Photo by Jennifer Jansen

How it works:

Adults (parents, teachers, youth center directors...) are the facilitators. The children are the teachers and leaders of this movement.

1) Register your school or group here.

2) Students start by learning to fold an origami crane. These children will then teach other children to fold origami cranes, and those children will teach others.

3) The adult facilitator will provide the origami paper (any SQUARE paper may be used), and assist the children with making the cranes when help is needed.

4) Children will donate $1.00 for every crane they make. Each crane made will mean $1 for Japan.

5) The finished cranes will be gathered by the facilitator and strung together to be placed in schools or other public buildings.

6) Money will be kept in a central, safe location by the adult facilitator. The adult facilitator will then donate all money raised (with the goal of $1,000) to the Red Cross relief effort in Japan, given in the name of "One Million Cranes for Japan from [your school or group]."

Why the Red Cross?  Because 91 cents of every dollar goes to Japan, while the other nine cents goes towards administration costs.

113 and counting!             

Follow the list of schools, groups, and businesses joining the effort here!

We are grateful for the coverage we have received online, in newspapers, and on television. Links can be found here.

Origami cranes are a symbol of hope and goodwill. It is also believed that the greatest wish of anyone who makes 1,000 cranes (Senbazuru) will come true, and  cranes are often made for those recovering from illness or injury. The making of 1,000 cranes at 1,000 schools will be a symbolic act of goodwill and hope for the people of Japan. 

Because of the loss of infrastructure in the hardest hit areas of Japan, it would not make sense to send the origami cranes there at this time. The origami cranes will, instead, be strung together to decorate a classroom or school, or joined with 1,000 cranes from other schools or groups to adorn public buildings.  A garland of 10,000 goodwill cranes would be very appropriate at a local fire station or hospital.

 Photo by Stacey Jacobs