5 Asian students from Vietnam, Malaysia, Pakistan and India joined the fifth Dispatch of Volunteers to Tohoku from August 18th to 22th. They did work like removing sludge from homes at Kamaishi City in Iwate prefecture.

We are posting more pictures on our facebook page.

◆from VIETNAM, MAI◆ Share
Q:How did you feel after participating in volunteer activities?
Firstly, I want to thank ACC21 for giving us the precious chance to take part in these volunteer activities in Tohoku. The volunteer activities leave me a lot of deep impressions. I felt the devastating power of the natural catastrophe. I also got the understanding of the importance of supporting activities to people in this affected areas, both materially and mentally. This all becomes invaluable experience for me which I will not forget.

Q:Who do you want to tell about this experience?
Taking part in the volunteer program in Iwate has truly been an invaluable experience for me. I have been able to see the scenes in the areas affected by the devastating tsunami by my naked eyes. I have also been able to hear from the volunteers who come from all part of Japan and from around the world and felt their spirits. In fact, this experience affected me so much that I want to share it with everybody around me, especially those who have not got little chances to know about the situation of Tohoku. I think that telling my friends and relatives about this experience may lead us to further thoughts more actions.

Q: How would you describe TOHOKU to tourists who want to visit Japan?
If I have to describe Tohoku to tourists in a sentence, I will say it is beautiful EVEN now when the devastation of the tsunami can still be seen. Of course, now when you come to Tohoku your eyes will be catch by the destructed buildings and mountains of rubbish and debris left by the catastrophe. However, you will also be unable to keep your shelf from noticing the attractive beauty of nature here. Besides the devastated scenarios are still majestic mountains run right to the charming ocean. In fact, on our trips my friends did took a lot of picture of the beautiful nature here.

Q:Your message to the people of the world.
Five months after the disaster, the cleaning-up and reconstruction in Tohoku, Japan is progressing a little bit every day. Because of the scale and destructiveness of the disaster along with the risk of damage from aftershocks recovering these areas is not easy. There is still an unbelievable huge amount of work to do. But I believe, the Japanese with their strength and determination, together with supports from all over the all the world will rebuilt their beautiful and peaceful cities. There are many ways to help Japan, from distance or not. From coming there for volunteer or tourism, buying goods from those regions to spreading the information, we can all be a part of the recovering process of this beautiful part of Japan and of the world. Let us be together in this recovery progress!


◆from MALAYSIA, RAY◆ Share
Q:How did you feel after participating in volunteer activities?
By participating in this volunteer activity provided by ACC21, I have my first chance to step into places such as Rikuzen Takata, Hakozaki; where had been badly damaged by the tsunami on 311. After seeing the rubbles, damaged cars, sinking houses; I came to understand the actual meaning of "disaster victim" and "disaster area". These are the words that we heard or read many times from the media; but not until I came here, I really don't know how serious the condition is even though 5 months have passed since 311.
Besides, one of the leaders from Magokoro net told me that the need for emotional care is getting greater and greater. Based on the governmental definition, once the disaster victims have moved into a temporary housing, they are considered as independence or self-help. They have to purchase their own food and needed items. However, I have a doubt on how can these disaster victims be considered as independence when majority of them have lost their work due to the disaster? Moreover, the distribution of the temporary housing is based on draw. Meaning that, most of the disaster victims may have to accommodate themselves to a completely new community after losing their love ones and jobs. Emotional care is greatly needed to encourage the victims, especially the old folks, to live a meaningful life.
As an individual volunteer worker, I understand that what I can do is very limited. However, by spreading the news and needs for Tohoku, I believe that more and more people will be encouraged to come and help. Also, through working with the volunteer workers from all over the world in one heart, not only that Tohoku will recover very soon with a brighter and better future; it will bring a better understanding to all the people for a peaceful world.

Q:Who do you want to tell about this experience?
I will tell my invaluable experiences from Tohoku to my friends living in Tokyo International Exchange Center, professors and friends in my school, friends living in Japan, friends and family members in Malaysia.

Q:How would you describe TOHOKU to tourists who want to visit Japan?
At the meantime, instead of tourism, I will try to put more afford on how to encourage more volunteer workers to come and help in Tohoku. Because, when volunteer workers come, they will use the taxi services, purchase their food and needed items from the convenient stores or supermarkets which perform a rich contribution to the economy in Tohoku.

Q:Your message to the people of the world.
Please come to Tohoku, Japan!
Those tsunami victims need your smiles and warm helping hands indeed.


◆from PAKISTAN, SHAH◆ Share
Q:How did you feel after participating in volunteer activities?
I feel reinvigorated and inspired. The event gave me a new knowledge and new vision about the participatory mechanism. I was quite impressed by the volunteer spirit in the camp and made new friends from different walks of life. I liked the way individuals and corporate sector has been contributing in volunteering activities. It also gave me an opportunity to gather firsthand knowledge about the issues and problems that any volunteer group can face in the field.

Q:Who do you want to tell about this experience?
I may write an article for Japanese people for publishing in a newspaper giving them an insight of how foreigners have been looking at the various aspects of reconstruction and rehabilitation. Similarly I am also planning to write an article for a national newspaper in Pakistan to apprise the people about the possibilities and options that disaster affected regions have in the hour of crisis.

Q:How would you describe TOHOKU to tourists who want to visit Japan?
It is Switzerland of Asia. Foreigners visiting this region may be asked to write books and articles for their domestic audiences to introduce this part of the world. Local government can also encourage tourism by announcing local events in international media and by offering subsidized transportation and accommodation. International linkages can be developed by sharing information with tourism sector worldwide. This region is very similar to the famous Hunza Valley of Pakistan and the world is yet to know about its beauty. In Pakistan Ministry of Tourism can be contacted to announce a joint strategy to identify and promote each other's regions.

Q:Your message to the people of the world.
Let us join our hands to help humanity everywhere in the world. Countries and governments are busy in political schematization that only creates war and strife among communities in the name of national interests. It is the peace and development that the people need everywhere in the world. A young girl s health, a little boy s school bag, a promising mother s hopes and every one s opportunity to contribute in the society is more important than anti ballistic missiles and Kalashnikovs. Even nature sometimes gets angry but we need to understand the message behind all these challenges. This is a test for humanity; a test to prove that whatever the circumstances may be, humanity and milk of human kindness will prevail.


◆ffrom INDIA, RAJAN◆ Share
Q:How did you feel after participating in volunteer activities?
We had all seen the images- Whole towns washed away and massive ships amid debris where those towns should have been. Thousands of survivors piled into shelters still very much in shock. The only question at the back of mind was, "how are the people coping. What will they do?" However, after seeing the continuous flow of volunteers from local colleges, organizations and from other parts of Japan and abroad, has not only instilled hope but a fully confident gut feeling that Japan will emerge out of this calamity with stoicism and dignity and these parts of Tohoku which now exhibit an eerie silence will again come alive like a veritable phoenix.

Q:Who do you want to tell about this experience?
In the aftermath of this tragedy, the whole world has really come together very well in supporting this initiative. Tohoku, in my view is gradually but steadily returning back to normalcy, the affected have taken a mature view; the volunteers and the Japanese Government are doing a great job. One thing we need to realize that natural disasters such as this are uncontrollable factors as far as humans are concerned, and it is great that the world is coming together to face the effects of it. For three days we worked out hearts out. The enthusiasm was palpable and yet it was tempered by the sheer realization of the human tragedy. I returned back, chastened and humbled by the sheer devastation but really gung-ho about the Japanese resilience. And as a bonus, I was able to strike deep friendships with five of the most wonderful people I have met in my life.

Q:How would you describe TOHOKU to tourists who want to visit Japan?
A unique amalgamation of Natural beauty and the quaint times!
The sheer natural beauty and the salubrious surroundings just drive home one fact- This might be the place where Gods dwell.
One of the most Naturally beautiful places I have visited in my life.

Q:Your message to the people of the world.
The towns we visited were worst affected and showed little more than piles of rubble, with almost no parts of any structures left standing. Believe me friends, the images on TV do not portray the true magnitude of the devastation wreaked by the blasted tsunami. Cities after cities have been flattened. Plus the human dimension to this tragedy. I Spent four wonderful days volunteering and met wonderful dedicated people of all age groups and nationalities, driven by one motive- to provide succor to the people scarred by the natural calamity and human tragedy of gigantic proportions. Having said that, I would like to add that it is quite limited to do something by only 'I, me, myself'. But we can accomplish many more things if we reach our hands out to each other.
What struck me the most was, the common underlying thought amongst the volunteers at Tohoku,
"Wwe are not volunteering to help the people of Tohoku, but for us it's an honour to serve them"
Sums up the excellent work ethos of this wonderful nation.
And as a bonus, I was able to strike deep friendships with five of the most wonderful people I have met in my life. It was an honor working with you. You were worthy representatives of your countries amidst the solemnity of the tasks we performed.
I have returned back, chastened and humbled by the sheer devastation but really gung-ho about the Japanese resilience. Thank You ACC21 for this wonderful opportunity!


◆from VIETNAM, LE VAN◆ Share
Q:How did you feel after participating in volunteer activities?
The two days of work has worn me out but I'm happy because I feel that I could somehow contribute to the reconstruction in Tohoku.

Q:Who do you want to tell about this experience?
I want to tell my colleagues, my friends and family about this experience.

Q:How would you describe TOHOKU to tourists who want to visit Japan?
I've been to 3 out of 6 prefectures in Tohoku, which are Akita, Miyagi and Iwate. I can say that this is one of the most beautiful places in Japan, especially Iwate with mountains lied by the sea, rice fields and rural villages nestled in mountains... Traditional culture has been reserved well and can be seen every where, for example in houses along the roads. To promote TOHOKU, there is a need to quickly restore the public transportation and to ensure that this region is safe even happened the nuclear accident in Fukushima.

Q:Your message to the people of the world.
Before starting our volunteer work in Kamaishi, we had a tour to Rikuzentakata, one of the worst affected areas. I couldn't believe in my eyes although I have seen on newspapers or TV the horrific devastation left there by tsunami. It's just overwhelmed. The further we got into Rikuzentakata, the worse scene there we saw and finally could just see destruction everywhere. Even a football stadium by the sea has been totally swept away. Roads lines with several meter piles of debris. But at the same time, we could see that the clean-up operation has been going well with the help from volunteers. A lot of works has been done but still so much to be done. We felt keen of taking part. And the next two days, we were deployed to Hakozaki, a remoted fishery town in Kamaishi City. Our works consisted of debris, glass, hay, dead tree removal... The two days work has worn me out but I'm happy because I could somehow contribute to the reconstruction in Tohoku. I believe that our voluntary work is not only an actual help, but one of the best ways to share the pain with those affected people, to send warm messages and courage them to overcome difficulties and bring normal life back.
Thank ACC21 for giving me opportunity to join their meaningful volunteer activities.