Volunteer Spotlight: Jeanne Noble
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 When Jeanne Noble and her husband Jack moved to Tokyo just over a year ago they left behind in England two grown children, a 4-year-old grandson and a full, rich life in the historic community of Shrewsbury. Never having lived outside of the U.K. before, the Tokyo move was an enormous change for Jeanne, but determined not to be lonely or unhappy away from friends and family, she quickly sought ways to be involved in the Tokyo community. At home in Shrewsbury, Jeanne volunteered with a hospice and local hospital so it was natural to pursue volunteer opportunities in Tokyo too. "I wanted to do something helpful and continue to contribute in a hands on way to worthy causes in the way I had in the U.K.", says Jeanne. "My life has been enriched and grounded through these experiences."
At a coffee one morning at the Tokyo American Club, a new friend introduced Jeanne to HOT, and she quickly became a regular volunteer at the Sakuragawa senior home. Jeanne, with her warm smile and gentle manner, was a popular volunteer among the seniors at Sakuragawa. She naturally put them at ease and other volunteers commented that they seemed to relax whenever Jeanne came into the room. Jeanne clearly gained as much as the seniors did from the weekly encounters, though. As she describes it, "It's amazing how much communication and enjoyment can take place even without being able to speak each other's language." Through weekly activities such as hand massages, dance, outings and handicrafts, Jeanne made a host of new friends among HOT volunteers and especially among the Sakuragawa seniors who Jeanne describes as "delightful".
Hands On Tokyo's project at Sakuragawa suspended temporarily at the end of May, and Jeanne will surely miss visiting her older friends. However, by fall she and other volunteers who enjoy working with seniors will have the chance to volunteer with seniors once again when HOT launches a new senior home project as part of the October Day of Service.
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Meet Our Summer Intern: Catherine Simes
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 HOT is fortunate to welcome Catherine Simes as our very first intern. Although only with us a few weeks so far, Catherine has already proved a quick study developing presentations and strengthening ties with Tokyo's various ward offices and potential Japanese corporate donors. A Tokyo native, Catherine has just completed her freshman year at Wellesley College in Massachusetts in the U.S. Catherine first experienced volunteering at boarding school abroad where she worked on projects such as helping in a soup kitchen, playing games with autistic children, visiting a senior home and tutoring. She met many wonderful people she would not have encountered otherwise, including a very special gentleman at a residential home who happened to have a passion for cribbage, a British card game handed down through the generations in Catherine's family. Over many games, the man shared with Catherine his stories of family, World War II and growing up. In him she found the grandfather she never knew and formed a lifelong passion for volunteer work. Catherine found Hands On Tokyo after volunteering with another Hands On affiliate, Hands On New Orleans. She and several friends spent winter break helping rebuild homes in the city still recovering from the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina. Her positive and eye-opening experiences there encouraged her to search for a Hands On group in Tokyo. Says Catherine, "It's been another great experience seeing the inner workings of a Hands On group, meeting potential corporate sponsors, and participating in various volunteer projects all while working with an amazing team of people! Hands On Tokyo provides such amazing opportunities and I am so happy to see such an organization being established in Tokyo!"
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| Project Spotlight: Meguro Wakaba-ryo |
 Hands On Tokyo's and State Street Bank's partnership with Meguro Wakaba-ryo is only a few months old but it has quickly become one of our most popular projects. Founded in 1947, Meguro Wakaba-ryo is a non-profit organization providing a home for children who are orphaned or temporarily cannot live with their parents. Children range in age from kindergarten to high school. Up to 40 children live in either dormitories or small group homes in the pleasant, park-like Komaba neighborhood of Tokyo. Japan does not have a foster care system so children's homes like Meguro Wakaba-ryo are fulfilling a critical social need.
The Wakaba-ryo project is made possible by sponsor State Street Bank. Each month up to 15 State Street employees and other HOT volunteers play games and do crafts projects with the children. Younger children enjoy discovering new toys and games with the volunteers, while older children have a chance to show off their creative talents. Staff leader Mr. Nishimori describes the partnership with HOT as follows: "The HOT volunteers have been coming since April and are gradually developing relationships with the children. The sight of children and volunteers working together on beads or clay art projects has become a regular fixture at Wakaba-ryo. We look forward to a long partnership with HOT."
The artwork the children produce is truly outstanding. A Wakaba-ryo staff member commented, "When I saw the artwork the children created with the HOT volunteers I was so surprised. It would have been difficult for them to produce by themselves, but I realized that by working together with the HOT volunteers, the children discovered new talents."
One of the distinguishing features of all Hands On Tokyo projects is the project coordinator, and Kayano Mizuno of State Street Trust and Banking believes the project coordinators are key to the initial success of the Wakaba-ryo project. "I am very impressed with the project coordinators. They sincerely care about the children of Wakaba-ryo. In the orientation, they explain their thoughts and the long-term goal of the project which is to make the children naturally realize that there are a variety of people and jobs in the world, learn how to commu  nicate with others, and help them know that there are people who care about them outside of school and Wakaba-ryo. This is very important for the children who have to go out into society once they graduate high school. Because of the HOT project coordinators, we volunteers can learn how to take care of the children. Moreover, we learn something more through the project--the importance of 'just being there' with the children."
To volunteer at Meguro Wakaba-ryo, please contact project coordinator Yumiko Tategami at: yumiko.tategami@handsontokyo.org.
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Hands On Tokyo
Day of Service October 4, 2008
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The Hands On Tokyo Day of Service is a one-day event which engages a diverse group of volunteers in larger-scale service activities, highlights volunteerism, promotes Hands On Tokyo as a vehicle to provide meaningful service opportunities, enables both foreigners and Japanese nationals to give back in a tangible way to local, underserved populations and raises funds to support Hands On Tokyo's year-round service projects. Projects confirmed include a festival at a senior citizens home, a sports festival with children in the Special Olympics motor skills development program, and a playground refurbishment for Meguro Wakaba-ryo children's home. Additional projects will be finalized in the coming weeks.
Annual sponsorships encompassing the Day of Service and all HOT's activities, either corporate or individual, are available at the 500,000 yen, 1 million yen, 1.5 million yen and 2 million yen levels. Last year's event drew 12 corporate sponsors and we aim to increase that number this year. Interested sponsors are encouraged to contact Hands On Tokyo for details. Individuals may participate on the day by contributing 2,000 yen which includes a Hands On Tokyo Day of Service t-shirt and admission to the After Service Party.
For further information on HOT Day of Service 2008, please contact Yumiko Tategami or Marcela Campos at info@handsontokyo.org
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Upcoming
Volunteer Opportunities
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Special Olympics Basketball, Weekends, 1:00-3:00 Restarting in September 2008. (Dates to be announced soon) SON Advanced Basketball, 3:00-5:00 (Must be able to play basketball) July 5,6,13 SON Bowling, Weekends, 10:00-12:00 July 12 (For ages 18 years old and above; space available for 5 volunteers) SON Motor Development Saturdays, 1:00-3:00 July 12 (space available for 3 volunteers) Sponsored by:
Second Harvest Japan, Thursdays, 1:00-3:00 July 10, 17, 24, 31 (for 3 volunteers) Wakaba-ryo Children's Home, 10:15-Noon, Sunday, July 26 (For ages 10 years old and above; space available for 7 volunteers.) Sponsored by:
English Conversation with Blind Adults, Saturdays, 9:45-Noon
July 5 (full)
September 6
(for 2-4 volunteers)
To volunteer for any project, e-mail us at: info@handsontokyo.org
or call: 03-5404-3563
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