9 Asian students from China, Malaysia, South Korea, Philippines and Indonesia joined the 13th Dispatch of Volunteers to Tohoku from October 14th to 17th. They did work like removing sludge from homes at Kamaishi City and Otsuchi Town in Iwate prefecture.

We are posting more pictures on our facebook page.

◆from INDONESIA, Florensia◆ Share
Q:How did you feel after participating in volunteer activities?
Before I participated in this volunteer activity, I knew only what I've seen on the news. But being there and seeing the real condition of the devastated areas with my own eyes was just different. Nothing could have shocked me more than when I arrived in the town. I cannot imagine how everything was washed away on that day, left with nothing. But I'm so amazed and deeply moved with the volunteering activity there. How people from around the world are gathering together hand in hand to help and support those who are in needs regardless the nationality. Little things mean a lot for those people. It was really a precious experience for me. If there is another chance, I am willing to participate again.

Q: How would you describe TOHOKU to tourists?
TOHOKU is one of Japan's "must visit" prefectures. This prefecture is well known for its mountains, lakes, hot springs and many attractive festivals. It is surrounded by natural beauty and the atmosphere really gives you the "at-home" feeling. In my opinion, local government should not only focus on the construction of the devastated areas, but also how to attract tourists inside and outside Japan. I think by encouraging Japanese people to visit Tohoku areas instead of going overseas for a vacation, or offering discounts and various packages to foreigners who work and study in Japan, would be a good idea.

Q: What did you learn and what would you like to suggest to your country people in case of natural disasters that might happen in your country?
I learned quite a lot after participating in this volunteer activity, such as how all of the activities are well organized, and how great the response of the Japanese people facing so much adversity. Indonesia was hit by earthquake and tsunami in 2004 and more than 200,000 people died. It was really tough for those people who were not prepared for such unexpected disaster. Indeed, we cannot go against the nature, but it would be great if we could prevent or at least reducing the damages that might occur. Training and organizing the society should be done more often, since Indonesia, as the largest archipelago in the world and also is surrounded by the sea, locates between active seismic zones.

Q:Your message to the people of the world.
It is going to take a tremendous amount of time, but Japan is being rebuilt. Therefore, don't hesitate to visit Japan, including Tohoku areas. Although it is not extremely reported on the news anymore, Tohoku still needs more volunteers at the sites. If you are planning to visit Japan, it would be nice if you could spend a little bit of your time to visit Tohoku as a volunteer. It really means a lot.


◆from CHINA, Kaku◆ Share
Q:How did you feel after participating in volunteer activities?
I feel so happy that I took part in the volunteer program., made lots of friends from different countries.I also think that,there are still lots work to do in TOHOKU.I wish I could have stay longer.You will never understand how badly the damage is,unless you see it with your own eye.

Q: How would you describe TOHOKU to tourists?
The people there are suffering from the pain of the lose of their hometown and the lose of their families.I surely,someday,recover and become a good place again.

Q: What did you learn and what would you like to suggest to your country people in case of natural disasters that might happen in your country?
I learnt a lot from this trip to Tohoku,like how to work with people who speaks a totally different language,how to sleep in a sleeping bag and how happy it was to work as a team.And of course, the natural disasters like this may happen in my country as well,I suggest that we'd better to be ready to the disasters all the time.

Q:Your message to the people of the world.
Come to TOHOKU of Japan,help the people there.One for all,all for one.


◆from CHINA, Liu◆ Share
Q:How did you feel after participating in volunteer activities?
I went to iwate-ken to be a volunteer for 2 days. There's not much we can do, except picking up trash and divide them. I'm really eager to do much more than these small things for them, but I don't know what more I can do, and also, I know I'm lacking the ability. However, I think at least I can let people all over the world know about the situation there, and there will be perhaps more people willing to help.

Q: How would you describe TOHOKU to tourists?
As far as we can see, it is still a scene after disaster. It is a little hard recovering from it, I think. However, I always believe, just as all other people do, the last will be the best, situation now can not be even worse, so after the disaster, things must become a little better every day. One day, TOHOKU will become a highly developped new city, like a shining star. As the saying goes, "Tomorrow is another day."

Q: What did you learn and what would you like to suggest to your country people in case of natural disasters that might happen in your country?
I saw the giant power that Japanese people have, espescially the volunteers there, I mean, not like us, the real volunteers, who has worked under the situation like that for several months. Besides, there are local people who did not give up, who won't leave their hometown even after the tragedy. They give me hope and corage, and make me think. Therefore I hope people in China value this spirit of Tohoku and learn from it.

Q:Your message to the people of the world.
The situation there is not good, I hope my photos can let people know that. though I m not a christian, I really wish, god bless them.


◆from CHINA, Lulu◆ Share
Q:How did you feel after participating in volunteer activities?
The truth was: it was worse than what we have seen on TV news. I found quite a lot of red crosses and circles on the destroyed buildings the first day. Local people told me that the red crosses on the wall represent where they found human body and the red circles on the cross mean they have moved the body away. The whole place looked like a ghost town but those red symbols on the wall told a story of a recent tragedy. These houses used to shelter generations of people, husband and wife, parents and children and brothers and sisters. It must be heart breaking to see so much is destroyed in such a short time. Nature humbles us from time to time and teaches us that no matter how clever we are, no matter how we try to 'conquer' the world, we are only a vulnerable part of it. We took a lot of pictures on the site and I especially like the photo with many of us holding national flags. Isn't it wonderful that we come from different parts of the world and gather in this particular place for a common purpose? I appreciate every minute in Iwate, and I will put the restoration of Iwate in my prayer. God bless Iwate.

Q: How would you describe TOHOKU to tourists?
Iwate is an amazingly beautiful place, quiet and magnificent. One of the most beautiful places I have ever been. Couldn't stop myself saying "wow" during the trip.

Q: What did you learn and what would you like to suggest to your country people in case of natural disasters that might happen in your country?
I hope this kind of disaster will never happen again. However, if it should happen again, I hope people would "beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things."

Q:Your message to the people of the world.
This world now is overwhelmed by conflicts, schematization and discrimination. However, when we facing nature catastrophes, let's pull together and joint our efforts no matter where we from or what we are, in the name of humanity.


◆from South Korea, Mi◆ Share
Q:How did you feel after participating in volunteer activities?
I felt many things after participating in vounteer activities. I had actual feeling about earthquake in TOHOKU . I felt grief about these disaster and I wanted to pray for victims. I cannot think of such a thing happening again.

Q: How would you describe TOHOKU to tourists?
I will relate TOHOKU was seriously damaged by awfully big earthquake and a huse tidal wave ,so TOHOKU needs your help to tourists. I have idea to promote TOHOKU. There are three ways. Frist, Put pictures of TOHOKU and Write to need people'helps on internet sites. Second, Inform radioactivity level of TOHOKU is safety on internet sites. Third, Offer free plane flight ticket for TOHOKU to tourists.

Q: What did you learn and what would you like to suggest to your country people in case of natural disasters that might happen in your country?
I learn disaster of Nature and volunteer'importance from TOHOKU. I like to suggest a quick escape to my contry people in case of natural disasters that might happen in your contry because,this time, there were victims of TOHOKU that droped in home once.

Q:Your message to the people of the world.
I would like to speak a message to people of the world. I'm from SOUTH KOREA and I'm studying social welfare in Japan. You know There was a huge earthquake in Japan and many lives were sacrificed. Utill now,in TOHOKU, there remain debris and rubble like a mountain. The amounts were innumerous. Zones of TOHOKU didn't be restored yet. Japan need your concern about TOHOKU and local residents of TOHOKU wait for your helps.


◆from PHILIPPINES, Simon◆ Share
Q:How did you feel after participating in volunteer activities?
I have seen the images and the pictures of the 2011 Japanese earthquake and tsunami, thus, I tried to prepare myself and set certain expectations. The reality far exceeded my expectations. The best way to describe my feelings after the two-day volunteer activity would probably be that I felt overwhelmed, but still hopeful. The experience of seeing the aftermath of the earthquake on the Iwate Prefecture in the Tohoku region was quite overwhelming. I felt sadness for everyone affected. Seeing what happened, realizing and trying to account for the losses, and actually just being there surrounded by all that devastation had quite an impact on me. Part of me struggled with the thought of how much resources and manpower would be needed to achieve full recovery for the region. Another part of me kept thinking that I should do more, help out more, offer more of my time and effort. I thought that two days for one volunteer may not be enough. Burdened with such thoughts, one might succumb to the hopelessness of the situation; yet I saw that I was not alone in the effort to help the region recover. Our group was the 13th dispatch of the ACC21 volunteer program. I am but one link in a chain of volunteers that goes back many, many, many months ago; and that will continue to go forward far into the future. Of this, I am certain. Thus, at the end of my volunteer experience, I also felt quite hopeful. As my philosophy teacher once said, "Life is an eternal renewal." In the face of tragedy, human beings can and will move forward. This was evident in the quiet resolve of the Japanese volunteers I encountered there. Tireless, efficient, dedicated, resolute, and so much more. Another reason for this hopeful feeling was presence of volunteers from other countries. People from different countries, different backgrounds united in a common goal - that of helping out the Tohoku region in anyway they can - was an awe-inspiring phenomenon. The spirit of volunteerism is indeed powerful. It is an example of humanity at its finest. I am hopeful that the Tohoku region will recover. The constant effort of all the volunteers seem to guarantee that.

Q: How would you describe TOHOKU to tourists?
The Tohoku region is an example of the Japanese countryside teeming with the beauty of nature - forests, mountains, streams and seas. It is a must-see for nature-lovers. If one wishes to escape the fast-paced city life and enjoy nature; then the Tohoku region should be considered. The Tohoku region would be an ideal venue for eco-tourism tours, nature hikes, and Japanese culture appreciation tours (e.g. Tono City's rich collection of folktales). These may be possible tourist packages for the Tohoku region. At the moment, though, the region will greatly benefit from a steady influx of volunteers to help with the recovery efforts. Those moved by the volunteer spirit should consider helping out in the Tohoku region.

Q: What did you learn and what would you like to suggest to your country people in case of natural disasters that might happen in your country?
In the Tohoku region, I saw firsthand the destructive power of nature. We must always be prepared. Early warning systems are a must. Learn from past experiences in order to better safeguard the future. Let's invest in systems and technology to better cope with natural disasters. In the Philippines, there is talk of being due for a "big one". I hope that nothing of the sort occurs, but let's always be prepared.

Q:Your message to the people of the world.
Let's do a bit more and continue doing so. Much has happened this past year. Many areas in the world have been hit by natural catastrophes such as earthquakes, typhoons and floods. Let's get involved and help out. Give our time and effort. Donate whatever you can. Volunteer. And continue to do so. Just do more.


◆from MALAYSIA, Yap◆ Share
Q:How did you feel after participating in volunteer activities?
This is my first time participating in volunteer activities. I appreciate ACC21 for giving me chance to help Tohoku. After finished the 2-days volunteer activities, I realized that how sorrowful the damage of natural disaster is and what we can help those sufferers is to show loving care for them.

Q: How would you describe TOHOKU to tourists?
Tohoku is a beautiful place. It is famous with the beautiful sea, delicious seafood, and the natural scenery. Once you come to Tohoku, you would love it.

Q: What did you learn and what would you like to suggest to your country people in case of natural disasters that might happen in your country?
Natural disaster barely happens in my country, Malaysia. However, I would like to say even though natural disaster was unfortunately happened, the spirit of not giving up is what you cannot forget.

Q:Your message to the people of the world.
Hello all the people in the world, Tohoku needs you. Your insignificant powers do help Tohoku to done rebuilding earlier. Although it has been 7 months after 3.11, the situation of Tohoku is still severe. The problem of lacking in manpower has been facing by most of the volunteer organization. More volunteers are needed and please help Tohoku.