Photos by Ellie Caldwell
In the Mills International Center, students are transforming sheets of red, white and silver paper into cranes. The large woven basket in the middle of the table contains about 850 origami birds, just one-hundred-and-fifty away from the final goal.
“In Japan,” explains Mayu Osugi, a member of the University of Oregon Sendai Earthquake Relief Group, “it is tradition to fold paper cranes for people who are sick or going through difficulties. If you make 1,000 cranes, your wish will come true.”
The UO Sendai Earthquake Relief Group organized the paper crane project in partnership with onemillioncranes.org, who will donate one dollar to the Red Cross for every crane made.
“It’s been a group effort,” fellow group member Kellen Wertz says. “We’re almost at 1,000 from just the past two weeks.”
While a lot of the origami folders have been members of the school’s relief group, students like Melody Li, who just want to contribute to the efforts in Japan, have made many of the cranes.
“I saw the event on Facebook, and I really wanted to help with the relief. It’s also been a lot of fun to fold cranes with your friends!” she says.
The cranes will be displayed at the Japan Earthquake Relief Festival on Saturday, April 2. The list of acts ranges from a bluegrass band to African drumming, Hawaiian dances to a traditional Chinese performance.
“It’s going to be a lot of fun,” Wertz says. “[There will be] a whole bunch of performances from different backgrounds to support the relief fund.”
Though members of the UO Sendai Earthquake Relief Group are busy setting up for the festival, they are excited to fold even more paper cranes in the future. They plan to have another 1,000 folded by International Week, April 14—18.
“We’ve had a really good turn-out, and we’re all so proud of the work done by the Oregon students. There’s no doubt we’ll do this project again,” Wertz says.
The Japan Earthquake Relief Festival will be held in Agate Hall from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. on April 2. Entry is free, and any of the traditional foods available are $3.00. Proceeds with go toward the Red Cross relief effort in Japan.
