YMCA England: Helping young people build a future

Y Care International is collecting donations to pass on to partner organisations working in the earthquake-stricken areas of Japan.

Our YMCA partners in Sendai and Tochigi, which are closest to the affected areas, started immediately helping local people affected by the earthquake and are forming local support stations at each YMCA. In addition, our partner CWS is also working to provide emergency relief.

The Japan YMCA has formed a special task force to respond to the needs of the disaster areas and will be focused on supporting the victims, children, handicapped, elderly and migrant workers in Japan. Japanese YMCA volunteers will be sent to the affected areas as soon as access is possible and they have made an appeal for donations to help them provide essential emergency supplies and support.

In a Disaster response statement, Shigeru Shimada, National General Secretary of the National Council of YMCAs of Japan, said: "We have never experienced such a huge disaster throughout the many parts of the country with such massive damage occurring with each disaster.'

He continued: 'Currently we are experiencing an energy cut back of a few hours each day, even in Tokyo. This energy cut back affects our daily lives in unthinkable ways and is expect to last over an extended period of time. The earthquakes are still occurring in many areas including Tokyo at an alarming frequency."

Anyone in the UK and Ireland wishing to donate to the victims of the Japan earthquake can do so through Y Care International and we will collect donations in the usual way and forward them to our partner organisations in Japan.

Chris Roles, Chief Executive of Y Care International, says: "The YMCA in Japan is very experienced in earthquake response and disaster preparedness. YMCAs are working alongside the Japanese government, civil society and NGOs to set up the emergency response as quickly as possible. Our thoughts are with everyone at this terrible time."

Y Care International is not currently launching a formal appeal, but our partners are appealing for funds and we are collecting money for them.

This is an unusual situation as this disaster is in a developed country with a very good earthquake response system and disaster preparedness, however, we do realise many people will want to send financial support and we will provide the channel for them to do that.

For more information and to donate, please visit: www.ycareinternational.org/japanearthquake or call 020 7549 3175.