Why Japanese?

The Largest Unreached People Group (Joshua Project, 2005)

Only 0.04% Christians!

Annual Suicide Rate: >30,000

100-300 new religion registered each year (Operation World, 2000)

The battle is fierce, Time is SHORT! Please RESPONSE, Please PRAY!!!



Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Conduct of Volunteers at Disaster Area

Mat 10.42 “... if anyone gives even a cup of cold water because he is my disciple...”

First thing to do in the disaster area
  • When you reach the disaster area, register yourself to the volunteer center.
  • Wear a name tag or some other item that identifies you by name.
  • Introduce yourself as a survivor care volunteer.
  • Express words of sympathy for the local people. 
How to act and behave : the goal is to establish TRUST
  • Work with local people: provide care in cooperation with the first-aid station and the medical team. Discuss with a local contact person (e.g. leader of the residents’ association) and build a good relations with him/her.
  • Team up with local organizations (residents’ association, women’s association, youth association) in conducting activities.
  • Actively make rounds, and talk/greet to each victim.
  • When you see a disaster victim busy working or tidying up the debris, work with him/her.
  • Record your actions and observations consciously and leave the notes with the disaster area field leaders for needs collection and continuous support of disaster victims.
  • Mentally handover responsibility to continue the work to the next team; communicate clearly what needs to be done. 
Attitude and Preparedness
  • Gather information (situation of disaster area, existing support system, where to approach, personal networks, contact the disaster management office to grasp the overall situation) before you depart.
  • Learn local norms from community leaders.
  • Allow time to gain acceptance in a community
  • Be dependable, non-judgmental, respectful
  • Recognize cultural variation in expressions
  • Positive actions, go out and provide support to those in needs. 
  • Provide information about victim support service after having confirmed accuracy.
  • Focus on immediate needs of disaster victims when you listen to what they have to say and support them.
  • Be flexible and modify your role to cope with changing situations and needs.
  • Remember that what you want to do for disaster victims is not always what they need.
  • Do not criticize local supporters but discuss problems with them; remember that the local supporters are also disaster victims. 
  • Before a volunteer provides survival care, there is a need to identify the vulnerable populations (infants, pregnant women, elderly persons, disabled persons, elderly persons living alone, persons in need of nursing care etc.) and recognize the feelings and sentiments: anxiety about future, fear, things lost (home, family, etc.)

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