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How many languages can a community speak?

Agency
Attachment
Attraction
Connection
Freedom
Inclusion

I always thought that helping people in other countries was beyond what we could do. But we don’t have to be in United Nations to make difference. We received so much help from others. It is our turn to do something for the people in the Philippines. There is a lot I want to do with them and to learn from them. I hope we can help each other for a long time.

— 74-year-old man in Massaki, Japan, who suffered through the Great East Japan Earthquake and benefited from Ibasho’s community efforts

In 2012, social development organisation Ibasho went to Massaki, Japan to aid in the recovery efforts after the devastating earthquake which took the lives of more than 15,883 people. With their facilitation, elders in Massaki joined forces to build a multi-generational community platform, Honeywell Ibasho House. Many people came out of isolation and engaged in social activities, taking on different roles to build up the resilience of the community. Elders expressed gratitude for the friendships and mutual care that emerged.

Upon learning that the Ibasho concept was being replicated in the Philippines in an area affected by Typhoon Haiyan, several of these elders expressed an interest in supporting the project. They travelled to the Philippines with the NGO, HelpAge International, to help local elders set up an Ibasho House. After returning to Japan, they created a disaster-recovery fund to help people in the disaster-affected area in Philippines.

Since then, Ibasho has created several opportunities across three countries for Ibasho elders to share their knowledge with their fellow elders and to serve as technical experts in disaster risk management, international development and more.

Through these exchanges, a global community of elders is growing and spreading awareness about the powers of positive ageing.

Ibasho has created several opportunities across three countries for Ibasho elders to share their knowledge with their fellow elders and to serve as technical experts in disaster risk management, international development and more.

March, 2015, Philippines to Japan.

October 2015, Japan to Philippines.

June 2018, Japan and Nepal to Philippines.

Peer-to-peer exchange trips over the years

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