Establishment of ‘Ukrainian Evacuees Assistance Fund’ Announced with U.S. and Ukrainian AmbassadorsTargeting 1 billion yen to welcome evacuees from Ukraine on behalf of Japanese people

The Nippon Foundation, together with U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel and Ukrainian Ambassador to Japan Sergiy Korsunsky, today announced the establishment of the Ukrainian Evacuees Assistance Fund, which has begun accepting donations to assist people who have evacuated to Japan from Ukraine.

Group photo of press conference participants: (Front row, left to right) Oksana Bila, Mark Yelenets, Rimma Yelenets-Memor; (Back row, left to right) The Nippon Foundation Executive Director Jumpei Sasakawa, Ukrainian Ambassador to Japan Sergiy Korsunsky, U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel
Group photo of press conference participants: (Front row, left to right) Oksana Bila, Mark Yelenets, Rimma Yelenets-Memor; (Back row, left to right) The Nippon Foundation Executive Director Jumpei Sasakawa, Ukrainian Ambassador to Japan Sergiy Korsunsky, U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel

The Fund was established as a way for Japanese people to express their feeling of welcome to evacuees from Ukraine, so that “each evacuee can live comfortably in Japan, even though they are far from home.”
Of the more than 1,200 people who have evacuated to Japan from Ukraine,more than 70%* have changed their residence status from “Short-Term Stay” to “Designated Activities (1 Year)” because they expect to be forced to stay in Japan for an extended period of time. The fund is a donation-type fund, and is intended to be used to enable evacuees to assimilate into life in Japan, with its different language and culture, through (1) “Support for peace of mind in daily life” (including support for Japanese language studies) and (2) “Opportunities to learn about Japanese culture and develop community ties” (including invitations to children to attend local fireworks displays and festivals). The targeted amount of donations is 1 billion yen.

Donations

Period accepted: June 13 – September 30, 2022

QR code

Comments from participants

U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel

As someone whose family came from Odessa, I would like to thank the Nippon Foundation and Japanese people for their support of the Ukrainian evacuees. This global and humanitarian crisis requires more than just government and corporate action. Every single individual has a role to play, and this fund empowers them to do so. When Amy and I met with a group of evacuees in April, we were moved by their bravery and resilience. As a small gesture to help ease some of the pressures on their daily lives, we donated pre-paid cards that they could use to take the train or buy basic necessities. Today, I am proud to stand here with my friends Ukrainian Ambassador Korsunsky and Sasakawa-san of the Nippon Foundation to show what we stand for, and the difference we can make when we partner for what is right. I hope these donations bring a measure of stability to the families whose lives have been devastated by Russia’s unjust, unprovoked, and unwarranted war.

Photo of U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel

Ukrainian Ambassador to Japan Sergiy Korsunsky

We are grateful to The Nippon Foundation and our strategic partner The United States of America for their valuable support to Ukraine from the beginning of the Russian invasion. The war continues so every help counts. Therefore, the establishment of “Ukrainian Evacuees Assistance Fund” can make a difference and contribute considerably to the efforts to ease the suffering of the Ukrainians who have been forced to flee from the hardships of the war.

Photo of Ukrainian Ambassador to Japan Sergiy Korsunsky

Jumpei Sasakawa, Executive Director, The Nippon Foundation

This Fund was created based on a proposal by Ambassador Emanuel, who asked if The Nippon Foundation might be able to use the connections we have established with the 1,000 evacuees we are assisting to help other evacuees.
Small donations from people around Japan will convey a feeling of welcome to evacuees arriving from Ukraine. We will use these precious donations to support their Japanese language education and provide opportunities to learn about Japanese culture by inviting them to fireworks displays and other events.

Photo of Jumpei Sasakawa, Executive Director, The Nippon Foundation

Family of evacuees from Ukraine

Oksana Bila (mother)

I like Japan and feel very safe here. Walking through parks and neighborhoods, the buildings are very beautiful and this gives me peace of mind. Thank you to everyone in Japan.

Photo of Oksana Bila

Mark Yelenets (son)

I am very happy to be able to study Japanese culture and language, visit historical places, and learn about Japanese traditions.

Photo of Mark Yelenets

Rimma Yelenets-Memor (daughter)

Thank you very much to the people of Japan and America for giving us this opportunity. I am very grateful that my mother was able to evacuate from Kharkiv.

Photo of Rimma Yelenets-Memor

Overview of press conference

  • Date and time: Monday, June 13, 2022; 14:00-15:00 (with online stream)
  • Location: The Nippon Zaidan Building, 1-2-2 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo
  • General explanation: Jumpei Sasakawa, Executive Director, The Nippon Foundation
  • Remarks:
    U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel
    Ukrainian Ambassador to Japan Sergiy Korsunsky
  • Comments from family who have evacuated to Japan from Ukraine:
    Oksana Bila (mother)
    Mark Yelenets (son)
    Rimma Yelenets-Memor (daughter)

Background

On March 28, The Nippon Foundation announced that it would provide a total of 5 billion yen over three years to assist with evacuees’ living expenses. As of June 10, the Foundation had received applications on behalf of 1,011 people, and decided on assistance for 207 people. Comments from evacuees receiving assistance have expressed uncertainty toward the future, namely, “I am worried about being able to learn Japanese” and “I want to work, but am uncertain about the availability of jobs,” as well as “I want to get away from daily life by spending time surrounded by nature” and “I want to see traditional buildings like shrines and learn more about Japanese culture.”
Speaking about assistance to evacuees from Ukraine on March 18, Ambassador Emanuel highlighted the need to support those who have come to Japan, and in a meeting with Ambassador Korsunsky on April 21 the two ambassadors announced their intention to launch a fund to assist evacuees.

Related Link

Related News

Contact

Regarding this news release

Public Relations Team
The Nippon Foundation

  • Email: cc@ps.nippon-foundation.or.jp

Regarding assistance to evacuees from Ukraine

The Nippon Foundation Office for People Displaced from Ukraine

  • Email: support_ukraine@ps.nippon-foundation.or.jp