Australian Scientology Volunteer Ministers lead an international relief team bringing succour to the survivors of the Great East Japan Earthquake

February 15, 2012

More than 300 Scientology Volunteer Ministers travelled to Tohoku (North Japan), which was hit by massive tsunamis caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake to provide care and assistance to officials and survivors. The disaster left many cities of Tohoku devastated and more than 400,000 people were left homeless.

The first observation teams from the Scientology International Disaster Response team arrived in Watari and Kesennuma on 12 March and assessed what assistance was most needed. Volunteer Ministers in Kesennuma then immediately helped deliver needed supplies to shelters, including milk for babies, nappies, food, water, etc.

The Volunteer Ministers (VMs) have continued their work in 10 cities in Miyagi and Iwate Prefectures helping with a diverse range of activities - from delivering supplies and cleaning streets, assisting to recover personal photographs, to arranging bicycles and forklifts and entertainment at the shelters. Additionally they have provided one-on-one spiritual care called “Assists” to those who have lost their homes and families, enabling them to sleep better and recover from the emotional trauma and shock. Sometimes it is just listening to their story and understanding what they have been through. With so many affected the victims had not wanted to put their burdens onto their fellow survivors, so have been thankful to talk to someone trained to listen and help them to recover and pick up the pieces of their lives.

So far, the Volunteer Ministers have provided personal help to more than 18,000 people in total at more than 100 shelters, in addition to doing whatever was needed by the officials running the recovery operations. No job has been too small or too hard and with the resilient spirit of the Japanese, they are helping to rebuild the communities. The help of the Volunteer Ministers is very much appreciated by the people who live in shelters and they will continue to provide assistance for as long as needed.

Volunteer Ministers from all over the world in Onagawa with the Japanese Self-Defence Force