November 10, 2009: Regional Training (Day 3)
- WITH in Hamamatsu
Training Report - Leadership Development Course
Today was the second day in Hamamatsu.
Before leaving the hotel participants together with a committee member did the wrap up session at the lobby of the hotel.
In the morning chairperson of Rokusei Welfare Corporation showed nine participants to the WITH Shijimizuka, community workshop for the elderly with visual impairment. When they arrived there members were singing Japanese songs along with the piano, and of course after introducing themselves participants joined and presented their national songs. WITH Shijimizuka became like a international salon.
By accident a baker with severe disability visited WITH to sell his cookies and cakes. Participants were impressed to see that he drove a car and sold home baked cookies and cakes by himself. He explained them how he started his business and how to make living now.
In the afternoon the piano master, who was the last student of Japanese famous Koto (Japanese harp), master Michio Miyagi, kindly brought Japanese traditional instruments to WITH. The Koto, Shamisen (a three-stringed instrument similar to a banjo) and Shakuhachi (five-holed Japanese bamboo clarinet) were demonstrated by him. This gives participants a chance to learn something about the traditional music and culture of Japan.
At the end of the training program at WITH chairperson gave a brief explanation on the history
of small-scale community workshops, and then he summarized points of two-days programs at WITH. He
emphasized the importance of “full participation and equality” which was the theme of
International Year of Disabled Persons in 1981 as well as the motto of WITH.
In order to realize that a small scale community workshop like WITH is essential.
