What's newtag:www.habitatjp.org,2008:/enblog//32008-10-01T07:23:18ZMovable Type 3.342009 GV Team Leader Training (Tokyo/Osaka) !!tag:www.habitatjp.org,2008:/enblog//3.4572008-10-01T06:54:53Z2008-10-01T07:23:18ZDear Team Leaders of Global Village Prog...Habitat for Humanity Japanhttp://www.habitatjp.org
in ENGLISH this year. However, the material package for "being qualified as a team leader for the Global Village Program" will be provided by postal mail for each team.
As your reference, the following is the brief information of the training in JAPANESE:
We are welcome that you participate in those trainings, and we will fully support to make your uderstanding at the trainings. For your registration, please fill the GV Team Leader Training Application Form out and then fax it to us. When we receive your fax, you will be informed by email from us.
◇TOKYO AREA◇
Date&Time: Nov 29 (Sat) 10:00-15:00
Venue: Habitat for Humanity Japan Office
◇OSAKA AREA◇
Date&Time: Dec 6 (Sat) 10:00-15:00
Venue: Not confirmed yet (It will be updated soon.)
Participation Fee: Free
Thank you]]>
Report from Chiang Mai (9/10)tag:www.habitatjp.org,2008:/enblog//3.4612008-09-25T03:44:28Z2008-10-07T03:12:02ZWe are now in Chiang Mai, in the north o...Habitat for Humanity Japanhttp://www.habitatjp.org
Mr. Game was not able to continue his formal education after middle school due to economic hardship and began work. After his father passed away, he planned to live with his mother. However, because they did not have a safe home to live in, they were forced to live separately. Even now, they both live apart in different relatives’ houses.
He applies to Habitat because he wants to make his dream of “live together with her mother” come true.
Interviews were conducted with the local carpenters today during breaks at the construction site. MGU asked questions befitting a campus chapter, such as “What does family and home mean to you?” and “Do you enjoy working with volunteers from abroad?” Other questions were more personal and also dealt with Thai culture, such as “What does the King mean to you,” and “What are your hobbies?” They answered this variety of questions with some embarrassment but also seemed to enjoy themselves.
Although this was their first time working with Habitat volunteers, when asked if they would be willing to work with Habitat to build a house again, their faces lit up with a big smile as they answered, “yes, of course, everyone works hard and it’s a lot of fun.”
The MGU team is planning on continuing construction work until the twelfth.
Details on the MGU (Meiji Gakuin University) campus chapter, go to Habitat MGU hp.
]]>
Japan Hope Builders Update: Work Complete! (9/2)tag:www.habitatjp.org,2008:/enblog//3.4602008-09-25T02:50:30Z2008-10-07T03:18:18ZOn September 2, the “Japan Hope Builders...Habitat for Humanity Japanhttp://www.habitatjp.org
We were only able to work for four and a half days. During this time the eighteen members of the team (one high school student, 15 college students, one working professional and one tour guide), who came from across the country, worked together to display some great teamwork.
Of course, there was some nervousness about working together as part of a Habitat team, as members had only just met one another and it was the first time for everyone to work with Habitat. But as soon as work began, it was as if everyone had known each other for much longer.
During the afternoon of the second day, we visited an elementary school located about five minutes away from the construction site.
.
We played soccer, jump rope and folded origami and taught them some traditional Japanese games. The next day students came to visit us at the construction site, despite the fact that it was a weekend day
On the other half of the day, we make “origami birds” for the home owner, the carpenter and the local staff of Habitat. The “origami birds” which we made from Japan with the help of our friends and family looks very beautiful.
The second half of our itinerary focused on folding origami cranes for the owner of the house, the local construction workers and the Habitat Thailand staff. The colorful cranes were displayed, including those that had been made by family and friends in Japan.
The last day arrived. At the suggestion of the team members, everyone, including staff, bought “I love Thailand” and “I love Bangkok” shirts to wear on the final day of work.
Although we could not complete the house because of the short building period and because of the torrential rain, we were able to create one side of the wall from an area that did not even have a single column standing before construction. Everything was created by hand: the cement, wire, tools, even the machine needed to create the tools
.
Among team members, many felt they wanted to “fully complete the house.” Even so, to build as much as we did in such a short period of time was thanks to the efforts of each and every team member. Our work was to build the foundation of the house, but it is not just homes which require a strong foundation. A team cannot be built without a sturdy foundation, and we built this one from scratch.
A house dedication was performed on the last day. A house dedication is a ceremony in which the house is handed over to its new owners from the Habitat volunteers. Everyone put their hands in together to cut the tape hung from the door frame. At the wishes of the new owners, all the members of the Habitat team wrote their names into the wall of the house. Reflections
“If the cement and tools hadn’t been made from scratch, you would have never known what kinds of things, like wire, were embedded into the floor and foundation. Thanks to that, I feel as if we are building more than just a ‘house,’ but something more (???)”
The “Japan Hope Builders” team is planning on accepting applications next February and March. Please take this opportunity to volunteer with us as it is normally difficult to volunteer as an individual on a Habitat GV (overseas house building) Please refer to our homepage for more information on application.
Open team “Japan Hope Builders” will be offering for subscription around the next spring (February or March). Always it is hard to find an open group to participate on the GV program, so do not lose this opportunity. Please join us. We will give more information as soon as details are confirmed.
]]>
Japan Hope Builders Update: The First Day of Work! (8/28)tag:www.habitatjp.org,2008:/enblog//3.4492008-09-10T17:31:03Z2008-09-10T17:37:14ZBangkok, August, 28 The Japan Hope Build...Habitat for Humanity Japanhttp://www.habitatjp.org
The Japan Hope Builders team left the lobby at eight in the morning.
The construction site, Pattun Thani, is located about an hour away by expressway from the hotel. When the team arrived at the site, nine holes had already been dug in order to prop the columns. After the on-site orientation, the Japan Hope Builders team began work on this first job.
The first task was to scoop out the water from the nine holes from the heavy rain the night before using buckets and empty cans. The depth of the holes was about one meter. Even when we crouched down or got right down into the ground to scoop the rainwater out, more water seeped up out of the ground.
We divided into two groups to begin the next part of work after enjoying a Thai lunch of fried rice, chicken and a desert made from coconut.
The team worked on the foundation of the house by creating a wire frame, painted with reinforced paint and also made cement. Although in Japan, we are used to seeing cement making machines at construction sites and on roads with all the components already created. However, construction sites in Bangkok must create from scratch the materials for foundation building as well as cement, along with the necessary tools to create these materials.
Although the morning had been very sunny, it began to storm suddenly around 16:00 in the afternoon. The thunderstorms of the monsoon season are intense! But luckily, the day’s work had been completed before it started to rain. We also finished creating all twelve poles for the wire framework needed for the groundwork.
For dinner, we went to the food court of one of the many large supermarkets near the hotel. Afterwards, we held a meeting in preparation for the elementary school visit the next day and folded origami cranes. These cranes had been made before by various participants to give as a present during the school visit.
The Voice of Participants
Eiji (Second year college student)
The reason I wanted to take part in this program is because I felt there was a lot to be gained from the experience of “house building” through manual labor. “I wanted to be able to participate in a program as a volunteer.”
In Japan, everyone is running around busy with daily life, but here, people are not preoccupied so much with time. Working together with everyone as a team on this project has been a lot of fun. Of course, working in a group means that cooperation is very important, and I think that I’ve been positively influenced by the can-do spirit of my team members around me.
The homeowners, especially the father, are very nice, and I look forward to seeing him everyday.
Although the construction site is a bit far, I enjoy the variation of working in a rural setting during the day time and then having free time in the evenings in Bangkok.
]]>
Japan Hope Builders Update: Arrival in Bangkok! (8/27)tag:www.habitatjp.org,2008:/enblog//3.4482008-09-10T17:26:17Z2008-09-10T17:28:41ZBangkok, August 27 The 17 members of the...Habitat for Humanity Japanhttp://www.habitatjp.org
After resting up at the hotel in Bangkok, we spent the evening at the night bazaar. At the welcome dinner which included members of the Habitat Thailand staff, everyone introduced themselves and explained why they chose to participate in this program.
The majority of this team is made up people participating individually, and so the meeting at Narita Airport was the first time the team got to see each other’s faces. Although some seemed nervous at first, tomorrow’s first day of work on the construction site will surely bring everyone together.
The Voice of Participants
Koudai (Third year high school student, Osaka)
The reason he decided to participate in this program was because his sister strongly encouraged him. Since he wanted to take part in a volunteer program during his summer vacation, he thought why not take part in a program abroad? And so he decided to apply to this program which was led by a tour guide. Although he is the only high school student, he is very friendly and got to know everyone in no time.
Tomoya (Third year college student, Shizuoka)
This trip is Tomoya’s first time abroad. In order to make it to the early morning meeting, he took an overnight bus to Shinjuku and spent the night in an internet café in the city.
Originally, he had intended to travel to Thailand by himself to view the work of an NGO he was interested in. When he heard about this program, he decided to apply because he wanted to “actively get out there and move his body rather than just observe” and because he was moved by Habitat’s motto of ‘not simply giving a house, but working together as equal partners to build the house.” He was not worried about taking part as an individual participant.
]]>
Report from Bangkok (Aug 26)tag:www.habitatjp.org,2008:/enblog//3.4412008-08-29T15:53:55Z2008-08-29T15:59:00ZSawadee Khaa! I’ve been in Bangkok from ...Habitat for Humanity Japanhttp://www.habitatjp.org
Yesterday, I went to the construction site of Japan Hope Builders which is a one hour drive from Bangkok.
The Supaporns, the owners, were not at home because they were at work, but I was able to meet their parents who lived right next door.
Both of them were tremendously pleased because their children would become owners of a house made by Habitat for Humanity, and also because 17 volunteers came from Japan at their own expense and spent time working for their family.
The picture on the left: The current construction site. The project will begin with the building of the foundation of the house.
The picture on the right: The Supaporn’s house now.
There is an elementary school right next to the construction site, with 150 kids from kindergarten to sixth grade studying there. There are plans to meet the students on the afternoon of Friday, the 29th.
In the city of Bangkok, foreign tourists are often seen, but for the kids living on the outskirts of Bangkok, interaction with foreigners is quite rare.
A volunteer team from Korea has visited the school before, so the Japan Hope Builders will be the second team visiting the school, and the kids seem to be looking forward to meeting the team.
]]>
Internship report 2 (by Nakakita)tag:www.habitatjp.org,2008:/enblog//3.4392008-08-28T07:20:03Z2008-08-28T07:33:51ZHi, this is Makiko Nakakita, an intern a...Habitat for Humanity Japanhttp://www.habitatjp.org
Hi, this is Makiko Nakakita, an intern at HFHJ.
Hearing people exclaiming, “Bring a hand of love to the disadvantaged”, on the streets or on TV makes me feel unpleasant but I never do something to know why I feel this way. However, I find the answer accidentally during this internship. I found out that there are many things in the places which the Global village’s participants go that I do not have in my normally life. A student in one GV video says, “I go to give but at the end I receive”, when I saw the lighting-up of the student face my heart feel really warm that I can not describe it in words.
I have a narrow outlook on things and I always busy with myself, but there are persons giving, receiving and sharing things that each other need, just knowing this reality I was really impact.
This is my last day. Everyday was dense and new so those 10 days was not too long either too short.
My goal during this time was to do my maximum effort, to asking and make clear everything that I do not understand, to be positive and to do not make the same mistakes. Even though those could be indifferent things for some, those are important for me, who do not know much of the world, and it is because those were my goal. During those days, I could achieve this propose, learn many things, and feel that I grow up. I have really wonderful days here.
I heard that most of the students who came here were participants of the global village program, but I want that people like me who do not have any experience came as an intern or volunteer and discover lot of new things.I not only get experience in the business side as an intern but also I enrich one’s worldview. Though this experience I acquire confidence and become interest in this area and in order to improve it I will learn everything with a broad outlook from today.
Thank you very much.
FY2009002, Board of Directors Meeting of Habitat for Humanity Japantag:www.habitatjp.org,2008:/enblog//3.4372008-08-28T03:13:54Z2008-08-28T03:15:19ZOn August 15th, the meeting takes place ...Habitat for Humanity Japanhttp://www.habitatjp.org
On August 15th, the meeting takes place at the office at Nakano, Tokyo.
The agenda consist on an issue from the last meeting which was about to approve the “Business Reporting and Financial Statements of FY2008” and the “Business Plan and Budget Plan of FY2009”. As a result, those were unanimously approve, so in the next general meeting on August 22nd, the “business Reporting and Financial Statements of FY2008” will be the subject of it and the “Business Plan and Budget Plan of EY2009” will be an information report.
During 2008 the volunteer program, our core business, continuing going very well and as a result the participants at Global Village Program in total are 776 persons(48 groups), more than the last year. At the same time, as a volunteer program inside the country there is the “smile operation” project which consists in clean or repair homes of elder people who lived alone around Nakano, Tokyo. After did a pilot program, we make a case study and attract the interest of people interest on it to can realize it. As the result of all of this, after three years we are run in the black.
For 2009 we will continue the volunteer program to raise business efficiency, having more people involved and increase the satisfaction of all the participants.
Update on Myanmar cyclone responsetag:www.habitatjp.org,2008:/enblog//3.4302008-08-20T06:24:25Z2008-08-20T06:26:32ZHabitat is providing technical expertise...Habitat for Humanity Japanhttp://www.habitatjp.org
Habitat is providing technical expertise to its partner World Concern in
the construction of an initial 400 houses in Labutta town in cyclone-hit
Irrawaddy delta in Myanmar. Construction is expected to take about six
months with plans to build an additional 2,000 or more houses pending
additional funds and other factors.
Habitat is also in the process of designing a mobile sawmill that will help
families in different villages to use wood from fallen coconut palm trees
in rebuilding their homes. The concept is based on an ongoing program
in Pakistan where Habitat provides sawmill services to villagers who want
to cut and shape new and re-usable timber and wood for rebuilding.
Habitat staff have been looking at needs in communities in the disaster-ravaged
southern Irrawaddy delta for the design and construction schedule of the
community "safe" buildings that are able to shelter up to 100 people in
the event of future flooding. The first safe buildings are expected to
be built by March 2009.
Internship midterm report (By Nakakita)tag:www.habitatjp.org,2008:/enblog//3.4292008-08-19T07:52:56Z2008-08-19T07:58:26ZHi, I am Nakakita Mamiko, student at Tok...Habitat for Humanity Japanhttp://www.habitatjp.org
Hi, I am Nakakita Mamiko, student at Tokyo Kougei University; and I decided to do an internship at Habitat for Humanity Japan. I am studying programming, the basis of CG and so on. I have never been involved in volunteer activities before. In deed, I really never have relation with this area that I know the meaning of “NGO” for the first time here. However I prefer HFHJ instead of others places because I deal better with humanities than science as my classmates do.
At first, since I am bashful in front of strangers, I was very nervous. However, the staff and others volunteers welcome me with a nice smile, and I feel that this is a great opportunity for me to know and study a lot about this area that I do not know yet.
In fact, I get really interest and realize about many things when I research about homeless support activity and welfare benefits for a report. Although I was shocked because I realize that many people does not have a stable and safe life, I was commoving and feel really happy knowing that there are people who support those persons with a big smile.
I feel that when someone want to take action, first at all it is necessary to know about the matter, then to feel that you want to do something, not to feel that you have to (I heard those words from a student at GV video I watched the first day at the office).
I will do this internship during 10 days; it is short and I almost finish the half. Day after day I learn something new, and I get surprise because I discover something new in myself too. During the remaining half I will take care of it and do not miss any chance of discover something new.
I will do my best to support as much as I can.
Next TwP meeting in Sep & Octtag:www.habitatjp.org,2008:/enblog//3.4282008-08-19T03:19:44Z2008-09-22T09:27:24Z========================================...Habitat for Humanity Japanhttp://www.habitatjp.org
================================================================
Habitat for Humanity Japan (HFHJ)'s Travelers with a Purpose (TWP) is a forum for people interested in travel and making a difference in the world to meet, socialize, and learn from each other. Each meeting focuses on a different theme related to travel, housing, and volunteerism. Meetings also provide opportunities for attendees to learn about upcoming HFHJ global house-building trips. The group meets the first Tuesday of every month and is open to everyone. Entrance is free. We look forward to seeing you there!
================================================================＜September＞
Topics：
1 "Mongolia"
This monthly TWP will focus on Mongolia which is becoming
more popular amang GV teams!
＜Next TwP Meeting＞
When: Tuesday,September 30, From 7PM (No entrance fee).
* Travelers with a Purpose meets the first Tuesday of every month.
* September is the busiest season which many Habitat supporters are on their Global Village trips. Therefore, we would like to have the next meeting in the end of the month.
******PLEASE NOTE NEW LOCATION******
Ben’s Cafe
1-29-21 Takadanobaba
Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 169-0075 JAPAN
TEL/FAX: 03-3202-2445
MAP
We would like to thank the Ben's Cafe for hosting the TWP meetings.
Please support Habitat's ability to hold TWP meetings at the Ben's Cafe
by respecting other patrons and purchasing food and drinks).
＜October＞
GLOBAL FESTA on OCT 4th, 5th
We will not have the "regular" TwP meeting in October, However, we would like to meet you at "Global Festa". in Hibiya park (Tokyo), on Oct 4th and 5th. "Global Festa" is one of the biggest festival in Tokyo, which over 200 NGOs, Embassies, and Governmental organizations.
Habitat for Humanity Japan will also have a stall in Global Festa, and would like to meet you there!
Date: October 4th (Sat) & 5th (Sun)
Where: Hibiya Park (Tokyo)
Stall No:Y-4
The detailed info will be announced soon.
We're looking forward to meeting you in the next meeting !
]]>
2008.summer student volunteer at the officetag:www.habitatjp.org,2008:/enblog//3.4222008-08-15T02:23:08Z2008-08-15T03:17:12ZIn the office of Habitat for Humanity Ja...Habitat for Humanity Japanhttp://www.habitatjp.org
Okumura Akino Nakakita Mamiko
( 21 years, from Hiroshima） ( 20years, Kanagawa,）
（Aoyama Gakuin University) （Tokyo Kougei University)
【At the office】
The work at Habitat office is not so different from a normal office (Write articles, traducing, check e-mails, etc). However, students enjoy communicating a lot with the office staff and between them. Habitat Office in Japan is a very small one so they want to help as much as they can.
Lee soo Hye Gomez Keyko
(19years, Korea, University in Usa) ( 20years, Peru, Temple University)
>
Shimodaira Rui
( 19years, Saitama, Shibaura Institute Of Technology)
【What is be involved in volunteer activities for you?】
Some students start to know what is to be a volunteer when join Habitat office, others were involved in volunteer activities in many ways before so they now about it already. Those started participating in activities which provide an aid to the elderly, disabled persons and the children of poor countries. Since then, those actions triggered them to be interesting and be involved in volunteer activities. Also they change the way they feel and think about a lot of things.
Ms. Soo Hye share with us that after she was involved in volunteer activities, she feel that she was useful in helping people, it make she has confidence and change the way she view the world.
Ms. Rui says that before she was involved in volunteer activities she though that “volunteer is hold it down”, but after she started to do volunteer activities she realize that “volunteer is a pleasure to help for us”.
Ms. Keyko feels that she wants to help as many people are doing now after she participates in volunteer activities. Also she realizes that there are many things (such our meal, the love from our parents, etc) that it is not common or natural for many people in different places, so now she appreciate lot of things more that before.
They start to join the office to can contribute with even one person. As they did, everybody can start to be involved in volunteer activities in one’s own backyard. It will be a wonderful experience which can make you value the connections with many people and make you grow up as a person. Enjoy!
]]>
Habitat's response to Myanmar cyclonetag:www.habitatjp.org,2008:/enblog//3.4162008-07-18T03:43:33Z2008-07-18T03:54:56ZIn cyclone-hit Myanmar, Habitat for Huma...Habitat for Humanity Japanhttp://www.habitatjp.org
In addition, cyclone-resistant shelters will be constructed, with each acting as a “safe” house for up to 100 people in the event of future storms. Over the planned two-year response, Habitat will cycle construction and program staff through World Concern. A total of nine Habitat staff representing various organizations in the region have been identified for various terms of service in Myanmar. Visas for the initial support team have been secured. Reconstruction efforts are expected to begin later this year given that World Concern and other organizations are still in the relief phase of their response.
To anyone who wishes to donate to support Habitat's response to Myanmar cyclone, Habitat Japan is now speaking out in an effort to gather donations in Japan to join in this recovery effort. Your kind support would be highly appreciated.
POSTAL BANK ACCOUNT
Account Number: 00100-2-278431
Account Holder: HFH Japan
BANK ACCOUNT
Bank name: Mitsui Sumitomo Bank, Nakano-Sakaue Branch Office
Account Number: 4180738 (Savings)
Account Holder: トクヒ) ハビタット フォー ヒューマニティ ジャパン
* Once the transfer is completed, please notify us that your donations funds are meant for the MyanmarCyclone Relief. Also, please include your name and contact information. Kindly note that more than 80% of your donation would be sent to Myanmar, but HFH Japan will deduct up to but no more than 20% for administrational costs.
]]>
Habitat For Humanity Working On Pilot Reconstruction Project In China’s Earthquake-Torn Sichuan Provincetag:www.habitatjp.org,2008:/enblog//3.4152008-07-18T03:29:16Z2008-07-18T03:49:47ZHabitat for Humanity International and C...Habitat for Humanity Japanhttp://www.habitatjp.org
One hundred families in Jingyang, a community northeast of Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province, are set to benefit from the pilot. Habitat’s chief executive Jonathan Reckford met families and officials in Jingyang and other earthquake-torn communities during his visit to Sichuan as part of his six-country Asia tour that ended recently. ▽Read more▽
To support Habitat's disaster response, 2,143,126JPY was contributed to Habitat for Humanity Japan from individual donors, companies, organizations, campus chapters and clubs in Japan. (As of July 17th)
To anyone who wishes to donate to support Habitat's response to Sichuan Earthquake, Habitat Japan is now speaking out in an effort to gather donations in Japan to join in this recovery effort. Your kind support would be highly appreciated.
POSTAL BANK ACCOUNT
Account Number: 00100-2-278431
Account Holder: HFH Japan
BANK ACCOUNT
Bank name: Mitsui Sumitomo Bank, Nakano-Sakaue Branch Office
Account Number: 4180738 (Savings)
Account Holder: トクヒ) ハビタット フォー ヒューマニティ ジャパン
* Once the transfer is completed, please notify us that your donations funds are meant for the Sichuan Earthquake Relief. Also, please include your name and contact information. Kindly note that more than 80% of your donation would be sent to China, but HFH Japan will deduct up to but no more than 20% for administrational costs.
]]>
Jonathan visits to Japan on June 30thtag:www.habitatjp.org,2008:/enblog//3.4132008-07-07T03:58:09Z2008-07-07T04:01:41ZJonathan gave a lecture at one of the mo...Habitat for Humanity Japanhttp://www.habitatjp.org
After the lecture, Jonathan had dinner and recognition with Campus Chapters, Campus Clubs and potential donors.
Awards were given from HFHJ to Campus Chapters in Kansai area, “Rits BLOH (Ritsumeikan University)” for the biggest number of GV participants, and another Campus Chapter in Tokyo area “Shanti Shanti (Aoyama Gakuin University)” for the group advocacy award. It is very rare for Japanese students to meet and discuss with CEO of big organization like Habitat for Humanity. This opportunity meeting Jonathan showed Japanese youth that each of the volunteer is the strong and important partner for Habitat for Humanity.
]]>
Mr. Game was not able to continue his formal education after middle school due to economic hardship and began work. After his father passed away, he planned to live with his mother. However, because they did not have a safe home to live in, they were forced to live separately. Even now, they both live apart in different relatives’ houses.
He applies to Habitat because he wants to make his dream of “live together with her mother” come true.
Interviews were conducted with the local carpenters today during breaks at the construction site. MGU asked questions befitting a campus chapter, such as “What does family and home mean to you?” and “Do you enjoy working with volunteers from abroad?” Other questions were more personal and also dealt with Thai culture, such as “What does the King mean to you,” and “What are your hobbies?” They answered this variety of questions with some embarrassment but also seemed to enjoy themselves.
Although this was their first time working with Habitat volunteers, when asked if they would be willing to work with Habitat to build a house again, their faces lit up with a big smile as they answered, “yes, of course, everyone works hard and it’s a lot of fun.”
The MGU team is planning on continuing construction work until the twelfth.
Details on the MGU (Meiji Gakuin University) campus chapter, go to Habitat MGU hp.
]]>
We played soccer, jump rope and folded origami and taught them some traditional Japanese games. The next day students came to visit us at the construction site, despite the fact that it was a weekend day
On the other half of the day, we make “origami birds” for the home owner, the carpenter and the local staff of Habitat. The “origami birds” which we made from Japan with the help of our friends and family looks very beautiful.
The second half of our itinerary focused on folding origami cranes for the owner of the house, the local construction workers and the Habitat Thailand staff. The colorful cranes were displayed, including those that had been made by family and friends in Japan.
The last day arrived. At the suggestion of the team members, everyone, including staff, bought “I love Thailand” and “I love Bangkok” shirts to wear on the final day of work.
Although we could not complete the house because of the short building period and because of the torrential rain, we were able to create one side of the wall from an area that did not even have a single column standing before construction. Everything was created by hand: the cement, wire, tools, even the machine needed to create the tools
.
Among team members, many felt they wanted to “fully complete the house.” Even so, to build as much as we did in such a short period of time was thanks to the efforts of each and every team member. Our work was to build the foundation of the house, but it is not just homes which require a strong foundation. A team cannot be built without a sturdy foundation, and we built this one from scratch.
A house dedication was performed on the last day. A house dedication is a ceremony in which the house is handed over to its new owners from the Habitat volunteers. Everyone put their hands in together to cut the tape hung from the door frame. At the wishes of the new owners, all the members of the Habitat team wrote their names into the wall of the house. 
Reflections
“If the cement and tools hadn’t been made from scratch, you would have never known what kinds of things, like wire, were embedded into the floor and foundation. Thanks to that, I feel as if we are building more than just a ‘house,’ but something more (???)”
The “Japan Hope Builders” team is planning on accepting applications next February and March. Please take this opportunity to volunteer with us as it is normally difficult to volunteer as an individual on a Habitat GV (overseas house building) Please refer to our homepage for more information on application.
Open team “Japan Hope Builders” will be offering for subscription around the next spring (February or March). Always it is hard to find an open group to participate on the GV program, so do not lose this opportunity. Please join us. We will give more information as soon as details are confirmed.
]]>
We divided into two groups to begin the next part of work after enjoying a Thai lunch of fried rice, chicken and a desert made from coconut.
The team worked on the foundation of the house by creating a wire frame, painted with reinforced paint and also made cement. Although in Japan, we are used to seeing cement making machines at construction sites and on roads with all the components already created. However, construction sites in Bangkok must create from scratch the materials for foundation building as well as cement, along with the necessary tools to create these materials.
Although the morning had been very sunny, it began to storm suddenly around 16:00 in the afternoon. 
The thunderstorms of the monsoon season are intense! But luckily, the day’s work had been completed before it started to rain. We also finished creating all twelve poles for the wire framework needed for the groundwork.
For dinner, we went to the food court of one of the many large supermarkets near the hotel. Afterwards, we held a meeting in preparation for the elementary school visit the next day and folded origami cranes. These cranes had been made before by various participants to give as a present during the school visit. 
The Voice of Participants
Eiji (Second year college student)
The reason I wanted to take part in this program is because I felt there was a lot to be gained from the experience of “house building” through manual labor. “I wanted to be able to participate in a program as a volunteer.”
In Japan, everyone is running around busy with daily life, but here, people are not preoccupied so much with time. Working together with everyone as a team on this project has been a lot of fun. Of course, working in a group means that cooperation is very important, and I think that I’ve been positively influenced by the can-do spirit of my team members around me.
The homeowners, especially the father, are very nice, and I look forward to seeing him everyday.
Although the construction site is a bit far, I enjoy the variation of working in a rural setting during the day time and then having free time in the evenings in Bangkok.
]]>
The picture on the left: The current construction site. The project will begin with the building of the foundation of the house.
The picture on the right: The Supaporn’s house now.
There is an elementary school right next to the construction site, with 150 kids from kindergarten to sixth grade studying there. There are plans to meet the students on the afternoon of Friday, the 29th.
In the city of Bangkok, foreign tourists are often seen, but for the kids living on the outskirts of Bangkok, interaction with foreigners is quite rare.
A volunteer team from Korea has visited the school before, so the Japan Hope Builders will be the second team visiting the school, and the kids seem to be looking forward to meeting the team.
]]>
Okumura Akino Nakakita Mamiko
( 21 years, from Hiroshima） ( 20years, Kanagawa,）
（Aoyama Gakuin University) （Tokyo Kougei University)
【At the office】
The work at Habitat office is not so different from a normal office (Write articles, traducing, check e-mails, etc). However, students enjoy communicating a lot with the office staff and between them. Habitat Office in Japan is a very small one so they want to help as much as they can.
Lee soo Hye Gomez Keyko
(19years, Korea, University in Usa) ( 20years, Peru, Temple University)
>
Shimodaira Rui
( 19years, Saitama, Shibaura Institute Of Technology)
【What is be involved in volunteer activities for you?】
Some students start to know what is to be a volunteer when join Habitat office, others were involved in volunteer activities in many ways before so they now about it already. Those started participating in activities which provide an aid to the elderly, disabled persons and the children of poor countries. Since then, those actions triggered them to be interesting and be involved in volunteer activities. Also they change the way they feel and think about a lot of things.
Ms. Soo Hye share with us that after she was involved in volunteer activities, she feel that she was useful in helping people, it make she has confidence and change the way she view the world.
Ms. Rui says that before she was involved in volunteer activities she though that “volunteer is hold it down”, but after she started to do volunteer activities she realize that “volunteer is a pleasure to help for us”.
Ms. Keyko feels that she wants to help as many people are doing now after she participates in volunteer activities. Also she realizes that there are many things (such our meal, the love from our parents, etc) that it is not common or natural for many people in different places, so now she appreciate lot of things more that before.
They start to join the office to can contribute with even one person. As they did, everybody can start to be involved in volunteer activities in one’s own backyard. It will be a wonderful experience which can make you value the connections with many people and make you grow up as a person. Enjoy!
]]>
After the lecture, Jonathan had dinner and recognition with Campus Chapters, Campus Clubs and potential donors.
]]>