Miyagi Support Center News "Link (Yui)" No. 47, September 24, 2011

Support our Tohoku fellows with bonds of friendship and strength

Issued by the Japan Disability Forum (JDF)'s Headquarters for the Comprehensive Support for Persons with Disabilities affected by the East Japan Great Earthquake

Offices:
Headquarters: 2-12-2 Itsutsu-bashi, Aoba-ku, Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture
Phone: +81-80-4373-6077 Fax.: +81-22-266-0292

Eastern Area Support Center: 99-7 Moto-machi, Wakuya-cho, Toda-gun, Miyagi prefecture
Phone: +81-229-43-6639 Fax.: +81-229-43-6685

Northern Area Support Center: c/o Wakaba-en, 23-16 Aza Nishi-tsunagi, Yone-kawa, Towa-cho, Tome City, Miyagi Prefecture Phone: +81-90-8349-9403

Website:http://www.dinf.ne.jp/doc/english/resource/tohoku_earthquake.html

Number of consultations with persons with disabilities:
1,548 persons
Number of supporters/volunteers:
722 persons
Date: up to September 23, 2011

The fourth Minamisanriku informal meeting among the government and the welfare organizations for persons with disabilities

Photo: A pile of debris

The meeting was held with participants from Minamisanriku-cho government, local welfare organizations and support centers at Kaze-no-sato container house on September 20, 2011.

The purposes of the meeting were; first, to share the information of the overall situation in welfare programs, that were planned and had been implemented along with Minamisanriku-cho reconstruction project, including the program for persons with disabilities; second, to discuss the present situation and a future perspective of public supports for "transportation" and "care for children with disabilities after school" in Minamisanriku-cho; and third, to get informed on each support center's future activities and perspectives.

Regarding the reconstruction project, Mr. Sato, Section Chief of Health and Welfare, reported that the reconstruction project was still in planning stage. Following the formation of the reconstruction project, the welfare program for persons with disabilities would be planned and they would like to implement the program accordingly, Mr. Sato said.

Regarding the problems on the public supports for transportation, the possibility of the repair of Minamisanriku railway systems was still uncertain and almost all of the people living in temporary houses had lost their cars by tsunami and there are no public places for daily life, such as stores, banks and hospitals around the temporary houses. Mr. Sato reported an example of their inconveniences without the sufficient transportation. People could go to hospitals by changing from a bus to another, but they could not use the buses to come home. He also reported that people had little means of transportation to go shopping, to hospitals and banks; and that even if there were busses, elderly people seemed to have difficulties in taking them.

About the problems of the care for children with disabilities after school, they discussed on the system people looked forward to and the weaknesses in local people's initiatives. The support structure didn't exist before the disaster but is necessary at present. The discussion was made on how to make the structure sustainable; however, they couldn't have a prospect to make it realized yet.

In Minamisanriku-cho, locally-employed life supporters (about 100 people) were placed among temporary house residents. Their support activities as communicators have already started to connect the residents' wishes and consultations with the local government. At present, the JDF and other support centers have been required to transfer their roles to local organizations. We would like to pay attentions to how the local employed supporters’ activities help for the reconstructions of the area.

A series of the monthly meeting will continue by the end of March. Next meeting will be held on Thursday, October 27.

Involved in the support activities.

By: supporters from Chiba and Tokyo

A half year has passed already since the Great East Japan Earthquake of March 11. This time, we went to the JDF Miyagi Support Center as volunteers for the first time and went to Minamisanriku, Onagawa-town, and Ishinomaki port for inspection on the second and third days. We realized the earthquake was such a terrible disaster by seeing a real situation and taking in the feeling of air which we had never met through watching the medias before. We saw many unbelievable scenes including destroyed hospitals and the city hall’s buildings. We could not hear the breathing of the towns.

Kokoro-Saori, one of the facilities we support, was originally located in Ishinomaki city and suffered from the disaster. But, people at Kokoro-Saori were so bright that we couldn't feel their sufferings. They were weaving Saori-ori individually. The creators were to finish weaving their fantastic works for a work exhibition that would be held two months later. Their smiles were full of vitality, and we felt that we were encouraged by them. As cold winter is coming, more people will require supports. We would like to provide them with the supports with warm smiles. We wish their happiness.

Photos: Saori-ori weaving (left) and the people at Kokoro-Saori

Support Footprints

By: a volunteer from Osaka

We swallowed saliva by seeing the reality of the situation of the affected places in Minamisanriku-cho, Kesennuma-city and Ishinomaki-city where the people were suffered from the tsunami. It really happened in Japan. I would like to relay the facts which I saw, listened to and felt at the area to as many people as I can. I am full of such feelings. I was almost crying when I saw the people in communities stayed their places and were making efforts for reconstruction of their communities. I remembered the place of my birth and growing up when they said, "We still love here." I will never forget their saying, "I am thankful for your support," and their making advances step by step.

By: a volunteer from Hiroshima

I came to Miyagi with a vague thinking of what I could do as a JDF volunteer. It was when I listened to a lecture by Ms. Kaoru Miura from Kaze-no-Sato. She said, "I would like you to have a thinking of what to do in one hand. But please think carefully about what you feel yourself looking at the affected places in the other hand." I would like to relay what I felt during a few days of my visit and not only the sufferings but also the kindness of the people I met there. I appreciate them.

By: a volunteer from Yamagata

I regret to say that the persons requiring care at the disaster area were not provided with sufficient living environments. When I visited their houses with feeling uneasiness as a member of JDF Miyagi Support Center to get their needs of steps and handrails at the entrances, I realized their severe situations. I would be more than happy if I could be helpful in the JDF's support activities for the persons with disabilities suffered from the disaster and still had difficulties in their daily lives. Thanks to the facility I belong to for their allowing me to join the JDF team; thanks also to the team members I worked with and the JDF office staff for their help. Special thanks to the persons that I met and interviewed. I could have valuable experiences this time although I'm not confident whether I could have gotten close to the persons who had difficulties there.

Translated by Japanese Society for Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities
Volunteer translator: Mr. Isamu Konishi