With the help of volunteers, Habitat Japan’s “Project HomeWorks” assists the elderly, those with physical and/or mental disabilities, single parents, and others who find themselves in need of assistance with improving their living spaces in Tokyo. MetLife Foundation has supported the program since 2018 and MetLife employees have participated as volunteers. Over the course of three months from September to November 2024, a total of 33 volunteers from MetLife joined Project HomeWorks (PHW).
One beneficiary of the program is Tanaka-san (alias), who lives alone in her eighties. Tanaka-san has a daughter who lives separately, who hadn’t visited her home for several years. When her daughter finally visited Tanaka-san, the daughter found her place overflowing with belongings. For Tanaka-san, who uses a cane to walk, this environment posed the risk of tripping and falling. Despite wanting to help, the daughter could not handle the situation alone. This is when Tanaka-san’s care manager consulted with Habitat Japan.
Once a month in October and November, volunteers from MetLife began cleaning and organizing Tanaka-san’s home. The bedroom, where Tanaka-san spent most of her time, was not only cluttered with items but was not well lit. . The volunteers changed the light bulbs illuminating the room. Clutter was also piled up to the windows, making it impossible to open the curtains or window To remedy this, volunteers worked over two sessions to clear out and consolidate items from around Tanaka-san’s bed and window with the goal of clearing a safe walkway and providing more space.
Going through these items meant going through the cherished belongings and memories of Tanaka-san. Well-worn hair curlers, popular handbags and clothing, photos from every stage of Tanaka-san and her children’s lives, and a bundle of fabrics prepared for her grandson were found. Addressing each item one by one, volunteers worked with Tanaka-san in deciding on what items to keep and what items to let go, experiencing moments of the life that Tanaka-san has lived. Many of the MetLife volunteers are PHW veterans and created a laid-back environment by actively listening to, interacting with, and encouraging Tanaka-san throughout the process. And so, with the help of MetLife volunteers over two sessions, we were able to tidy up three cluttered rooms including the bedroom, securing safe walkways and greatly improving Tanaka-san’s living environment.
After the activity, a volunteer told us, “Since there was a lot of communication (with Tanaka-san), it was not only rewarding but also a fun activity.”Fukushima-san, Statutory
Executive Officer and Senmu, Chief Customer Service and Operations Officer at MetLife Japan, a third-time volunteer, shared some kind words saying “By joining PHW, it’s possible to put oneself in the shoes of someone who finds themselves in a vulnerable position for any number of reasons. Being able to empathize like this becomes all the more motivation to help as much as we can.” “Home” is a place to live in safety and in peace. Through not only support for Project HomeWorks but their direct participation as volunteers, MetLife is an invaluable partner in Habitat Japan’s mission of creating a world where everyone has a decent place to live. We offer our deepest thanks.