Community Revitalization Project in Kumamoto

On behalf of the local residents of Nishihara Village especially the local farmers, we wish to extend our sincerest gratitude to the GlobalGiving Donors. With your support, from January to March, we have mobilized a total of 217 volunteers and supported 93 local farmers and their families in the harvesting and post-harvesting of sweet potatoes and carrots. The dispatched volunteers also assisted some farmers in sowing of Chinese cabbage and corn as well as putting of sticks for tomato plants.

Other than helping in the farm works, the presence of the volunteers helps in the revitalization of the community. One volunteer group mobilized by the project sets up a booth once a month at local events and sells vegetables products of the villagers. There is a plan to expand the sales at local supermarkets or department stores. Meanwhile, we have been hearing comments from volunteers of their intention to move to Nishihara Village and engage in agriculture-related work. Some mentioned that it is inspiring to hear from the farmers, “Please do come again and we made progress thanks to your support.”

As for the comments of the local farmers, they feel happy when volunteers come to support them as they feel that their daughters/sons and grand children had come. Moreover, they are glad to hear a lot of new stories from people coming from the outside.

Almost 2 years since the earthquake, we have observed the gradual recovery of the village and the local people. In spite of the fact that some of the local farmers are hesitant in asking external support, we still feel the need to dispatch volunteers and support the community. Even though family members come to help on the weekends, most of the time, the farmers who are mostly elderly are working alone and constantly pushing themselves to work hard. As a consequence, they tend to get sick and is a heavy burden to them.

With the marriage between the two volunteers in February, we are planning to carry out “marriage hunting” or matchmaking events during the sweet potato planting season to further increase the number of volunteers. We are aiming to get prospective participants using social media and in cooperation with the media. We were featured on NHK radio program and appeared on a special program entitled “The Second Anniversary of the Disaster Recovery”.