Crowdfunding Project “Delivering Water to Support Medical and Welfare Services at Facilities Facing Ongoing Water Outages in Kumamoto”: Our Thankse for Reaching the Initial Goal and Announcement of a Second Goal
To sustain and expand bathing and hygiene support for medical and welfare facilities experiencing ongoing water outages, damage to hot water equipment, and related problems due to the 2026 Kumamoto Earthquake, WOTA launched corporate sponsorship recruitment and a crowdfunding project titled “Delivering Water to Support Medical and Welfare Facilities Facing Water Outages in Kumamoto Through the Power of Everyone” on Monday, August 10, 2026.
Thanks to the warm support and encouraging messages from everyone, the crowdfunding campaign successfully reached its initial target of 10 million yen.
We express our deepest gratitude for your prompt and heartfelt cooperation.
Based on the support received from corporations and individuals, WOTA collaborated with relevant entities—including the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare’s Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT) Secretariat, local governments, and public health centers—to confirm the latest support needs and priorities. By selecting recipient sites, delivering and installing equipment, and handing over operations to local operators in stages, WOTA had deployed 67 units (31 “WOTA BOX” and 36 “WOSH” units) across 26 sites, including medical and welfare facilities as of August 13.
WOTA will continue to convert the received support into bathing and hygiene solutions as quickly as possible to meet local demand.
*Please click here for details.
However, even with equipment now deployed at some sites, facilities still require support, and operation at sites where equipment has been installed must continue until water equipment are restored.
Furthermore, some people and facilities still lack adequate access to bathing and hygiene facilities under existing support frameworks. These include staff at medical and welfare facilities who continue to support residents, as well as people sheltering at home or in vehicles.
Additionally, cases have been observed where water outages halt operations at childcare facilities and similar services, leaving staff at medical and welfare facilities unable to arrange childcare and subsequently impacting operational continuity, illustrating how water issues cascade across medical and welfare services across the community.
In light of these conditions and to continue delivering the necessary support, WOTA has established a Next Goal (Second Target) of 20 million yen in total and is seeking further contributions.
[Second Goal: 20 Million Yen in Total] — Initiatives Enabled by Additional Support
With additional support, WOTA will pursue three key initiatives.
| Key Pillars of Fund Allocation | Details |
|---|---|
| ① Continue delivering support to facilities in need | Proceeds with new installations at medical and welfare facilities still requiring assistance, while sustaining ongoing support for existing sites until water services and hot water equipment are restored. Equipment from facilities where service has been restored will be relocated to the next facility in need. |
| ② Support those who support others | WOTA will help medical and welfare staff who have continued to protect residents and patients maintain their own hygiene. Maintaining the health of caregivers is essential to sustaining care provision itself. |
| ③ Extend support to those not adequately reached | Assesses local needs and explores and tests ways to support facilities connected to healthcare and welfare functions—such as preschools and public health centers—as well as individuals sheltering at home or in vehicles, and those assisting with recovery efforts. |
We would be deeply grateful for your continued support to deliver showers and handwashing facilities as quickly as possible to facilities and individuals awaiting assistance, and to sustain an environment where they can be used with peace of mind for as long as needed.
WOTA will continue to work closely with DMAT, local governments, public health centers, and other relevant entities to use the support received to provide access to bathing and help maintain hygiene at as many sites as possible.