Children affected by Japan's Fukushima nuclear disaster can only play outside for an hour a day due to radiation, but thanks to the help of a New Zealand woman they're about to get some extra playtime.
Wellingtonian Sara Coe, who lives in Kyoto, is part of the TA Project which is sending a group of 12 kids from Fukushima on a four-day camp in Osaka from August 17.
The children, aged 10 to 12 years, will spend their time running around outdoors, making music and playing games.
But the 27-year-old needs the help of fellow Kiwis to raise about $10,000 for the venture, which includes funds so the camp can become an annual event. So far more than $2600 has been raised.
Ms Coe says the organising group is looking outside Japan for funding because traditionally Japanese people are hesitant to donate to charitable organisations, especially small ones like the TA Project.
TA stands for Tanoshiku Asobou, which means "Let's play and have fun" in English.
She says another organiser lives in Fukushima and has met with the children they hope will attend the camp.
"Children there can't play outside for more than an hour due to risks of radiation," she told NZ Newswire.
"They have to be careful of what they eat drink, eat and where they can play.
"Growing up in a nuclear free and beautiful country like New Zealand, what these children are going through is just unimaginable."
Radioactive material was released from the Fukushima power station following the 9.0 magnitude earthquake and tsunami in March 2011. It is the largest nuclear disaster since Chernobyl in 1986.
About 13,000 people died as a result of the earthquake and tsunami and it is estimated that more than 150,000 people were forced to flee their homes because of radiation contamination.
*Donations can be made at www.indiegogo.com/TAproject
NZN
