July 23 was a terribly hot day with a temperature of 35°C. The strong sun shone into the meeting site in the morning, and we prepared two tarps and two tents for the activity. During the morning, with the shadows of buildings, somehow everyone was able to work in the shade. Near noon, however, the sun was directly overhead, and the heat was at its peak.
The prepared drinks were placed in cooler boxes filled with ice and chilled to a crisp. We asked the participants to take plenty of water, especially the one who couldn’t help working in the sun. We tried to wear masks to prevent corona and to stay hydrated to prevent heat stroke, but it was too hard to wear masks in that heat, so we didn’t force it.
Despite such circumstances, a total of 21 people came together: three from the Sagami Women’s University group, seven from the Vietnamese group, two from the Ethiopian group, five general volunteers, and four staff members. We’ve made ten units complete and five units ready for packing.
Since we finished refurbishing and packing 70 units for Vietnam, we’ll go for Ethiopia from now. We hope to send 90 units in December.
July 31, 2023 Secretariat
(How to see photos) Click on photos to enlarge them and view them consecutively.
Two tarps and two tents prepared. (A bit cloudy at the time, but soon changed into the glaring sunlight.)
(Left) Mr. Saito, coming earliest to the site to work. He also brought us 30 cans of well-chilled juice. Really nice of him!
(Right) Next to Mr. Saito are Ethiopian group, Mr. Abebe and Yuko-san. Mr. Abebe was in high spirits as it started for Ethiopia on that day.
Vietnamese group, very active as ever.
(Left) Two members of the Sagami Women’s Uni group. The other is working with the Vietnamese group. It is an international exchange while working.
(Right) This is Mr. M, a professional photographer. (His face is hidden by the tag sheet.)
Mr. Fujiwara and Mr. Oka, from Asian Youth Society. The sun is directly overhead, and the heat is at its peak.
Lunchtime.
(Left) Vietnamese group having lunch in the warehouse to avoid the strong sunlight.
(Right) Ethiopian group, Sagami Women’s Uni group, Mr. M, staff, mixing for lunch.
Thank you everyone!