一般財団法人　連帯　東北・西南　RENTAI　TOHOKU-SEINAN

The article on Rentai Tohoku's seminar on self-supporting reconstruction: "Toward the Light" held in Kawasaki Public Hall, Ichinoseki on the 29th October (Sat) appeared in the morning edition of the 30th of Iwate Nichinichi Shimbun.

The details of the seminar will be reported separately.

 (This article was posted on this site with permission from Iwate Nichinichi Shimbun.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

October 30^th, 2011 (Sun) Iwate Nichinichi Shimbun

In Quest of Light: For Rebuilding Flood Devastated Areas

 

Supports Called for in Employment and Mental Healthcare

Seminar Held in Kawasaki, Ichinoseki

 

　"Rentai Tohoku", an Ichinoseki-based public foundation which offers aid for victims of the Great Eastern Japan Earthquake, held a seminar on self-supporting efforts to rebuild life after the disaster, titled "Toward the Light", at Kawasaki Public Hall, Usuginu on the 29^th October. A panel discussion was held with those who have been actively involved in recovery efforts in areas afflicted by the Great Eastern Japan Earthquake. About 70 seminar participants shared the views on the current status of afflicted areas and issues to be solved for restoration.

 

The panellists included Haruo Yoneya, Representative Director of Maiya Co., Ltd., a supermarket in Ofunato, Keitatsu Kurosawa, Representative Director of Hakku Co., Ltd., a nursing care company in Kesennuma, Miyagi, Ryoki Sato, head priest of Togen-ji Temple in Fujisawa, Ichinoseki, Shinichi Endo, Ishinomaki resident, and Tahel Sayed of Rentai Tohoku. The panel discussion was chaired by Prof. Hiroyuki Yoshinaga, the Faculty of Policy Management, Tohoku Bunka Gakuen University, who is also a councillor of Rentai Tohoku.

 

Panellists talked about their experiences at the time of the earthquake and relief activities they had since been engaged in and shared their views on the efforts to recover from the earthquake.

 

"Right after the earthquake, our staff took the initiative and opened a temporary market at the parking lot to support the livelihood of Kesennuma citizens. One gets energised by discovering one's role in society and carrying it out", Yoneya emphasized. Kurosawa said "The priority should be given to supporting business entities. Without recovery of stricken companies, no jobs will be generated nor the economy activated. The government should propose its policy as soon as possible."

 

Sato, the Chief Priest of Togen-ji Temple, narrowly escaped the tsunami in Kamaishi he happened to stay at the time, and is now offering mental support to people in affected areas. He pointed out that there were many people who had lost their loved ones and were not fit for keeping up with the reconstruction process. He said "It is important not to leave them behind." Endo from Higashimatsushima, who lost three children and home, said "I was saved by people's kind thoughts. Though the tough reality is still overwhelming, I would like to show that I am trying to people who are supporting me". And he added, "I could somehow manage to restart my work, but so many people cannot even come close to that. Some kind of assistance is definitely needed."

 

Tahel, originally from Pakistan, now lives in Nagoya and has been working as a volunteer in Tohoku since the earthquake occurred. He expressed enthusiasm for future volunteer activities and said "I wasn't affected by the earthquake myself. But my thoughts have been always with you people. For now, there seems to be little communication among residents of temporary housings. I would like to focus my volunteer activities on this particular problem."

 

The panel discussion was followed by the opinion exchange among the general participants.

 

Mr. Shiraishi, a farmer in Senmaya, offered fresh vegetables for ingredients and not only the residents and Rentai Tohoku staff but also volunteers from Nippon International Cooperation for Community Development and Otsuchi Social Welfare Council worked together to prepare curry.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It is important for us volunteers to co-operate each other for the progress of reconstruction of the area.

 

 

 

Reported by Ryu and Tahel, Staff of Rentai Tohoku
We held a Pakistani Curry Party at the temporary house in Saito, Otomo-cho Rikuzentakata on the 2nd October (Sun).

 

○Temporary house in Saito, Otomo-cho, Rikuzentakata-city, Iwate
As almost the entire Rikuzentakata-city was destroyed by tsunami, most temporary houses were built on elevated lands and are extremely inconvenient for residents to go out. At the request from Social Welfare Council of Rikuzentakata-city, we held a curry party to encourage communication among the residents.
42 families (140 people) are currently living in this temporary house. Most of them are farmers or fishermen.

 

○Preparing curry
As requested by Mr. Kanazawa, chairman of the community council, we had residents provide all the ingredients except meat.
The preparation started with peeling/chopping various vegetables. It was a great fun to work together. Everyone laughed and cried chopping 100 or more onions.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What on earth is Pakistani curry like? People started getting excited.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ladies finished chopping a massive amount of vegetables and took a break watching the pot from the window.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As a rich aroma of spices wafted out, the star of the temporary house showed up to investigate what was going on.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some residents kindly helped us clean the huge pot.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

○After-meal relaxation
After the meal, Tahel made Pakistani spiced tea for those who helped clearing up.
We sat around the table in the meeting room and talked about the current situation of life and future plans.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As the tea party was in full swing, some residents sang songs and danced a local dance in return for curry and tea.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At the end of the party, we were happy to receive thanks from the residents. We shook hands and promised to meet again.
Rentai Tohoku will always stand by the tsunami/earthquake victims and provide what we can to bring cheer to them and help them move forward.

 

 

 

 

 

Rentai Tohoku is pleased to announce that it will hold a panel discussion to facilitate self-supporting efforts of disaster victims on the 29th October, 2011 (Sat).
The venue is Kawasaki Public Hall, Ichinoseki. Panellists who themselves suffered great losses of loved ones or properties due to the earthquake will talk about how they face the reality as well as their active involvement in welfare activities.
We hope to welcome as many as possible of the tsunami victims and people in the area and to offer an opportunity to lift their spirit and have some useful clues to rebuild their lives.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reported by Ryu and Tahel, Staff of Rentai Tohoku　
We held a Pakistani Curry Party at the temporary house in Okiarai Aza Horei, Sanriku-cho, Ofunato-city on the 2nd October (Sun).
With cooperation from Ofunato Social Welfare Council and Nippon International Cooperation for Community Development, we aimed at enhancing communication among the residents through the party.

 

○Horei Temporary House
As the houses near Horei Station were all destroyed by tsunami, a benefactor (Mr. O) offered his field in the mountains to build the temporary house. 30 families including Mr. O's (about 100 people) live there.

 

○Preparing Curry
People started to prepare curry at 9 o'clock in the morning.
The residents had been looking forward to the event since they heard about it two weeks before.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Comment from a volunteer staff)
Together, we started preparation by chopping vegetables etc.
But it was embarrassing when our clumsiness raised a laugh among the residents.
Then we watched foreign volunteers spectacularly cook curry in a huge pot.
The residents were so interested in the unusual way to cook curry.
Unless I had practiced to cook SALAM (peace) curry in the previous evening,
I myself would have doubted if it was indeed curry that they were making.
However, the taste of the actual outcome was fantastic. I was so happy
to be there as a volunteer when I heard everybody saying they wanted the recipe.

 

○Party
As the space of the meeting room was limited, the residents took turns to have curry

in groups of 20. Some ate up as much as three portions.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After-meal chat and clear-up

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The next party will be held at a temporary house in Rikuzentakata-city, Iwate on the 15th October (Sat).