Disaster Area Recovery Support by Toyota Group

2014

This year's activities centered on interaction between people and invigorating the local community, not only continuing the crafts classes for children and help at festivals from last year, but also expanding to helping out at sports events in revitalized regions.
Other activities, such as joining tourism monitor programs, focused on encouraging local residents working steadily toward recovery.

Period	5 times between July and November 2014
Region	Kesen District, Iwate Prefecture (Ofunato City, Rikuzentakata City, Sumita Town)
Participants	103
Activities	helping at festivals and events, holding crafts classes for children, helping with fishing industry, interacting with residents in temporary housing areas, participating in tourism monitor programs, and more
Collaborators	Ofunato City, Ofunato Sports Association, Ofunato Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Rikuzentakata City, Sumita Town, Non-Profit Organization Aichi Net, the P@CT non profit organization, Yu Support, Marugoto Rikuzentakata organization, Fuji Dream Airlines, and others

Participant voice

While volunteering at the festival, I saw children I'd met at the crafts classes again and was happy that they remembered me.

(On helping at a private library)
I feel that not only cutting grasses but joining an activity that involved speaking with people led to mutual understanding and closeness. I was only there for a short time, but experiencing the kindness of the local residents reinforced my conviction that the disaster must be remembered.

(On volunteering at a water station at the Ofunato port side marathon)
Witnessing the vigor of the local participants was a great experience.

(On volunteering as a Tour de Sanriku)
The local residents cheered the riders, and I was moved by the sight of the entire town coming together to make the event a success. I was really happy to have the opportunity to interact with local residents, and also to hear some of the riders express their appreciation.

On the way to this year's location, I saw a field where I had helped clear debris in the past. The sight of vegetables growing in that recovered field made me really glad to have joined in volunteer activities.

(On interacting with the residents of temporary housing in Sumita town)
I was touched by how warmly they have welcomed me. The suffering they experienced at the time of the disaster came through in their conversation. It made me realize that for us to simply travel there, listen to them, and express our concern also gives them support.

Sorting the debris