Closing Speech by Nara Pearce
At the Farewell Party for the Fukushima Children
Two years ago, when I was asked to organise this project to bring 10 children from Fukushima to Sydney, I had no idea of where and how to start. I had no clue as to how I could make this happen.
Today, there has been a miracle. The project is completed and tomorrow at the airport, we say goodbye to the children.
It is just awesome to think that compassionate thoughts for children who were affected by the tsunami and the consequent radiation disaster brought together so many people with beautiful hearts to create something amazing for these children.
It is beyond anyone's imagination. I have witnessed that the heart of compassion and loving kindness has a special power to unite people in a magical way.
This Fukushima Project belongs to everyone who was involved in it in someway, small or large. I am so happy that I have been a part of this beautiful act of kindness and I hope you are happy, too.
Thank you everyone for your enormous support and for your encouragement to continue and make this project very meaningful and joyful event.
My special appreciation goes to Uniting Hearts Project of Rissho Kosei-kai in Japan for selecting and bringing 10 children from affected areas of Fukushima. They paid for the children's domestic transport and their passports.
As well as this, they provided three carers, Mr. Yamada, Ms Shiho ad Ms Nogawa to assist the children's 12 day respite stay. Two University students who were sponsored by Karuna also accompanied the children and they were exceptional
in their task of taking care of the children.
I would like to say a heartfelt thank you to Yukiko of the Sydney Rainbow Stay Project for providing us with contact details of host families and many important volunteers. I would especially like to say thank you to the Byron Bay 'Bridge to Fukushima' group for the generous donation they made to this Project through the Sydney Japan Club.
A very big Thank You goes to our host families for their loving care and hospitality for the children and for the two University students during their 5 days in Sydney. Without your kindness, the children were not able to experience various Sydney excursions supported by the warmth of family environment. Another big thank you goes to Denise, April and Karina who took annual leave from their jobs to look after the children during their seven day stay at the Karuna Centre Katoomba. An acknowledgement also goes to Mr. Kijima of the Rainbow Project from Japan as a volunteer carer sponsored by The Karuna Foundation Children's Fund.
With the help of many other supporters and generous donors who I could not mention here, we were able to safely provide fun activities until the end. Our happy success shows in the smiles of the children tonight. I believe we were able to make a differene in their lives and help them think that a better and brighter future is possible.
Finally I would like to say to the children, I love you all and I wish for your happiness. My hope is that you will keep some precious memory of us in your heart and if ever you have difficulties or hardship, please remember how much you were loved and cared for this year by many Australians and Japanese living in Sydney. Ganbatte!
August 2013
Today, there has been a miracle. The project is completed and tomorrow at the airport, we say goodbye to the children.
It is just awesome to think that compassionate thoughts for children who were affected by the tsunami and the consequent radiation disaster brought together so many people with beautiful hearts to create something amazing for these children.
It is beyond anyone's imagination. I have witnessed that the heart of compassion and loving kindness has a special power to unite people in a magical way.
This Fukushima Project belongs to everyone who was involved in it in someway, small or large. I am so happy that I have been a part of this beautiful act of kindness and I hope you are happy, too.
Thank you everyone for your enormous support and for your encouragement to continue and make this project very meaningful and joyful event.
My special appreciation goes to Uniting Hearts Project of Rissho Kosei-kai in Japan for selecting and bringing 10 children from affected areas of Fukushima. They paid for the children's domestic transport and their passports.
As well as this, they provided three carers, Mr. Yamada, Ms Shiho ad Ms Nogawa to assist the children's 12 day respite stay. Two University students who were sponsored by Karuna also accompanied the children and they were exceptional
in their task of taking care of the children.
I would like to say a heartfelt thank you to Yukiko of the Sydney Rainbow Stay Project for providing us with contact details of host families and many important volunteers. I would especially like to say thank you to the Byron Bay 'Bridge to Fukushima' group for the generous donation they made to this Project through the Sydney Japan Club.
A very big Thank You goes to our host families for their loving care and hospitality for the children and for the two University students during their 5 days in Sydney. Without your kindness, the children were not able to experience various Sydney excursions supported by the warmth of family environment. Another big thank you goes to Denise, April and Karina who took annual leave from their jobs to look after the children during their seven day stay at the Karuna Centre Katoomba. An acknowledgement also goes to Mr. Kijima of the Rainbow Project from Japan as a volunteer carer sponsored by The Karuna Foundation Children's Fund.
With the help of many other supporters and generous donors who I could not mention here, we were able to safely provide fun activities until the end. Our happy success shows in the smiles of the children tonight. I believe we were able to make a differene in their lives and help them think that a better and brighter future is possible.
Finally I would like to say to the children, I love you all and I wish for your happiness. My hope is that you will keep some precious memory of us in your heart and if ever you have difficulties or hardship, please remember how much you were loved and cared for this year by many Australians and Japanese living in Sydney. Ganbatte!
August 2013
Thank you speech by Akkun at the farewell party
