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Stories from Kuwait
Students from Al Bayan, American Bilingual, Fatima Alsarawi, Maria Alqobtia and Salah El-Deen schools in Kuwait are reporting stories for the MEPI (Middle East Partnership Initiative) High School Journalism project and World Youth News.
They have also been busy with many activities, including TV interviews, newspaper visits with their mentors, and meetings with U.S. Embassy and MEPI guests.
Take a look at their photos, school blogs and newspapers.
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June 13, 2011
BOSTON, U.S. -- The 8.9 magnitude earthquake that shook Japan in March 2011 wasn’t enough for the country. It was followed by a series of tsunamis. This disaster left many people lost, dead or homeless and in seatrying to find their loved ones. When the news hit the U.S., people didn’t know what to think. But some, like Boston Latin School’s Magistra Nabbefeld, were terribly distraught. Having resided in Kesenuma in 2007-2008 year and having taught in Japan, she had many friends there. People who lived in towns close to the coast like Kesenuma were greatly affected by this catastrophe.
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Students from the Japanese Anime Culture Club and the Japanese Language Culture Club (JLCC) at Boston Latin School came together to help fundraise for Peace Winds, an organization that was providing supplies to survivors of the tsunami. In March, 2011, the students decided to go with the old-fashion way of asking people to donate money. The goal of the club was to raise $1,200. Students went around to the homerooms of all grades and asked for donations. After two days, when the students filed into their activity room to hear how much money they had raised, they were surprised to hear the amount: $1,450. Though the clubs had only two days to plan, their members were able to convey how horrible the disasters were. Janet Lam, a volunteer for the clubs, said, 'I volunteered because we should help people in need. People in the U.S. take things for granted. We should be aware of problems that other countries have and we don’t." |
When Nabbefeld didn't hear from close friends who lived in the area, she was terrified. She even had nightmares about this calamity. Not until about a week after the earthquake did she hear from her friends and found out that they were okay. “Hearing from them calmed me down," said Nabbefeld. Japan was and still is in a state
of emergency.
Nabbefeld found out that people were living in shelters on meager essentials because their homes had been destroyed. Some disasters, including the 7.0 magnitude earthquake that hit Haiti in 2010, caught the attention of many, who pitched in to help. Many people assume that since Japan is advanced, they should be able to with this catastrophe. Others, however, are trying to help by fundraising or donating money to charities, even if they have no connection to Japan. Nabbefeld is now raising money for Japan.
The younger generation doesn't seem to be really interested in the news because they aren’t dealing with it first-hand and they have no personal connection to Japan. When asked how this affects their daily lives, many responsed with, “not much,” which mostly followed when they answered, “no,” to the first question, which was if they know anyone in Japan. When Nabbefeld was asked, “If you didn’t know anyone there, would you care as much?” she answered, “Of course not.” But not caring as much doesn’t mean she wouldn't care at all.
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