Sep. 23^rd, 2011

Noda Village Fan Club Meeting in Umeda, Osaka

- Volunteers Discussed their “Achievements” and “Challenges” of Support Activities in Noda Village 

 The “Noda Village Fan Club Meeting” was held from 14:00 to 17:30 on September 23^rd (a national holiday) in the conference room of Kwansei Gakuin University Umeda Campus, in Osaka. NVNAD hosted this event, with the cooperation of Suzuran, an Osaka University disaster volunteers group, and volunteers from Kwansei Gakuin University. We had 45 participants who had the experience of taking the NVNAD volunteer transport bus to engage in support activities in Noda Village. Most of them were university students from Osaka University and Kwansei Gakuin University, but there were some other people who also joined this event.

Ms. Yabara, a member of Suzuran, moderated the program, which consisted of two parts. In the first part, the participants were divided into seven groups to discuss their achievements in their support activities in Noda and the challenges they faced. First, the participants wrote down their opinions on post-it notes individually, and then they summarized them as a group ona big sheet of paper. Each group came up with a lot of comments.

After that, each group presented their results. As for the achievements, the groups mentioned physical activities, like removing mud or clearing debris, holding events, and interacting with the people in Noda. On the other hand, they posed the following questions as some of the challenges to consider going forward: “Events are being held one after another, but is that enough?” “The support seems to be focused only on the temporary housing complex at Noda Junior High School. Isn’t more support needed in the other four temporary housing complexes?” “Shouldn’t we give more consideration to the relationship between the residents of the temporary housing and the other local residents?” “Is it still necessary to send loads of volunteers by bus? (i.e. Shouldn’t the support activity be now shifting to “quality over quantity?”)

 After a break, Mr. Ishihara of Suzuran moderated the second part of the program which involved a discussion among six panelists, the moderator, and the audience. First, in light of the “challenges” presented in the first part, the moderator asked the panelists what they think about the way forward. The panelists and the audience offered suggestions and opinions including the following: “Events won’t be enjoyable for the residents in Noda, unless the volunteers are also enjoying themselves.” “We have to secure financing to continue long-term support.” “Some private companies also have started to actively send volunteers.” “Can’t universities provide some special kinds of support, making use of the expertise of each department?” “I think the most important thing is to enable the people in Noda to stand on their own feet again. Isn’t it time for us to start using the term, “back up (support)” instead of “(direct) support” to describe our activities?” “Isn’t there anything we can also do here in the Kansai area?”

Each panelist made a final comment before the meeting was closed in success. Participants exchanged opinions even more enthusiastically than expected, running over the scheduled time. A party was held after the meeting. About thirty of the participants stayed for the party to deepen their friendship. Ideas about making T-shirts and a website for the Noda Village Fan Club were suggested. We would like to continue exploring what we can do for the people in Noda, not only by going over there as volunteers but also through activities based here in the Kansai Area. We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to the members of Suzuran, who organized this event. We are thinking of holding the next meeting around December.