japan relief

Today we had a stall to raise donation for the victims of the earthquake in Japan.

In the last week I was talking with my friend Tomoko how terrible what's happening in Japan and we were feeling really helpless. Then she was thinking to stand in the market which is held every saturday in our area asking for donation. I wasn't sure if we could raise much money that way. I thought of having a stall of lottery to get a piece of artwork or some sort. Then she said we could just sell things so we did.

It wasn't as simple as that actually because of a law of selling on the streets but Arno the cafe manager of La Bouche and the market organiser sorted things out for us.

We gathered almost anything from our friends and their friends to sell at the stall. Our collection varied from a toy to a car.

It was like a charity shop and people bought a lot of things and donated to us along with kind, heart-warming messages. The band in the market played for donation to us. It was very generous and thoughtfull of them. We were very touched.

It was a great day to feel the warmth of sunshine and peoples' hearts supporting us. I will never forget today in my life and this memory will keep me carry on.

We raised a lot more than we expected. Thank you SO SO much.

(We'll have a stall in Hackney City Farm tomorrow and again in the school yard at the north end of Broadway Market on the next Saturday. The money we raised will go to Japanese Red Cross, Doctors without borders and Civic Force.)

今日は近くのBroadway marketでチャリティーのためのストールを構えました。

本当は人出の多いマーケットの中で開く予定だったのですが、ライセンスの関係でそれは無理だということが朝になってわかりました。La Boucheというカフェのマネージャーさんがいろいろ取りはからってくれて、結局はマーケットの続きで小学校の校庭内のテーブルを二つ頂きました。

商品は本当にありとあらゆるものが集まり、ゴタゴタ感ゆえに売れるのかしら？という心配もかなりありましたが、言い値以上の金額をくださる方や、「がんばってね」という言葉を添えてくださる方、何も買わずに寄付してくださる方がたくさんいて、本当に嬉しい気持ちになりました。マーケット内のバスカーの人は稼いだお金を全部私たちに寄付してくださいました。

冬の気候に戻った後の暖かい陽気に恵まれた一日だったのですが、人々の温かさにも触れて本当に素敵な一日になりました。被災者の方々は、本当に大変な生活を続けていて、私の想像もできないような悲惨な現実を目の当たりにする日も多いと思います。私がここで経験しているこちらの人々の温かみに直に触れてもらうことはできないですが、少しでもその思いが被災者の生活に反映してくれるといいなと思います。