The Hatachi Fund is a Japanese financial body that aims to provide
ongoing support for education and independence for children affected
by the disaster so thatthey can grow into independent twenty-year-old
adults who will in turn support society at large (twenty-years-old,
hatachi, is the age of maturity in Japan).
Hatachi, which in Japanese means both twenty-years-old and “leaves”…
so that a tree trunk (the children) can grow, leaves which turn the Sun’s
light into energy need to exist. Won’t you become a leaf like that?
Fundraising to support those affected by the disaster has swept across the country. We hear that a lot of supplies have reached us from across the globe. That people from across this globe have provided this much support in such a short period of time without relying on the government and showing us the extent of what each of us can do, it feels as though the world’s kindness has shone a large light on Japan’s future. But from now the reconstruction will commence at an accelerated pace, and reports from the affected areas will eventually disappear from the media. Like the Hanshin-Awaji disaster and the Niigata earthquake, interest will weaken over time.
In the near future, even if the towns have recovered, even if the schools are repaired, lost family and friends will not return. The children will have a lot of “homework” to get over. But without forgetting the pain of the disaster, if there is someone who can keep giving encouragement – “you are not alone” – over the long term, keep providing kindness, we believe this can be the driving force to get through this trial. And in turn, with the strength due to overcoming this trial, they can become an adult of strength and kindness, and in turn be an ally to help solve the future challenges society will face.
Children who have faced hardship and adversity can become stronger and kinder than anyone. The growth of children affected by this disaster is this country’s new hope. With these thoughts in mind, we established this fund to provide on-going support to children.
We start this fund with its length as the twenty years it takes the infants who were yet to turn one-year-old when the earthquake occurred to be able to greet their coming-of-age ceremony.
| Fund Name | Hatachi Fund |
|---|---|
| Purpose | To support children and students affected by the earthquake to encourage them to overcome hardships after the earthquake and to actively live as grown-ups in the society in the future. |
| Activities | The Hatachi Fund is a consortium of non-profit organizations and social enterprises (currently four of them) that was established in cooperation with the Nippon Foundation, aiming to support the children in the disaster-stricken area till they reach “hatachi” or 20 years old in Japanese language. Following please find our ongoing projects: 1. “Hope Seminars” by FlorenceObjective: To support the education for children from low-income families.2. “Smile Factory for Kids” by Toy Box Objective: To support children with developmental disabilities or school refusal (those who refuse to attend to school due to bullying, peer pressure and other psychological reasons) in devastated area. 3. “Collaborative School” by Katariba Objective: To create a venue for children in devastated area to focus on their study to achieve their dreams and academic ambitions. 4. “Educational Voucher” by Chance for Children Objective: To secure opportunities for the extra-school activities for the children in devastated area to encourage their healthy development. 5. “Kids Support Force” by Florence Objective: To support parents who are evacuated to Tokyo 6. “Fukushima Indoor Park” by Florence Objective: To provide a venue for children in devastated area where they can play freely and have enough exercises that are necessary for their healthy development. Possible support activities include: (1) To provide disaster orphans and other children living in the disaster-affected areas with mental support and support for coursework study and carrier education. (2) To provide financial support for their living and education. (3) To provide support for self-reliance of young people who have difficulty finding jobs due to the disaster. |
| Duration | 20 yearsThe period of 20 years assumes the period during which babies who were born at the time of the disaster will go to high school and until they come of age (20 years old). |
