Japanese students help Raichur housing project

Japanese students help with construction

Sixty students from Japan’s IVUSA (International Volunteer University Student Association) came from Tokyo to join Amma’s house construction project at Raichur in Karnataka.

IVUSA( International Volunteer University Student Association)
IVUSA( International Volunteer University Student Association)

They stayed for more than a week and started spending their days in the hot sun helping with the construction of the houses. Temperature touched above 42 degrees and many of the students and accompanying brahmacharis fell sick. Amma had sent them umbrella hats to ward off the effects of excessive heat.

Most of the students enjoyed working at the construction site during this short visit. They even spent time with the local villagers and children, celebrating the Holi festival at the nearby village. During their free time, they trekked to visit a Shiva temple atop a closeby hill.

As they arrived in Mumbai and later in Delhi after their assignment,  all of them met Amma before returning back to their country.

When asked what they had to say about their visit, one student named Yukie said “Incredible India!”.

– Tulasi

Site from a nearby hill top Shiva temple
Site from a nearby hilltop Shiva temple
Always smiling
Always smile
Smiling always
Smiling always
Japanese students help with construction
Filling up bags
Making blocks on-site reduces cost and time
Making blocks on-site reduces cost and time
Students unloading stone blocks
Unloading stone blocks
No pause despite hot temperatures
No pause despite very hot temperatures of around 42 C
Unloading blocks
Unloading blocks
Student carrying a heavy block
Ohh… a heavy block
Building the foundation
Building the foundation
United and dedicated. A ritual before each day's activity.
United and dedicated. A ritual before each day’s activity.
Houses coming up on site
Houses coming up on site
Foundation work - filling sand
Foundation work – filling sand
Learning as the way of life
Learning as the way of life
The housing project is going on at a good pace
The housing project is going on at a good pace
Finding a shade is not that difficult
Finding a shade is not that difficult
Celebrating Holi with the locals
Celebrating Holi with the locals
Students riding a tractor
Riding the tractor is their favourite
Students on their way to visit the villages
Students on their way to visit the villages
Visiting a village
Visiting a village
Siesta - afternoon nap
Siesta – afternoon nap
Afternoon nap
Afternoon nap
Morning exercise to keep warm and united
Morning exercise to keep warm and united
Villagers will be moving from this house to the new ones we built
Villagers will be moving from this house to the new ones we built
Some houses are ready!
Some houses are ready!
As one family
As one family
Spending time with local village children
Spending time with local village children
Cultures blend!
Cultures blend!
Swami Amritageetananda and brahamacharis in charge of construction with umbrella hat given by Amma
Swami Amritageetananda and brahmacharis in charge of construction with umbrella hats given by Amma