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[Testimony 4] Mr. Takafumi Narumiya, Executive Director, Nonprofit Organization 'Sokoage'

Mr. Takafumi Narumiya, Executive Director, Nonprofit Organization 'Sokoage'

We started an NPO 'Sokoage' in October 2011. We had come to help as volunteers to Kesennuma from the Kanto area and we decided to stay in Kesennuma after that, but we were looking for what we can do for the people in this community.
While we were offering a study support for the children who lived in the temporary houseing, who also lost an after school program, I met with high school students who wanted to do something for Kesennuma. We helped to find what they could do, and then we started doing some activities with them together. The first project was that creating a video letter to inform the current situation of Kesennuma to the nation. I believe that they found the local charm, and they loved Kesennuma more than before because they learned the history, the culture, something they haven't known about this town through this project.
A few years later, the project developed into a new project to create a Kesennuma sightseeing brochure and it carried out a sightseeing tour. The basic activity to support the high school students' project has not changed since then. Additionally, we gather once a week at the free space to exchange ideas, moreover we exchange opinions with adults in the community once a month. We are currently working with schools to hear the opinions of high school students after school and we are also working as a curator. Not only the high school students, but also we are working with university students. We want to commit to the troubles or problems which high school and university students or members of society have, and we also continuously support activities that students want to do as a project.