kids d.i.y. project

Many thanks to Francis Guérin, Love Kindstrand, and Vinci Ting for the following translation of this human recovery project post, which we first learned about on the Irregular Rhythm Asylum blog!

Friday, May 13, 2011

Project kids d.i.y.
4.29 Tokyo and 5.2 Minamisanriku workshops

Through crafts, we launched the making of a network called Project “kids d.i.y.” where children (and youth and adults) in our home Tokyo and various disaster areas can get in touch.

One of the locations for our support workshops is in our very home, Tokyo. The first Tokyo workshop was held at Irregular Rhythm Asylum in Shinjuku, Tokyo, and together with the children of the five families who have endorsed this project, we strived to create things that could be delivered to disaster areas. Even children who were shy in the beginning turned on the switch and showed us their creativity.

One zine page with messages from parents, along with the children’s own pictures and messages, was completed. With that finished zine from the Tokyo workshop, on 5/2, we held another workshop at the shelter of Shizugawa Elementary School in Minamisanriku of the Miyagi prefecture.

With school about to start and shelters being reorganized, there weren’t many children, but from the moment they raised their voices like “I want to make a bunny!”, the few children came running energetically and began to draw pictures and go snip snip with their kirigami. In any case, the children’s desire to have a good time was irrepressible and contagious.

Midway, we got together with a pianica group from Kobe, and alongside a soothing performance, a harmonious and fun time continued until lunch time.

We also made this banner together with the children.

And another zine page, the Shizugawa version with all of the children’s creations, was completed.

Minamisanriku had been a battlefield-like, grand spectacle that was spreading even when we visited at the beginning of May. Still, children were jumping on beds that had come drifting, making them into trampolines, and were playing so energetically. It felt like we saw the creativity and the strength in children who could transform anything into a playground.

Here we would like to warmly thank everyone who has given us their understanding and cooperation for the 4/29 Tokyo workshop and the 5/2 Minamisanriku Shizugawa Elementary School workshop. Thank you very much! Let’s meet again with much spirit.