Voices of Participants
Add a Unique Contribution to Volunteer Activities Anyone Can Participate in

Harutoshi Eto
General Manager of the Environment, Safety & Security Office
Asahi Glass Sagami Plant

I have been participating in an activity to enlighten citizens about anti-global warming measures, but had never participated as a volunteer in disaster-relief activities before. Therefore, at first, I felt a bit uneasy, but I soon discovered that volunteer activities were not difficult and anyone could participate in them.
During the activity, I cleared debris, removed mud from houses, and carried furniture and fixtures out, I also searched for valuables and photos for the owner of a barber shop. I am in charge of ensuring occupational safety and health in my job, and therefore, in the volunteer activity I also gave first priority to safety, trying to prevent anyone, including myself, from getting injured. I also created a safety manual for use by participants who would work as volunteers in the future.
Moreover, thinking it necessary to encourage more people to participate in disaster relief activities as volunteers, I am talking about the details of the activity in which I participated and what I felt during the period to as many people as possible.

Small Contributions Will Add up to Give Great Support to Victims

Miyuki Sasaki
Technology Development Center
AGC Chemicals Company

After passing through areas where people were leading ordinary lives, I suddenly found myself in an area with no inhabitants, where nothing but debris was left by the tsunami. I was too shocked to utter a word. In the face of the tremendous damage caused by the disaster to a wide area of land, I was able to work as a volunteer only for three days. Though what I achieved was relatively small, I could sense the necessity of giving long-term support to the afflicted areas, feeling "I am not totally powerless and it will be effective by continuing this small contribution" as hearing the sound of water flowing through the gutters after removing mud from street gutters or as seeing houses filled with muddy furniture get cleaned. Moreover, I was moved by the words of local people, who said to us volunteers, "Thank you for your support."
We can give support in a range of ways, such as through volunteer activities, the donation of goods and money, the purchase of products made in the afflicted areas, and even making sightseeing trips to the areas and spending money there. We can choose what we can do from among these activities. What is important is to do something.

Voices of Participants
Participating in Volunteer Activity for the First Time and Representing Entire Family

Hideki Asayama
AGC Finance

I decided to participate in this volunteer activity immediately after it was introduced on the in-house bulletin board, because I and my family were all eager to do something for the afflicted areas. In order to participate in the activity as a family, I packed goods to be donated for the free bazaar (new shoes, clothes for children and towels) with my family and sent the package to the venue of the bazaar in advance. On the day of the bazaar, I was in charge of the installation work and of dealing with visitors at the booth for men?s items. As a first time volunteer, I tried to follow the instructions of the NGO member who was the leader of the activity. I found one of the items that we had sent from our house among the items displayed in the free bazaar and was able to hand it directly to a victim of the disaster, who received it with a smile. I felt it really meaningful to participate in the activity and give pleasure to victims, even for a moment.
It will take a long time for the afflicted areas to recover from the damage, and I will make a small but lasting contribution to the areas. For example I will communicate what I felt when I witnessed the tremendous damage, which stunned me into silence, to my family, acquaintances and neighbors to expand the network of support for the afflicted areas.

What I Have Recognized by Taking the First Step

Akira Takeda
Iwaki Houseware

By participating in volunteer activity conducted in the afflicted area, I have recognized an ordinary life that I took for granted?getting up in the morning, eating breakfast, working at the office with colleagues and coming home to my family, is not ordinary.
I was dealing with visitors at the booth for Corelle glass tableware provided by our company. I felt a bit uneasy and did not know what to say to victims who had suddenly lost their ordinary lives, so I made special efforts to provide visitors to the booth with a pleasant moment, following the instructions given by the NGO staff. Immediately after the booth opened, a lot of people rushed to the booth. Seeing visitors to the booth seeming to enjoy the moment and kindly saying "Thank you" to me, I felt relieved and also proud of being able to make a small contribution through the products donated by our company.
Participating in volunteer activities is not as difficult as I thought it would be. Taking part has made me recognize the importance of taking the first step as a volunteer.