[Event Report] 2015 Tohoku Intern Project

[Event Report] 2015 Tohoku Intern Program 

During the third week of March 2015, the CCCJ and NPO Ganbatte 365 brought together CCCJ members and friends for the third run of the Tohoku Intern Project. 

This year, preparation for the project started in November, as CCCJ Governor Neil van Wouw and the CCCJ CSR Committee laid out initial plans for making the project feasible. The CCCJ's direct outreach for the program started back in January, with a membership-wide call for host companies, homestays, volunteers and sponsors. Our target for host companies was met quickly, as many of the companies that participated in the program in previous years, again offered to take on interns. A few new companies also showed interest in the project. Finding 15 homestays - to match the number of internships - proved to be a bit more difficult. However, some last minute networking and e-mail hustling from Mr. van Wouw resulted in us reaching our placement goal.  

Interns arrived at Tokyo station on Sunday March 15th, and were greeted by the CCCJ CSR Committee and their homestay families. The following day, the week-long internship project was kicked-off with an orientation session at TMI Associates in Roppongi Hills. Interns were blown away with the view from TMI offices that overlooks Tokyo from 23 stories up. On Friday evening, the CCCJ hosted a reception to celebrate the completion of the program at the Tokyo American Club. At the special event, CCCJ Cultural Ambassador, Katsura Sunshine, performed a short rakugo manzai. His performance was followed by thoughtful presentations from all 15 program participants about their Tokyo intern and homestay experience. On the 21st, homestay families and the Tohoku interns spent a fun day together. Students departed from Tokyo station, bound for Rikuzentakata, the following day.

The Tohoku Intern Project is a meaningful way to give the young people from Rikuzentakata - one of the areas hardest hit by the 3/11/2011 Earthquake and Tsunami - a chance to have exposure to new experiences and different people. 

The 2015 project timeline

Date  Plan
Feb 15  Deadline for applicatrions from companies and host families
Mar 06   Student/host family matching complete
Mar 15  Host families meet students at Tokyo station around 14:00
Mar 16  Orientation and first day at company
Mar 17 - 19  Students parttake in internship 
Mar 20  Last day at company; special closing evening event
Mar 21  Free day for students with their host families
Mar 22  Host families see students off at Tokyo station in the morning

2015 Sponsor Companies:

  • Ikon Europubs
  • Manulife
  • Currie & Brown
  • GPlus Media
  • Ingenium
  • Bavarian State Office
  • Century 21
  • Davis LLP
  • Capital Tax
  • Costco

The CCCJ would like to extend an extra special thank you to host companies, volunteers, homestay families and sponsors for their hospitality and generous support. Without your help this program could not have happened. 

Sign up to get early bird info for next year: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/MZFV3BB

About the program

Rikuzentakata, is a small city located on the Sanriku Coastline between Kesenuma and Ofunato in Iwate Prefecture, that was devistated by the Great East Japan Earthquake and its ensuing Tsunami. Despite the fact that the town, is, essentially gone, as described by it's Mayor, people of Rikuzentakata are hopeful, and are committed to recovery.  

 

A Message from Futoshi Toba, Mayor of Rikuzentakata in Iwate Prefecture

 

In summer 2012, Neil van Wouw and the CCCJ's CSR committee went to Rikuzentakata to discuss the idea of inviting high school students. The idea was met with great enthusiasm and since then, in 2013, and 2014 the program materialized in internships and homestays for 11 and 14 students respectively.

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Click here for the event report from the 2014 program.     

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