SHOKEI GAKUIN UNIVERSITY

Volunteer Team TASKI

The Program, whose name incorporates the meaning of "Shokei, walking together with love," began in the wake of the Great East Japan Earthquake Disaster. Ten years later, the situation in the affected areas has changed greatly. In particular, the development of new communities as a result of people moving from temporary housing to public reconstruction housing has emerged as a new challenge. Teams of students who have conducted support activities in temporary housing are now helping to residents to create opportunities for connection and interaction with other residents in their new communities.

STUDENT’S VOICE

SAE HENMI

Volunteer Team TASKI

TASKI, the volunteer team of SGU students, implements various activities such as exchanges with residents in the areas af fected by the Great East Japan Ear thquake at public reconstruction housing and in public halls in Yuriage, a part of Natori City. Ten years have passed since the earthquake, but SGU students continue these activities from a desire to help the residents, who are striving to develop new towns and communities. I feel that I have grown up through various experiences and opportunities, such as listening to diverse opinions from residents, interacting with students from other universities, and conveying what we have learned to others. Going forward, I want to engage in activities that will raise awareness among many more people about the joy that volunteering brings.

Yuriage Study Tour

Students visit Yuriage, a town that suffered severe damage from the tsunami immediately after the earthquake, where they see with their own eyes how the area was damaged and how it has been changing since the disaster, listen to local raconteurs tell the stories of their own experiences, and, by exchanging opinions, consider what they themselves can do for this community from their own, individual standpoints.

Kobe Study Tour

Students hold joint volunteer activities and workshops with other universities and senior high schools in and outside the prefecture. SGU students collaborate and interact with people from Kobe in both Natori City and Kobe City. In the Visit Kobe initiative, students learn about the process of reconstruction after the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake through fieldwork and hearing from local raconteurs about their own experiences. They also put what they have learned to use in reconstruction activities for Natori City, where SGU is located.