From Japan to Leyte with love

MANILA, Philippines - The countdown to Christmas came early for children in typhoon-ravaged areas in Leyte.

Under the sweltering heat, young volunteers from Japan played games, danced, taughts arts and crafts, and sang familiar Disney songs to bring cheer and hope to school children attending schools in Leyte’s coastal areas.

“We saw the trauma that typhoon Yolanda brought to the children we met, and we hope to bring smiles on their faces even through simple games and activities,” shared 29-year old Japanese volunteer Ran Fujii.

Fujii is one of the members of a group called SAMAKANA, formed from the Tagalog words sama ka na, which means “join us” in English. The group has been visiting Leyte to care for children typhoon victims, and has reached out to some 4,000 children from kindergarten to Grade 6 from different barangays.

Along with the other young Japanese volunteers, Fujii was dispatched to the Philippines on specific development work under the Japan International Cooperation Agency’s (JICA) Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteer program. There are about 55 volunteers in the Philippines under the program, and each of them takes turns visiting Leyte.

Akiko Sugiyama was assigned to Bohol’s City Central School Special Education Center, and also joined activities in elementary schools in Tanauan, Leyte.

“Almost everyone we met in Leyte lost at least one family member. It was a painful experience for them. We hope that by being with them, we could help them enjoy simple activities,” she shared.

The volunteers teach children how to play African drums, make origami (Japanese art of paper folding), and observe proper hygiene (washing hands, brushing teeth).

“Since 2004, our volunteers have held activities for less privileged children in Manila, or in their places of assignment. JICA supports the activities in Leyte by providing soaps, toothbrushes, school supplies, and food to school children participants,” JICA senior volunteer Akira Goto said.

Goto has been living in Tacloban since May 2014 to work with the Provincial Planning and Development Office of Leyte. He has held community-based disaster workshops in coastal areas, assisting PWDs as well as supervising activities of SAMAKANA.

True to its name, SAMAKANA has since encouraged Korean volunteers and Filipino nurses, students and also PWDs to join its activities.

“We’ve also encouraged other children from far barangays to join the activities. We’re happy to see them smiling when they finally join,” said volunteer Kanako Jonishi.

It’s been more than a year since Yolanda ravaged communities in Leyte, leaving painful memories behind. Thanks to SAMAKANA, the children are slowly regaining beautiful experiences to remember their childhood by.