First Day of the Project!!!

Today was the first day we took an action! And our day went pretty rough but productive.  The biggest news we have today is the amount of the donation we received from people in Nanaimo! The total amount of the very first day’s donation was……

CAD$1041.21!!!!!!!!!! (as of March 15th).

Regardless of the situation of our student group without official supports from any famous organizations, people in Nanaimo were very supportive for Japanese who are still suffering right now. They dropped some worm and caring words to all of us. All of the volunteers were very surprised with the incredible numbers of people supporting Japanese. We could not stop appreciating all the donors. Thank you. Thank you very much from bottom of our heart. This was the very motivating start for us as well to continue doing and helping Japanese from far west.

As we decided in the last meeting, the group has divided into major two groups: fundraising group and message group.

The fundraising group involves two parts

• Involving communities and setting up the donation boxes (Donation Box Team)
• Collecting donation by actively encouraging people in malls or on streets (Donation Team)

For the Donation Box team, the group had gathered and discussed about which restaurants they should approach and how they should approach. Because our university is currently on strike and we have not determined organization to work with such as Red Cross or World Vision, the team has struggling to exhibit our group’s credit or the process of money use.  Afterword, the group has directly contacted restaurants as many as they could think of. As a result, almost all Japanese restaurants in Nanaimo have approved to set up the donation boxes.  In addition, the Vietnamese restaurant “Huong Lan” and Dailey Queen indicated willingly supporting for the project. We really thank to all sponsors allowing us come in and set up the boxes with a short time notice today. With all sponsors’ permission, we would like to exhibit the list of our sponsors later on. Although some large scale companies asked about which NGO/NPO organizations we would be working with, the number of donation boxes was a great start.

With great effort from all groups of volunteer, Donation team carried out several activities in the day. We got a great support from the administration team at Countryclub Mall, and set up two donation tables inside the mall. There were many mall shoppers expressing their concern and making significant donation along with the best wishes for all the victims in Japan’s earthquake. Again, we will appreciate your continuous support!!

Besides monetary support, the message group tried to send supporting message to Japanese victims and to involve as many people as they can. With again the support from Country Club Mall, they are approved to set a spot and collect messages. The group has determined their goal as 1000 clicks of campaign on their Facebook fan page “VIU Message Project for Japan.” So far, we already have 118 LIKE!! If you check this website, please have a visit! Even though it has just been the second day of the project, we have already received 37 photos, yes, 37 photos!!!! And more importantly, these photo messages are written by friends from around the world, and definitely prove one commonality among all of us- WE ALL CARE NO MATTER WHERE ARE FROM. As you see the countless supports from all over the world, we say “it’s going to be fine! Japan!! So stay strong.” Ganbare Japan!