15 Years After the Disaster: What Growth Are Young People Coming to the Affected Area Achieving?

At the 28th Annual Conference of the Japan NPO Research Association, held on June 6 and 7, 2026, at Tokai University's Kumamoto Campus, we delivered a practice report titled 'Regional Practices That Do Not Instrumentalize Youth "Growth" and the Formation of Young People Who Continue to Visit the Region.'

■ Background of the Presentation

According to the 2026 Job Offer Acceptance Survey, the top deciding factor for choosing a workplace was 'expectation of personal growth' (50.1%), highlighting the pronounced 'growth' orientation of today's youth. However, it has also been pointed out that this desire for growth may be a 'conformist growth desire arising from the anxiety of being left behind.'

In contrast, the Change Maker Study Program (CMSP), a hands-on community development internship that SET has been conducting in Rikuzentakata City, Iwate Prefecture since 2013, has recruited participants without emphasizing 'growth.' This led to an investigation into whether university students participating in CMSP have a desire for growth, and if so, what kind of growth desires they have and under what conditions they are generated.

■ Main Report Content

1. Do CMSP Staff Feel 'Growth'?

Analysis of monthly questionnaires consistently showed 'awareness of communication, self-understanding, and teamwork' over a six-month period.

Furthermore, interview analysis confirmed deep personal changes. Participant A, who had experienced isolation in high school, reflected on building relationships with residents, saying, 'I never had an opportunity to connect so deeply with people,' and ultimately decided on a specific career path. Participant B, who had been struggling with life, experienced a feeling of 'intense loneliness, yet happiness' and declared a dream they had been unable to express for three years: 'I will become an illustrator.'

In conclusion, CMSP showed that:

① Participants deeply engage with others and the local community through dialogue with teammates and hands-on local experiences, broadening their perspectives and growing both individually and as a team.

② Participants enhanced their self-expression and collaboration skills through team-building and communication, striving for growth while cooperating with others.

2. Three Conditions That Generate Growth

The following three conditions are considered to have generated the growth described above.

The first condition is the rules and culture of CMSP. A culture of 'not denying others' opinions,' 'deeply exploring a single topic,' and 'having university students build the program themselves' fosters participants' self-affirmation and creates a sense of security.

The second condition is the human connection with teammates. Encouragement and words of support from peers, the presence of role models, and relationships that gradually encourage self-disclosure support perseverance in difficult situations. The accumulation of trust deepens self-understanding and forms the foundation for growth.

The third condition is the human connection with local residents. Students who initially engaged with a focus on solving local issues shift their perspective to 'enjoyment' through dialogue with residents. The experience of eliciting change in residents with their own hands brings a sense of self-worth and inspiration, leading to the acquisition of skills and confidence in 'deeply connecting with people.'

3. Challenges and Future Outlook

Fifteen years have passed since the disaster. Current university students are a generation with almost no memory of the disaster. The report also highlighted the need to clarify what these university students are now seeking in Rikuzentakata and to reconsider project design and public relations.

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■ About Certified NPO SET

SET's mission is to 'turn each person's "I want to" into "I did it," creating good Change for Japan's future.' Since the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011, SET has been building systems for young people and residents to learn together, primarily in Iwate Prefecture. Through school trip homestays, programs for university students and working adults, and community building, SET fosters 'continuing relationships' where young people engage in the daily life of the region and learn together with residents. In fiscal year 2024, over 5,000 people participated annually. SET now operates in multiple regions beyond Iwate Prefecture. While simultaneously generating youth growth and regional vitality, SET is working towards sustainable community development based on the relationships between people and the region itself. SET has received the Prime Minister's Award twice in the past, along with numerous other awards.

[Organization Overview]

Certified Specific Nonprofit Activity Corporation SET

Address: 52-6 Yamada, Hirota-cho, Rikuzentakata City, Iwate Prefecture

Chairperson: Shunsuke Mitsui

Established: March 12, 2011 (Incorporated: June 18, 2013, Certified: October 16, 2025)

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