Japanese volunteers reach out to house poor families

Attached to HFH, they are building houses in Bidar

Volunteers mainly from Osaka, Shiga, and Kyoto cities, studying in Ritsumeikan University of Japan visited the district last month and helped the families in various construction activities. It was initiated by ‘Samarasa’ a non-governmental organisation (NGO), which identified villages in Aurad and Humanabad of Bidar district to build houses for poor, besides villages in Chincholi taluk of Gulbarga district.

After surveying people who are shelterless in identified villages, the HFH Bangalore suggested financial assistance. Accordingly, the house construction was undertaken for beneficiaries, said NGO District Secretary Vedamani.

Based on ‘Samarasa’ data, HFH Bangalore provided financial assistance of Rs 30,000 in a form of interest-free loans to each beneficiary and the rest of the funds were raised by NGO by availing loans from banks and other institutions. 

However, apart from offering financial support, HFH Bangalore will depute volunteers who approached them through worldwide network to assist in the programme. Where volunteers visit villages and offer free community services like construction of houses for poor families, Vedamani noted.

One of the beneficiary Ratnamma of Tadlapur village said, the volunteers were working for the past two weeks which meant saving anywhere between Rs 5,000 to 10,000 which otherwise would have been labour charges to complete the task.