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【JPN Relief-89】Effects of Self-Building in Ofunato


IMG_0407.jpgHabitat Japan is assisting a home owner self build their own home in Okirai district of Sanriku, Ofunato. Since last October volunteers gather almost every weekends to help out, and thanks to all the help, we finaly foresee the house completion in May.

The construction process have come a long way since the start where the ground was dug to lay foundation, and we have been witnessing various transformation happening around this house. For one, the home partner Mt. Sato (name fictitious) is now a lot more outgoing than when we first met him. In the early stages of this project, he would only nod when he was introduced to volunteers. Yet now, he won't hesitate to speak to the volunteers even it is the first time he meets them. He tells us "my helpless shyness is getting cured thanks to all these different people coming from all over the country" with shy smile on his face.

In the contrary to what he verbalizes, there are more subtle changes he doesn't mention. As the house rose tall and strong over time, Mr. Sato himself started to seem more confident. He would disagree if asked, but the way he smiles, talks and even walks seem to be filled with hope. Without a stable source of income other than joining his friend's fishing boat occupationally, he seems to have found joy and confidence in working on his own house everyday and rebuilding his life from the disaster.

Available options for permanent housing for many disaster hit people are either the relocation to higher grounds, government housing, or rebuilding the house at own cost. Many people in this city do not have any of these options, and hence, Habitat Japan started this pilot project. One family faced its issue of housing and is rebuilding after the disaster through this house building project. The process of building this house took the home partner on a journey to experience many other important aspects of life. Habitat believes such experience, and the outcome of it, leaves a significant impact on the life that would happen in this house.

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