR AID volunteers and staff are looking forward to supporting him along the way. This year we have over double the fields of last year, and the menu is as follows:
Potatoes
Cucmbers
Eggplants
Green Peppers
Tomatoes For Processing
Brocolli
Lettcue
Okra
Tsubomina
Daikon
Chinese Cabbage
Chijimi Spinach
Regular Spinach
Watermelons
Pumpkins
Mini tomatoes

We are looking forward to an abundant harvest and to the production of GFA pickles (tsukemono) as well!

Overall, there has been incredible growth with volunteers, and individuals donating their time and money. The membership and network of supporters in Tokyo and around the world is growing.
It is through your generosity and support that progress is being made in Tohoku. There is a long way to go still!
Thank you for all that you allow us to do, we hope to continue to bring your support to the recovery of Minamisanriku.

“No One Left Behind”

One Year On,
by O.G.A. FOR AID founding director Erwin Ortiz
There are times when something happens that defines our lives as the before and the after. One such a time is 2:46 in the afternoon on March 11, 2011.
Over 20,000 people lost their lives and hundreds of kilometers of coastal northeastern Japan were devastated. The whole world watched in horror the unprecedented tsunami and subsequent nuclear Armageddon.   Personally as I arrived to Minamisanriku on March 14th I felt as if my soul was sucked out of my body and the sheer scale of the disaster left me speechless. It was extremely cold, the sky was gray, dust and smoke hovered over the convulsed landscape and the sea was a black soup of debris.
How I got there is another story but as I drove the Norwegian journalist to the elementary school I got a chance to hear from the mothers what their most urgent needs were. Food was already beginning to arrive but having lost everything and barely escaping with their lives the mothers were asking for clean socks and underwear for the kids as well as hand cream, lotion, chap stick and wet tissues.
These information was related back to our school in Aomori and that is how the rescue effort begun. By next Friday, one week after the disaster we had traveled with three trucks of supplies and established our first base of operation near the Hotel Kanyo.

A year has passed and thanks to the efforts of caring individuals and organizations O.G.A FOR AID has continued to channel and facilitate a connectivity among individuals of all walks to life towards providing support and assisting in the rebuilding of Minamisanriku.
Up to date over 1,400 tons of food, water, teas, juice, non-perishable foods, frozen foods, fresh foods, daily essentials supplies, clothes, baby food, diapers, hygiene kits and emergency support equipment have been distributed to those residents of Minamisanriku struggling to rebuild their lives.

Two long term recovery projects have been initiated
1) Green Farmers Association
2) Community Learning Center
As well as a variety of short term projects such as the birthday parties for children at emergency shelters, takidashis, flea markets, the ice cream distribution day and the Chu Hai event held last summer. A Christmas to Remember held in December of last year provided 100 local residents + 20- 30volunteers from all over Japan a traditional  American style holiday feast as well as live music and entertainment.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hqhbp6oXiQ&list=UU2OoL0s4TWRbE0UJPL-kQGQ&index=1&feature=plcp
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAHLAjctqkQ&list=UU2OoL0s4TWRbE0UJPL-kQGQ&index=9&feature=plcp
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6AcPFkhqKs&feature=BFa&list=UU2OoL0s4TWRbE0UJPL-kQGQ&lf=plcp
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.174792215903975.33282.169997929716737&type=3
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.213820525334477.46483.169997929716737&type=3
The challenges of rebuilding are physical as well as emotional and psychological. For example how do you provide continuity and a connection to the past especially for the older generation? How to give them comfort by somehow recreating the life they were used too and at the same time excite and motivate the younger generation to want to stay and see the new possibilities
In a sense what is left is a white canvas, the challenges of planning a new city in harmonious resonance with local culture, economy and ecology of the region is also an opportunity.
I have been greatly impressed by the resilience of the survivors as well as their initiative in taking action to forge ahead. At the same time it has been amazing to see the amount of good will, concern and practical help that has come from all over the world.
We hope to continue to be and work as facilitators of support and progress around the world, starting here in our own back yard of Japan, Tohoku and more specifically Minamisanriku.
Thank you all!

Erwin Ortiz

O.G.A. FOR AID has been busy this last month here in Minamisanriku. Work in Tokyo is busy also as we continue to make new friends, connections and hold events.
During February we were able to sponsor a valentines party for local residents in Minamisanriku, mostly young adults in their 20's and 30's attended. The Sea Side Center has been more active and residents are starting to pop by and use the facility. Thank you to Liam Cosgrove for managing the center this month!
Angela was given the opportunity to speak at a TPF2 forum at the Waseda University in Tokyo. There she was explaining a bit about O.G.A. FOR AID and its experiences in Minamisanriku and disaster relief work during the immediate aftermath of March 11 2011.

March 2012 will continue on with a flurry as we prepare for GFA's transition out of the winter months and into spring tilling and planting.
The Community Learning Center will have its shuttle bus up and running by the last week, flags and signs are being prepared for awareness and to facilitate guests.
March 14th at Biervana in Akasaka from 6pm there will be a St. Patricks Day event, organized by INJ and Europubworks, all raffle proceeds are being donated to O.G.A. FOR AID so please come along if you can and tell your friends too!! :) Come by Biervana again on the 18th if you would like to catch up in person and hear about the work up in Tohoku, O.G.A. FOR AID staff and volunteers will be there again and marching in the parade in Omotesando later.

Distribution to various neighborhoods and temporary housing areas is bi weekly this coming month, Peter is organizing the distribution with local staff and volunteers  who join us for the day(s). please send us an email if you would like the chance to help out hands on.

Here's to another productive month, there is still much to be done. we are eager to continue implementing projects already running as well as initiate new ones as the needs demand. Thank you all!

The link below showcases some of the events and happenings during the month of February. we hope you enjoy watching it, and thank you all for your continued support. We appreciate it so very much! Here is what WE ALL, (yes, you too!), not just us have been able to accomplish. がんばろう！！

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hqhbp6oXiQ

Sincerely,