On March 11, 2011, a destructive earthquake and tsunami hit the Tohoku area which resulted in thousands of people’s deaths. Since the magnitude of the disaster was massive, local and national governments, as well as non-government organizations (NGOs) and non-profit organizations (NPOs) had to step in to effectively respond to the needs of the affected communities. In this essay, I examine how SAVE Iwate, an NPO in Morioka City, assisted the victims of the catastrophe. In particular, I delve into how SAVE Iwate helped and supported the older adults who had evacuated from the coastal areas to Morioka City in rebuilding their lives. I discuss the different capacity building and human resource development programs and projects aimed to better and regain purpose in their lives among the elderly survivors. Last, I consider some issues that older adults were confronted as they rebuild their lives in their newfound “home”.

Authors:
Reggy Figer, Hokkaido University, Japan

About the Presenter(s)
Dr Reggy Figer is a University Associate Professor/Senior Lecturer at Hokkaido University in Japan

See this presentation on the full schedule – Saturday Schedule

Bookmark