The safe shelter at Mikage HS

The reason why schools are designated as safe shelters in disasters is that schools were strongly built and more resistant to earthquakes. To manage the shelters at school, the support of disaster volunteers was necessary. The 80% of volunteers in the Hanshin-Awaji earthquake were high school students and university students. In working as volunteers, we have to keep some tips in mind as follows: 1) collect more local information before we join, 2) not to hesitate once we make up our mind, 3) not to be too enthusiastic, 4) be sure to hand over any local information to the substitute volunteers when we leave the shelters.

Kobe has achieved great restoration from the earthquake so far thanks to support from all over the world and the mature attitudes of the refugees at shelters where there was no respect for personal privacy.

-Student's impressions-

In the case of a future disaster, I would like to work as a volunteer and help the refugees.