10 Asian students from Vietnam, Malaysia, and China joined the 14th Dispatch of Volunteers to Tohoku from September 30th to October 3rd. They did work like removing sludge from homes at Kamaishi City in Iwate prefecture.

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◆from MALAYSIA, Aida◆ Share
Q:How did you feel after participating in volunteer activities?
Firstly, I would like to thank ACC21 for giving me a chance to join this program.Of course after doing activities I felt tired but I'm was very happy because I can contribute something eventhough just a small thing.I hope next time I will have a chance to join volunteer program like this one.Hope that all the victims of tsunami 3.11 will survive and can create new happy life after this

Q: How would you describe TOHOKU to tourists?
TOHOKU such a beautiful place.However after tsunami,it was changed but I believe that one day it will more attractive place for the tourism.In my opinion,maybe some organizer can organize homestay at TOHOKU,so that people can experience live in TOHOKU.

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?
Being prepared all the time, and try our best to save our own life before we save someone else .Make sure we follow the emergency instruction to make sure everybody safe.

Q:Your message to the people of the world.
Let's lend our hands to help each other because we live on the same earth and under the same sky.


◆from VIETNAM, Nam◆ Share
Q:How did you feel after participating in volunteer activities?
What if I were a resident in those areas of Tohoku when facing such a large tsunami disaster? What if I were a child who poorly lost his parents or his relatives due to tsunami? What if I might live at the evacuation camp in such a long time having no private space nor enough food? I could not imagine how I may react to and overcome such situation. But people here no matter old or young have survived and recovered dramatically from the disaster. Therefore I have been always thinking of doing something to express my adoration to them. It is the reason why I joined this volunteer activity. Just a few days staying at the gymnasium together with other volunteers, doing cleaning work at the site, talking and listening to local people gave me truly precious experiences. Many thanks are given to ACC and Tono Magokoro Network Center (Iwate prefecture) for granting me an opportunity to arrive in Kamaishi city for doing volunteer work.

Q: How would you describe TOHOKU to tourists?
Tsunami devastated areas in Tohoku have recovered awesomely. People are now making great effort in reconstructing houses and roads. Many cars running, several supermarkets in operation, children happily commuting to schools and so on are what can be seen now in those areas. A new life has restarted here, like the encouraging statement to Tohoku people 「命なんだ、出発点なんだ」(unfortunate though, a new refresh).

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?
We two countries Vietnam and Japan have the same damaged conditions due to natural incidents. But the way Japan overcame disaster really impressed me. The most touching impression is the kind mutual behavior of tsunami area local people even in such a disappointing situation. No panic nor chaos was seen at all. City government and residents have made a prompt and effective collaboration when disaster attacked. Post-disaster recovery activities are also carried out in a good way. It is really a good lesson for people of my country.

Q:Your message to the people of the world.
Japan deserves to be a mirror for people worldwide of overcoming difficulties and building up to a developed nation. Natural disaster is unavoidable to every country. Learning from Japan, government of each country should make a careful preparation to protect people during and after disasters. In my opinion, education of human love is needed to demonstrate at schools. It would help create a humane community which is thought to be the most important strength of any country in mitigating disaster loss.


◆from Malaysia, Saerah◆ Share
Q:How did you feel after participating in volunteer activities?
I'm glad I participated in the volunteer activities. This is my first experience as a volunteer and I never thought that I could learn so many things from the volunteer activities. Before joining the volunteer activity, I thought that 7months after the tsunami, most of the things have been back to normal. But unfortunately, there are so many things and task to be done yet. It feels great to help even though what I've done is just too small but I do hope that my effort can help to reduce the burden of Tohoku's people. .

Q: How would you describe TOHOKU to tourists?
Tohoku is a place which is rich with the beauty of nature. I've done my volunteer activities in Kamaishi, and on the way to Kamaishi the scenery was gorgeous especially during autumn right now. Furthermore, the scenery of the sea in Kamaishi was great. I didn't have the chance to go to the sea side but I do think that it would be great if I can go there. I truly enjoyed the scenery in Tohoku and if there's one thing that can attract tourist to go to Tohoku, it will be the beautiful scenery.

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?
When natural disasters happen, the important things that the victim will be needed are not only aid, help, money and so on but one thing that people usually overlooked is moral support. Survivors of natural disasters usually face health problem, problems in living and resource loss that will lead to depression. Some people might recover as time pass but some didn't and it turns out that they died because if the depression. So, I think it is important to understand and support the survivors of natural disaster to help their recovery from the shock and distress of the natural disaster.

Q:Your message to the people of the world.
Even though we live in different parts of the world, being separated by countries, it doesn't mean that when someone in other country has problems it is their country's problem only. We live on the same Earth so it will be our responsibility too to help others in other country if they need help. So play our roles as a human on this Earth and start helping others. Put yourself in their place and you'll feel the joy of giving and helping others.


◆from CHINA, Zhang◆ Share
Q:How did you feel after participating in volunteer activities?
It's a very impressed experience. I was shocked more or less when we got to the site where suffered from tsunami disaster in Kamaishi. It's really a terrible disaster. We worked with Japanese from all over the country, and had some contacts with local person. I can felt their strong personality which should be admirable. Besides, I am happy I can make some good friends there. Also, I would like to bring my other friends there again and lend our helping hand.

Q: How would you describe TOHOKU to tourists?
Just like other wonderful places in Japan, it's really beautiful here: the blue sky, the mountain with mixed green and yellow, and the gurgling stream. Even the sea, it looks like so mild and quiet. You can't image the scene when it threw the surge to the bank and destroyed uncountable buildings on 11th March. But it's the facts. The coastal region suffered from the devastating tsunami severely. However, I believe it can be more beautiful after the region reconstruction. So, don't be afraid of the natural disaster, don't abandon and forget the person who's still living here. Hand in hand, we can stand up when facing to the natural disaster. Life is rebuilding here. As to the idea of promoting TOHOKU, I think I can't say too much about it, except one thing that government should pay more attention to the improvement of the disaster warning system.

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 have no experiences of natural disaster and I haven't seen the disaster-effected region before, even though a very big and terrible earthquake happened in my country in 2008. Therefore, this visit to TOHOKU taught me a lot. On hand, I see the power and ruthlessness of natural disaster, but on the other hand, I feel the warmness created by our human being. One thing is clear that the fight against natural disaster is endless, and therefore the only way we can choose is to be hand in hand and face the challenge together. In other word, everyone should be one of the members no matter if you encountered disaster ever or not. To the people in my country, I want to say it's important and necessary to know some knowledge about disaster response and we should have a certain ability of self-help. But one more important I want to say is for the government. When planning and building our city, it's government who should be more responsible to the safety of people's life.

Q:Your message to the people of the world.
No matter how many times we will face to natural disaster in our life time, we can survive and keep on moving forward because we are not alone.