Mrs. Atsumi's house is located near the center of Misato, Miyagi. The repairing of her house ended in April 2014, and she has been enjoying her life in a safer environment since.
"The house looks so much brighter after redoing the walls" says Mrs. Atsumi happily. "Earthquake left the house damaged and made our lives harder. Doors and frames were bent, and because of that, the house was full of cracks and gaps. In winter, the house would get so cold it was almost unbearable." The future is much warmer for Mrs. Atsumi and her family - "We are so relieved. We will be able to cut down on gas bills, too!"
The positive change the project brought goes beyond the physical - "My daughter doesn't feel embarrassed inviting her friends over any more."
As many as 75 volunteers gathered in Misato to lend Mrs. Atsumi and HFH Japan a helping hand. Removing the damaged walls, repainting, fixing doors, redoing the floor - the house experienced various facets of repair work over a period of time. The home partner herself participated in the work side-by-side and enjoyed interacting with volunteers. The fond memories from the project still makes her smile from ear to ear. Asked if she has a message to the volunteers, Mrs . Atsumi exclaimed: "From the bottom of my heart, thank you so much for all the help."
Seven months have passed since February 2014 when HFH Japan started the Home Repair project in Misato, and eleven houses have been repaired. The testimonials from beneficiaries have been overwhelmingly positive.
HFH Japan is currently continuing the same project in Wakuya, a neighboring town in Miyagi.