一般財団法人　連帯　東北・西南　RENTAI　TOHOKU-SEINAN

Activity description: Making floaters for seaweed farms, clean-up of the beach
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(Mr. N, Age 31, Tokyo)

I joined the volunteer work for 3 days from the 27th to 29th May.

Making floaters for seaweed farms
I helped to cut ropes at a certain length using a soldering iron and tie them in bundles to be used with  floaters. While working, I had a chat with 8 fishermen from the local fisheries cooperative about various things from the Earthquake to their private matters. Some had their houses completely destroyed by the Tsunami. And one said that his car was carried away some 300 m from Shiogama Marine Gate.

Beach cleaning
The beach was strewn with rubbish from the Tsunami, such as seaweeds, driftwood, broken glass, bottles, Styrofoam and so on. It took 3 hours for two of us volunteers to clear the area of 35m x 20m.
Before the Earthquake, the beach must have been a beautiful place where kids were running about barefoot on white sand, adults enjoying marine sports like water skiing. Hoping to have such a beach back as soon as possible, I picked up litters on the beach. As it was only Mr. T, another volunteer member, and I who cleaned the beach on that day, it would have been better if local people had joined us so that we could have talked with them personally.

This time, I learned the importance of communication through chitchat. Though I will do my best to help them through physical works, the crucial thing is to find out what is most needed for the future of Katsura Island.

Activity description: Clean-up of a playground for building temporary housing

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(Mr. S, Age 52, Tochigi)

Before the Earthquake, Katsura must have been one of the scenic islands in Matsushima area, the popular tourist spot.

I mowed grass in the playground of a primary school where temporary housing was to be built. Through volunteer activities, I was hoping to form relations with the island's residents and contribute to the reconstruction of Katsura Island.

Details of activity：Cleaning up the land in preparation for temporary housing construction

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（Mr. K・Age:50・Male　Tokyo resident）

Hearing the Mayor express his feelings of gratitude with the following words was most inspirational: 'Despite being attacked by a several-metre high tsunami, the fact that luckily there were no deaths, and only damage to 40 buildings is due to the six young people of the island who lead the residents to refuge on higher ground'
However, there are still about 20 people living in primary school evacuation centres. The coastline is littered with driftwood and household items, and 40 houses are still a pile of rubble. I strongly felt the need of continued support in the long journey to complete recovery.

Details of activity： 'Uminoko Restoration Project' Office - handling phone calls and preparing information for posting

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（Ms. N・Age:27・Female　Tokyo resident）
I participated in volunteer activities on Saturday and Sunday, handling incoming phone calls and preparing materials for posting. On Saturday the telephone was constantly ringing and I was strongly impressed by the fact that so many people wanted to support the disaster area. Words of encouragement over the phone such as 'please do your best!', which were meant to be addressing the disaster victims, also gave me courage.

Details of activity：Uminoko Restoration Project' Office - handling phone calls and preparing information for posting

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（Ms. Ｎ・Age:24・Female　Tokyo resident)

At the fishery union office, I handled phone calls from people interested in the 'One Unit Sponsor' system, and prepared information for posting to them. The impact on the media was so great that the telephone wouldn't stop ringing and there was hardly any time to rest. Island resident Mr. S has been handling this office work practically alone and therefore had not been able to take a day off for a while. Through being responsible for incoming calls I was able to hear warm words of encouragement from people all over the country. The people who called sent everyone their kind words, and part-way through I had to fight back my tears whilst corresponding. I was touched by the kind feelings of the Japanese people trying to help each other. I felt pride in being Japanese and received a lot of strength myself.

Although I experienced such shock that I could not speak when I saw the damage caused by the tsunami, I was strongly impressed by strength of the people who strive to begin living alongside nature once again.