Problems in temporary and restoration housing
Mr. Toshio MURATA, Chairman of the Resident's Association.
I spent 5 months in safe shelters. In the shelters, students were working to distribute food and to transport water voluntarily. On the other hand, middle-aged people contributed less.
After that, I was able to move to temporary housing. Many volunteers visited us to cheer us up. In the resident's association of temporary housing, we first cooperated together so not to let any residents commit suicide due to loneliness. There were some who were drinking all day long and others who were abandoned by their families. With the money the city subsided, we were able to hold a lot of pleasant events together in the community center such as a Christmas party and a Girl's Day party. We lived there for 3 years without any deaths due to loneliness.
In restoration housing, the biggest problem was the deaths due to loneliness. We tried to call on lonely people for each occasion. We began with a "greeting campaign" and a "visiting neighbors campaign" as a start for resident's activities. Gradually, through a monthly clean-up activity, we became familiar with each other.
For high school students:
Be independent, and be a good leader who does not rely on others but works hard for others.