Experiencing the Great Earthquake in a children’s home

My parents divorced when I and my younger sister were 4 and 2 years old. My father took us in at the time, and we were alternately suffering from fever. But he could no longer go to work to take care of us and unable to raise us financially.

When I was five years old, my sister and I were sent to Fujinosono, a children's home in Ichinoseki City, Iwate.
Life at Fujinosono was sometimes difficult, but everyone was like a real family, and we spent our time happily and with smiles on our faces.

It was during that time when the Great East Japan Earthquake struck. I was a second-year senior high school student at the time, and I was in my room after coming home from school. Suddenly, there was a huge tremor that I had never experienced before, then glasses shattered in front of me, and many things fell down.

I cried and could not move. I was so scared and anxious that I thought I would die.
A staff and a senior member of Fujinosono took me by the hand and helped me through while the earthquake was still going on.

We were all forced to live in a gymnasium for a week until everything was restored.

It was cold and snowy.
Every time there was an aftershock, the younger children cried and could not sleep.
We couldn't get enough food, clothing, and shelter.

It was a very long week as I felt mentally and physically drained, with stress and fatigue increasing day by day due to the uncertainty of the situation.

After everything was restored, we were able to gradually get our lives back to normal with the help of many people. The kindness and thoughtfulness of the people who supported us became the encouragement for all the children in the Fujinosono, including myself.

To be of service to others. My homestay in New Zealand that gave me a dream.

I was in my third year in senior high school, and it was time for me to think about my future. I became the oldest among the children at the Fujinosono, and I decided that I would be the one to support the younger children this time.

I couldn’t proceed to higher education in the future because I don’t have parents to rely on anymore. I had no choice but to get a job, but I couldn't find what I wanted to do.

That's when I heard about the Support Our Kids New Zealand program.

“I wondered if it would be a good idea for me to study abroad now.”

I was concerned about the children who relied on me every day.
However, the staff at the Fujinosono encouraged me by saying, "You will never have an opportunity like this, so don't worry about anything." So, I decided to participate.

In New Zealand, I was able to meet a lot of people, including peers from Tohoku, my host family, and friends from the local school. My host family and their friends supported me with gestures when I didn't understand an English word in class. I remember that I was so happy to see everyone smiling when I was able to understand them.

I was touched by the warmth of everyone and realized that I was being helped by so many people. Even after I returned to Japan, there are people who continue to provide support for the Fujinosono.

I began to think, "Now, I want to do something for others”.

A letter of determination written on Christmas.

About half a year after I returned to Japan, I wrote a letter to Mr. Yukiatsu Akizawa, the Executive Director of Support Our Kids, to express my gratitude for the opportunity he gave me that helped shape the path of my future.

“I want to be of service to others. I will aim to become a nurse.”

Writing my decision in a letter made me even more determined to do my best.
With the support of the local hospital, I was given the opportunity to go to nursing school.
I woke up early in the morning every day to continue my studies and successfully passed the exam.

Now, I am working every day as a nurse, fulfilling the dream that I wrote in my letter.