摘要：At the Meimai-Lab, many students of the University of Hyogo (UH) engage in volunteer activities for revitalizing the Meimai Housing Complex (or Meimai for short) community. Located in Meimai in the suburbs of Kobe, it is one of the first so-called “new towns” established in the 1960s. It is now among the oldest surviving “new towns” with a rapidly aging population. Student volunteers participate in various weekly activities and special events like Christmas festivals, etc. under the supervision of Prof. Katoh and Prof. Wada. When the elderly participants show their appreciation, students feel a sense of indescribable accomplishment. We did not have a good relationship with the residents in the beginning-- they often asked us what we are doing in Meimai. In time, we got to know each other better and they tell us that they are glad to sit and talk with young students. Most of the elderly residents are retired professionals who live alone with no one to talk to. I think student volunteers have a potentially significant role to play in Meimai community revitalization.
