Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on July 2014

Ganbaro Miyagi is the English “translation” of the Miyagi Reconstruction Assistance Center, or Miyagi Fukko Shien Center. The center has been involved in a variety of assistance-based activities, ranging from goods distribution shortly after the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami to organizing and running international English camps.

Begun in the summer of 2012, these camps are aimed at providing children in the Kanto and Tohoku regions with a chance to practice English and interact with people from international backgrounds, with a focus on children affected by the 2011 earthquake. Roughly ten percent of children attending the camps were directly affected by the tsunami, either living in temporary housing or (still) taking refuge in the Kanto area. These children can attend free of charge thanks to corporate donations and participation fees paid by other children (¥24,800 each).

From the time children arrive until the bus ride home, each moment at camp is crammed full of activities to keep them entertained, excited and exercised. These range from outdoor and indoor games, making traditional Japanese crafts and simple English lessons to a campfire dance and a spooky night walk.

Kanto camps are hosted at either the Saitama Prefecture Youth Outdoor Center or the Chiba Prefecture Youth Outdoor Center; Tohoku camps are held at the National Hanayama Youth Outdoor Learning Center in Miyagi Prefecture. Each camp is limited to 100 elementary school children, who are then divided into nine teams, each led by three foreign volunteers and one Japanese volunteer with conversational English ability. It’s an exhausting but exhilarating 36 hours for them, starting  Saturday bright and early at 7am near one of four major stations (Ueno, Omiya or Chiba station for Kanto; Sendai station for Tohoku). After a quick review of the rules and goals (sent via email well in advance of the camp date), the staff get ready for the children, who start to arrive in droves by 8am.

Volunteers hail from as close as China to as far as Argentina or Egypt; previous experience with children is not required. While the camps aim to foster an international spirit, the main goal is to bring a smile to everyone’s faces, children and volunteers alike.

Camps run weekly throughout spring, summer and fall, with several occurring concurrently during peak seasons. Saturday night accommodation, four camp meals and round-trip transportation from the central starting station to the camp are provided. Transportation reimbursement to the starting station is limited to ¥4,000, and preference will be given to volunteers who live locally. Signing up takes less than ten minutes, and can be done online at meturl.com/ganbaro.

Summer Camps (May-Sep 2014): http://ganbaro-miyagi.com/summer2014/en/

Fall Camps (Oct-Nov 2014): http://ganbaro-miyagi.com/autumn2014/en/