Donate and Volunteer to Help Japan Rebuild
Three years have passed since the Great East Japan Earthquake. Habitat for Humanity Japan (HFH Japan) started disaster relief operation in Ofunato, Iwate Prefecture right after the disaster and opened another operation base in Ishｉnomaki, Miyagi Prefecture in August 2011.
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HFH Japan Rebuilding Japan Program (2011 to 2013)
In 2011, HFH Japan started its emergency relief operation and organized debris clearing and home starter kits distribution. In 2012, HFH Japan financially supported families that could not afford to repair homes. HFH Japan also served at temporary shelters improve the living condition of the affected families. HFH Japan built storage units and bus stop shelters in some communities and renovated community centers and other facilities. In 2013, HFH Japan implemented the Solar Home Recovery Project to help families in need of a secure, regular income source as they tend to have the added financial burden due to disabilities.
< 2011: Debris Clearing and Home Starter Kits Distribution >
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< 2012: Home Repair Consultation and Community Revitalizatio >
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< 2013: Solar Home Recovery Project and Continued Community Revitalization >
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Voice from Home Partner
20130531 2.jpgKenichi Hazawa is a resident of Ofunato living with his brother suffering the aftereffect of subarachnoid hemorrhage. Kenichi himself also has a disabled leg and it was hard for the brothers to live in their home damaged by tsunami. HFH Japan financially support them to repair their home and provided consultation. However, more drastic solution was needed for the brothers who found it difficult having secure job after the disaster and with disabilities.
"I am just so thankful. I was interested in getting a solar power generation system for my house, but there was no way that I could afford it. With this support from Habitat, it is much easier for me to envisage, and be hopeful of, a better life and future", said Kenichi.
Rebuilding Japan Program in Number in 2013
646 Volunteers
1. 53 homes repaired, 4 community facilities renovated and rebuilt
2. 86 families received housing consultation
3. 13 families and 4 community centers fitted with solar power generation system
4. 21 communities revitalized*
*HFH Japan focuses not only the disaster affected homes but also communities. Renovating and rebuilding community facilities and building any items such as benches and storage units, HFH Japan help rebuild the affected communities so that people can return home and restart their own lives there.
2014 Tohoku: the "Deepening and Spreading" Initiative
It has been 3 years since the disaster but the occupancy rate of temporary shelters is still nearly 90%. "What are we going to do now?" This is a simple but fundamental question that any affected families may have. More than ever, HFH Japan is called to serve those in need of "a decent place to live." On the other hand, the public gradually seem to lose interest in the issues of the affected people. NGOs and other Civil Society Organizations that assisted people in the disaster affected areas are scaling down their operations or have already left from the disaster areas. It is becoming increasingly difficult for HFH Japan to continue the relief operations in Tohoku.
In 2014, HFH Japan employs the "Deepening and Spreading" initiative. Housing issues are becoming more complex in Japan and overseas, and Habitat for Humanity cannot address those issues alone. The housing issues must be addressed within our society and by practical approaches. Habitat for Humanity always work with the local communities wherever in the world and this is the most valuable and also practical approach to provide better housing solutions. This also helps make more impacts on the society because this approach also help transform people's consciousness.
HFH Japan's Self-Build project in Iwate Prefecture, for instance, aims at introducing a new solution for people who cannot build a home simply because they cannot afford to do so. However, HFH Japan would like to introduce a solution that anyone can have a decent home if people work together. It may be a simple self-built home, but it is still a decent home. Another example is the Home Repairs in Miyagi Prefecture. It is a norm that families living in temporary shelters attract more attention and assistance than families living in their own houses with unrepaired damages. In addition, more attention and assistance have been given to people living in the coastal area and affected mainly by tsunami. Especially then, HFH Japan will advocate for supporting earthquake-affected people and communities in inland areas that have not received much assistance and still facing difficulties. HFH Japan's volunteers also join in the home repairs and they will also transmit the messages from the field to make more impacts on the public.
In Tohoku and in the Asia Pacific counties, HFH Japan continues to operate with a vision to realize the world where 'everyone has a decent place to live. '
Thank you for your continuous support!
DR2013-7.jpg2,211 people have joined HFH Japan's "Rebuilding Japan" volunteer programe since 2011. HFH Japan is grateful for their devotion and commitments. HFH Japan needs more volunteer supports to continue its 'Deepening and Spreading' initiative in Tohoku. Please join the initiative as a volunteer/actor to help address the housing issues. Your valuable donations will also enable HFH Japan continue to serve those in need. Thank you for your continuous support to HFH Japan!
◆ Back Number
2013.03.08 【JPN Relief-69】 Rebuilding Homes, Communities and Hope
2012.03.11 【JPN Relief-35】 Rebuilding Japan Program Goes On