Students fold paper cranes to help children in Japan

Today was the first day of spring break for the Cedar Rapids school district, and Julie Cain's classroom at Washington High School was filled with students.

They weren't prepping for an exam or working on extra credit. The students, all who are enrolled in Japanese classes at Jefferson, Kennedy and Washington high schools, were there to help those in need after last week's earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

Sitting at tables, piles of origami paper stacked in the middle, the students folded paper cranes Monday. The goal is to ultimately make 3,000 – a thousand for each high school – and allow the public to sponsor one for $1. Those who do can either write their name or a wish on each crane. All proceeds will be sent to a children's charity in Japan.

An ancient Japanese legend promises that anyone who folds a thousand origami cranes will be granted a wish by a crane, such as long life or recovery from illness or injury. The cranes also symbolize hope and encouragement.

“I don't know if I can express how strong of an image the paper crane is to the Japanese people,” Cain, a Japanese teacher at Washington, said.

It was the images of the destruction caused by last week's earthquake and tsunami that pushed the students to find a way to help.

“It was horrendous,” Washington freshman Chelsea Baumann, 15, said of the news coverage. “I lived in California until I was 13, so I have some experience with earthquakes, but nothing to that extent.”

“It's crazy that Japan is supposed to be the most earthquake-prepared country and they're having problems with this,” Michael Davies, 16 and a sophomore at Kennedy, said. “They need help, so that's why we're doing this.”

Dan Carolin, who teaches Japanese at Kennedy, knew several students would sacrifice their first day of spring break vacation to spend several hours folding paper cranes.

“I am constantly amazed, but not surprised, at their generosity and willingness to give their time and effort to help,” he said.

Rachel Henkelmann, a Japanese teacher at Jefferson, called the project one of her “greatest experiences” in the Japanese program.

The students agreed, even though some struggled with the project.

“I made one in the first 30 minutes I was here,” Baumann said.

“But she did it,” Desree Masse, 15 and also a freshman at Washington, said.

Kyle Fischer, a sophomore at Kennedy, said it took him about a half an hour to make five, adding that it got a little easier with each one.

Alexis Bradford, 14 and a freshman at Jefferson, learned how to make a paper crane in class last week. She said she went home that night and made 30 more.

“It took awhile, so I only got like two hours of sleep, but it was worth it,” Bradford said. “I just like the idea of being able to help.”

“I feel for them,” Tara Heires, a senior at Kennedy, said.

Heires, 18, knows several high school students in Japan through Kennedy's sister school program. She also is one of 15 Kennedy students who is supposed to travel to Japan in June, although the trip is up in the air at this time.

“It's ‘wait-and-see' right now, given the rolling blackouts and food shortages,” Carolin said.

To sponsor a paper crane, or to purchase one of the T-shirts designed to raise money and awareness for those suffering in Japan, contact Cain (jcain@cr.k12.ia.us), Carolin (dcarolin@cr.k12.ia.us) or Henkelmann (rhenkelmann@cr.k12.ia.us) at Washington, Kennedy and Jefferson high schools, respectively.