Japan aid worker tells Leamington schoolchildren there is still much to do

A BRITISH businesswoman who gave up work to help victims of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan has been sharing her experiences with people in and around Leamington.

No sooner had the disaster struck in March, Caroline Pover, who has been living in Tokyo for the past 15 years, was on a plane to the UK with the aim of collecting much-needed supplies and money to take back to the worst-affected areas.

Now, having spent the past few months delivering clothes, household items, building materials, food and petrol to the people of the Oshika-Hanto peninsular, the 39-year-old is back in England to raise further awareness. Leamington, where a close friends of hers lives, was her first port of call.

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She said: “Oshika-Hanto is a beautiful group of fishing villages along the coast but it has been completely destroyed.

“The self-defence forces have cleared up the roads, but there is nothing there. You see a few people trying to live in half a house along the coast.

“You see broken houses, broken rooves, upside-down boats and mangled cars. People are living in shelters or trying to make it on their own. There are people who are still struggling for water.”

Ms Pover, who runs businesses in publishing and consulting and is also a writer, has spent much of her time driving around the peninsular in a supply-loaded truck with a Union Jack on it.

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She said: “It was good to let people know that England cared. That made a difference. I could spend a year out there and there would still be so much to do. It’s absolutely overwhelming.”

This week Ms Pover visited schools and businesses in south Warwickshire and Coventry and plans to be at the Two Castles Run this weekend.

She said: “There are a lot of people in England who want to help and I want to be able to help them set up their own projects or connect them with Japan in some way.

“I want to promote the country as a destination - it’s still a fascinating place to visit. I don’t want people to think of it as a scary place where that earthquake happened. Hopefully I can share a bit of why I love it and now consider it my home.”

Anyone who would like to hear Caroline speak about Japan or find out how they can help can call her on 07527 575993, email [email protected] or click on the link to the top right.