【JPN Relief-8】 Volunteers Taking Action in Tohoku (Report 2)

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On April 29th, the volunteer team began its activities. The team arrived at Ofunato city last night. The team was separated into some sites in the city and was involved in cleaning up and repair houses in badly affected Ofunato city.
　
One of the team members, Ms. Isako Matsuoka, a representative of Kobe Gaidai Habitat tells the reason why she participated in this volunteer, "When I saw news of earthquake and tsunami on the TV, I couldn't believe it was happening. It was like something out of a movie. People watching the TV were crying and knew I had to take action and do something."
　
Ms. Matsuoka was incharged of cleaning and reparing Ms. Saeko Mizoguchi's house today. She spent removing the tatami mats and twisted floorboards from Saeko's house. Saeko (left picture) is a 77-year-old grandmother who lives alone. Even though the tsunami completely destroyed one room in her house and damaged other rooms, she wants to try and repair it rather than move anywhere else. This is the home she moved to when she got married, where she brought up her three children and is near to her husband's grave - his photo is the only posession she has hung up. Isako worked enegertically to respond to Saeko's hope.
　　
A representative of WHABITAT, Ms. Haruka Sakai also said, "I wanted to do more than just watch devastating pictures on TV, so I am here to do what I can help Japan recover. Only by visiting Ofunato and working with the people affected does the situation feel real. All I see is broken houses and it's hard to know where to begin, but we will do it one step at a time. If the work I do here means that just one family can leave an evacuation centre and return home, it will be worth it."
　
The volunteers, from university campuses across Japan, have helped to build and repair homes oversea countries. Now, here in Japan, they are rethinking what a house means.
　
The volunteers will work tomorrow in Ofunato city.
　
　
◆ Back Number
2011.04.28　First Volunteer Team Heads Out to Tohoku
2011.04.19　Toiletries Delivered to Ofunato city, Iwate
2011.04.13　Toiletries Delivered to Soma city, Fukushima
2011.04.10　Thousands Support HFH's Response in Earthquake-Hit Japan
2011.04.04　Campus Chapters Fundraise for Rebuilding Japan
2010.03.31　Donation from APP Japan
2011.03.14　Donate to Help Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Victims