{"id":5437,"date":"2014-09-17T17:54:21","date_gmt":"2014-09-17T08:54:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/habitatjp.org\/en\/2014\/09\/hs_interview.html"},"modified":"2014-09-17T17:54:21","modified_gmt":"2014-09-17T08:54:21","slug":"hs_interview","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/habitatjp.org\/en\/archive\/5437","title":{"rendered":"House Supporter interview"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"rsz_1hfh_takuya.jpg\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Takuya Kawamoto is a senior at Sophia University. With graduation in
\nsight, the day he steps down as the leader and the founder of his Campus
\nChapter (CC)  is fast approaching. For three years, Takuya led his
\nteam in their efforts to realize \"a world where everyone has a decent
\nplace to live.\" To Takuya, this end of an era is not the end of his
\nrelationship with Habitat for Humanity. Rather, he is determined to
\ncontinue lead towards the world where everyone has a decent place to live
\nin the working world.<\/p>\n

Acting on his commitment and determination, he became a House Supporter -
\na long-lasting way to support HFH Japan's mission. <\/p>\n

We interviewed Takuya to find out what he
\nhas felt, learnt and hoped to pass on to the next leaders at Sophia
\nUniversity. He also shared with us his plans for the future.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

What is your relationship with Habitat
\nfor Humanity?<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\"GV<\/a><\/div>\n
\n

It goes way back to my high school days. I joined Habitat Club and
\nwent on my first Global Village trip when I was a 11th grader. The
\nexperience really touched me - when I found out that Sophia University
\ndidn't have a CC, I had no hesitation in starting one myself.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

In March 2011, four of my friends and I got together and established
\nour CC. We have been participating in GVs in countries such as
\nMalaysia and the Philippines ever since. The CC doesn't just concern
\nitself with issues abroad - we volunteer in Tohoku and clean
\nneighborhoods around the university. Giving back to our community is
\nimportant to us.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\n


\n<\/b><\/p>\n

\n<\/p>\n


\n<\/b><\/p>\n

What did you learn as a CC
\nleader?<\/b><\/p>\n

There are three things that I learnt:<\/p>\n

1. Management skills<\/p>\n

\"rsz_recruiting_event_-_spring_2014.jpg\"<\/a><\/p>\n

It was nothing but easy starting an organization from scratch. In fact,
\nI devoted all my time establishing and running the CC - no part-time
\njob, no internship, just CC. The soft part of establishing an
\norganization, like creating unique CC culture, values and identity,
\nespecially took time. Another challenge was to keep the members
\nmotivated. The past four years were definitely testing, but I learnt to
\nnever give up in the face of adversity - that I should always listen to
\npeople around me and stick with my friends.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

2. People skills<\/span><\/p>\n

\n
\"GV<\/a><\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The biggest challenge for me as a CC leader
\nwas to make GVs happen. I was the only member who had gone on GVs, and
\nconvincing other members to join in was extremely difficult. In the
\nbeginning, I would be turned down either by the fellow members or their
\nparents so often that it really brought me down. It was hard, but I never
\ngave up because I knew giving up would mean the end of the CC. I continued
\ntalking with members and their parents, and, in the end, had ten members
\nsign up for the GV in Malaysia to build a house with the home partner
\nfamily. It was extremely rewarding. This experience taught me the power of
\npassion. <\/span><\/p>\n

\n
\n

3. Habitat
\nfor Humanity in Japan<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\"rsz_gv_2013-_kuching_malaysia.jpg\"<\/a><\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n

Since I went to an international
\nschool, everyone I met during my school years new
\nHabitat for Humanity<\/span>. That's
\nwhy it was so shocking for me to find out there was no CC at
\nSophia University. I eventually realized that not all Japanese
\npeople knew about Habitat unlike the international community I was
\naccustomed to. I believe that this situation can be changed when
\nmore and more universities establish CCs and students across the
\ncountry work together.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\n
\n
\n

Why did you decide to become a House
\nSupporter?<\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\"rsz_\u6771\u5317\u5fa9\u8208\u652f\u63f4\u30fc\uff12\uff10\uff11\uff11\u5e74\uff14\u6708.jpg\"<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n

I am determined to continue my
\ninvolvement with HFH Japan after graduation. On top of supporting
\nCCs, I would like to play a role in spreading Habitat's message in
\nJapanese society so more people recognize the work of Habitat and
\nthe significance of the poverty housing issues. By becoming a House
\nSupporter, I am hoping to show CC graduates one of the ways to stay
\ninvolved in the cause and keep supporting the mission.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\n
\n

Any message to students around the
\nworld?<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

\"GV<\/a><\/p>\n

\"I am so lucky to be living in Japan\" -
\na lot of GV first-timers feel like this after their trip, and I was
\ncertainly one of them. I was fortunate enough to go on four GV trips
\nand the feeling got stronger every time. The feeling of appreciation
\nbecame passion, and the passion led to action. I devoted so much to
\nestablish and run the CC, and it gave me so many things in return.
\nBeing a CC member is not just being a volunteer. See yourself grow
\nand make life-long friends at CC!<\/span><\/p>\n

Thank you so much, Takuya.<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

We look forward to continue working
\nwith you towards a world where everyone has a decent place to
\nlive.<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n


\n<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Become a House Supporter
\ntoday<\/a>!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Takuya Kawamoto is a senior at Sophia University. With graduation in sight, the day he steps down as the leade […]","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5437","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t