Donate and Volunteer to Help Japan Rebuild!
Mr Tanaka, a home partner lives in Higashimatsushima, Miyagi Prefecture with his family.
Miyagi201310HomeRepair(2).jpgHis house was damaged by the great earthquake in 2011. He and his family found it too difficult to arrange the repairs to the house by themselves, and Mr. Tanaka applied in 2013 for Habitat for Humanity Japan (HFH Japan) 's financial support scheme for repairing the inner walls. However, the house turned out to have sustained more substantial damages than he initially estimated. In particular, cracks on the external walls were diagnosed to be quite serious as leakage through them would penetrate into the structure and could eventually cause severe damage to it. Mr. Tanaka approached HFH Japan again and asked for help. Following another assessment of his house, HFH Japan decided to do the necessary repairs with volunteers.
HFH Japan volunteers and staff worked on the repairs in October 2013. This was one of the first case in HFH Japan's new approach, the "Deepening and Spreading" initiative. This year, HFH Japan will work on home repairs and spread the words, so that people will become aware that minor home repairs can be done by home owners themselves with the help of volunteers, contrary to the stereotyped ideas that house construction and repairs require complicated skills and must be done by professional carpenters. HFH Japan will continue to involve volunteers in home repairs so that they could also raise awareness that there are various roles that can be played by them.
homerepair20140207afterjpg.jpg homerepair20140207before.jpgIn five days, HFH Japan volunteers completed the work by filling the cracks and painting the exterior. Additional repairs were also completed around the entrance and on the guttering. "Thank you for working so hard in the cold weather. Our home is safe now, thanks to your help", said Mr Tanaka, relieved and satisfied.
◆Back Number
2014.01.16 Pre-opening of a new community space in Onagawa
2013.12.18 Home Partner Story (5)
2013.11.20 Repairs of 'Yume House' (dream house) in Onagawa
2013.11.18 Building a tree house at the ruins of Matsusaki castle
2013.11.11 Repair work of Kawakudari Community Centre Completed
2013.10.21 Installation of solar system completed
2013.10.11 More than 30 houses repaired in Miyagi
2013.09.19 Home Partner Story (4)
2013.09.02 Home Repair Project in the UN report
2013.08.22 Installed Solar Panels at Community Centers
2013.08.15 Solar Project is up on National Geographic
2013.07.18 Home Partner Story (3)
2013.05.31 Installed first panel in solar power project
2013.05.09 YouthBUILD : Japan Team Volunteered for Disaster Relief
2013.04.09 Miyagi : Completion of A Community Center
2013.03.18 Miyagi : House Repairs in Higashimatsushima
2013.03.08 Rebuilding Homes, Communities and Hope
2013.01.31 Iwate : Building Shed for Fishermen (3)
2013.01.08 Iwate : Housing Consultations Continue