APFS Disaster Area Support Project (4th installment) has been carried out

APFS (ASIAN PEOPLE'S FRIENDSHIP SOCIETY), a specified non-profit organization, carried out its fourth disaster relief project in Rikuzentakata and Ofunato cities in Iwate Prefecture from Wednesday, April 3rd to Sunday, April 7th, 2013, with six foreign residents from five countries (Iran, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and the Philippines).
In carrying out this project, we received full cooperation from the Daikon Con Project, which has been working in the area since immediately after the earthquake.

The implementation details are as follows:

Thursday, April 4, 2013 10:00-16:00
Window cleaning at the temporary housing complex in Takinosato, Rikuzentakata City, foot baths for the elderly, and assistance with tea ceremonies
In the morning, we wiped the windows of all the temporary housing buildings from the outside. While wiping the windows, we talked with the residents of the temporary housing. In the afternoon, we assisted with the running of a tea ceremony at the community center and provided foot baths for the elderly.

Friday, April 5, 2013 10:00-16:30
Creating flower beds and planting seedlings at the "Rikuzentakata Flower Field" in Yonezaki-cho, Rikuzentakata City
We helped Masako Yoshida, who is working every day to create the "Hanakko Field" to bring back the flower garden on land that was completely washed away by the tsunami two years ago. Six foreign residents piled bricks on the exposed soil and created a flower bed. They also planted seedlings so that the flowers will bloom in the summer.

Saturday, April 6, 2013 10:00-16:00
● Nishidate, Suesaki-cho, Ofunato City, bamboo and tree trimming
Local residents, who were themselves victims of the disaster, helped turn the castle ruins, located in the mountains overgrown with trees and bamboo, into a park (with the aim of passing on the history of the town and the disaster). The six foreign residents were in charge of transporting the trees and bamboo that the local residents had cut down.

An Iranian member who participated in this project said, "I have lived in Japan for 22 years, so this disaster is not someone else's problem, but I feel it is the same as if my country had been hit by a disaster." A Pakistani member also said, "Only humans can protect other humans, and only humans can be the medicine for people's hearts. By using our hands and feet in this way, we want to help people somehow." Each of them participated in the project with this feeling, and they were accepted by the people in the disaster-stricken areas.

Two years have passed since the Great East Japan Earthquake, and when I'm in Tokyo, it feels like memories of the disaster have faded. However, people in the disaster-stricken areas still vividly talk about their experiences at the time. Some people were in tears as they talked. "Right after the earthquake, I was just trying to survive. Only recently have I finally been able to shed tears." I felt that it was important to care for the physical and mental health of the victims in the disaster-stricken areas.

APFS will continue its disaster relief projects. We appreciate your support and cooperation.