All Hands Volunteers Launches All Hands Asia

TOKYO, Oct. 12, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- All Hands Volunteers, which provides assistance to survivors of natural disasters around the world, is pleased to announce the launch of All Hands Asia to create a long term presence in Japan and the greater Asia-Pacific region.

Based out of Tokyo, All Hands Asia has been established under the General Incorporated Association of Japan and is committed to providing an extended volunteer presence through mid-November 2011. All Hands Asia will support community outreach, trade and industry, and the long term economic recovery in the affected regions of Japan. The very first All Hands volunteer in Japan, Satoshi Kitahama will act as Representative Director.  Directors Henry Takata, Laura Winthrop and All Hands Volunteers Executive Director David Campbell will serve on the board.

"The March 11 earthquake and tsunami damaged 7,200 homes in Rikuzentakata and Ofunato, displacing 26,000 people and destroying nearly three years worth of the area's GDP," said David Campbell, Executive Director of All Hands Volunteers.  "Understanding the loss involved, All Hands volunteers are committed to the region over the long term.  We are delighted to expand our presence through All Hands Asia and look forward to working with the communities, volunteers, businesses and government bodies to bring restoration and hope back to Japan."  

More than 1,000 volunteers from over 30 countries provided direct assistance to nearly 4000 people through 65,000 hours of volunteer labor.  They repaired homes, rehabilitated business sites, mucked out municipal drainage canals and restored treasured family photos in Ofunato and Rikuzentakata.  

All Hands Volunteers also currently has projects running in Haiti and the US.

For more information, to volunteer, or to donate to All Hands Volunteers disaster response fund please visit www.hands.org. To view a 6-month Tohoku retrospective video, please visit: http://hands.org/2011/10/11/6-months-of-project-tohoku/

About All Hands Volunteers (AHV)

AHV is a US-based, 501(c)3 non-profit organization, a UK registered charity (1139938) and a Public Interest General Incorporated Association in Japan. AHV provides assistance to survivors of natural disasters around the world.  Over 7,000 volunteers from over 42 countries have worked with AHV to provide critical assistance to more than 35,000 families. For more information including a list of past and present projects go to http://hands.org/.

CONTACT

All Hands Volunteers
Jiella Esmat
Associate Executive Director
[email protected]

Gutenberg Communications
Kerri Hazama
+1.212.810.4168
[email protected]

SOURCE All Hands Volunteers