July 10, 2009 Cocoron (Local visit: day 6)
Training Report - Decent work course
Early in the morning five participants visited Cocoroya to observe how farm producers deliver their products or processed foods. They deliver, put the price, and set out their products on the wooden shelves. They all know what to do without any assistants. The revenue from selling is increasing and Cccoroya is existing as part of a commonplace for community.
Then participants visited the farmhouse. Two members of Cocoron are gaining OJT at the farm. When participants arrived they were picking eggplants. Owner of the farmhouse invited JICA participants to his house and they could ask questions and exchanged opinions with him.
Then they visited a hospital where Cocoron member is employed. He first gained OJT with support of job coach and the hospital just recently decided to employ him. JICA participants had an opportunity to meet director general and head nurse who are in charge of him.
Before going back to Cocoron they went to Sake breweries “Ooki Daikichi”. They are
a great supporter of Cocoron and they participate together to the three-year project on
“Revitalization of the Village Mountains” as part of the community building
activity. In this project three parties were involved such as Horticulture center in Shirakawa
city, Sake breweries “Ooki Daikichi” and Cocoron. The activities are rice-planting,
weeding in a rice field and harvesting. People with disability have participated in this project
with persons without disabilities. In Japan the increased abandonment of rice field is becoming
serious issue. But with a good plan and activity such problems could be solved.
Ooki Daikichi also employs four persons with disabilities at their sake breweries and they
distribute their merchandise to Cocoron. Participants were invited to the owner's house, which is
a traditional Japanese architecture. They enjoyed having lunch and nice conversation with the owner.
JICA participants had a feedback session at Cocoron. Participants got many good ideas which they can apply to their countries. Especially they could learn the spirits of Cocoron and they were very much encouraged to work for persons with mental disabilities in respective countries.
Five participants left Shin-Shirakawa with innumerable beautiful memories of Fukushima Prefecture.
