2013 Volume 12 Issue 2 Pages 33-37
The unprecedented damage caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami in 2011, challenged the preparedness system and revealed failures in different aspects of the disaster prevention measures. However this event also provided valuable lessons and opportunities for improvement post-disaster responses focusing on multiple stakeholders' engagement in the recovery process, and particularly the participation from the civil society, through Japanese and International non-profit organizations, volunteers, community organizations and corporate philanthropy.This research explores the crucial issues and possibilities in the post-disaster community support activities which were experienced by International NGOs in the region of Tohoku, in a chaotic environment of massive destruction and culturally closed communities to outsiders. This study examines Habitat for Humanity Japan (HFHJ) as a case study. It attempts to analyze HFHJ's operational processes by examining projects conducted to ensure the recovery of the built-environment.
