A group of Cragmont parents have initiated a fundraising, outreach, and education campaign to draw our children's and families' attention to the crisis in northeast Japan that resulted from the Earthquake and Tsunami. One Cragmont family has a close friend, Professor Tsuyoshi Sasaki, who lived in a small town called "Otsuchi" that was completely destroyed by the 30-foot wave. Fortunately Tsuyoshi, his wife, 12 year old daughter and 11 year old son all survived. The children attended Otsuchi Elementary, which no longer exists. Most of the students there lost their parents, and everyone, including Tsuyoshi's family, lost their homes. Of the town's 15,000 residents, 10,000 are dead or missing, including the town leader. Many children are living in temporary shelters with no heat, electricity, running water or baths, and very little food.
Cragmont parents are initiating a campaign called "A Thousand Cranes" to offer our support, compassion, hope, and a donation to help the school children of Otsuchi get back on their feet. We believe that targeting our support directly to a small community such as Otsuchi creates a closer contact and gives our children a better idea of whom we are helping.
We'll be giving a presentation to Cragmont students to discuss the importance of reaching out to other children and communities in need. Students will help us make thousand paper cranes (a traditional Japanese gesture to show love and compassion to those suffering and in need). In addition, we'll ask Cragmont students to write a letter, draw a picture, and/or color cranes to give an encouragement and hope to children in Otsuchi.
Letters, drawings, and thousand cranes will be shipped along with our donation directly to the city of Otsuchi.
Thank you
