July 9, 2008, AM: Local Vist (Day 3)
Training Report - Vocational Rehabilitation Course 2008
In the morning six participants met Director of Kokoron, at Kokoroya, a direct sales store which mainly sells local agricultural products and local specialties. They also run Café at the back of their shop to serve 500 yen-lunch. This lunch became very popular among community people as they can buy it just with one 500 yen coin. At present 23 users with mental disabilities work at Kokoroya and prepare for working in open labor market.
After looking around the shop, She gave the participants a brief lecture at Café. She explained why she started Kokoron and chose the place Izumizaki and how she manages all the facilities such as Kokoron, Kokoroya, Nagomino-Ie and a group home named Kokoron House. What she is doing now is not just the employment promotion of persons with disabilities, but she aims to enliven Izumizaki Village and to overcome barriers between community people and people with disabilities.
Then the participants visited Tsuburaya-Kinoko-En. The owner cultivates Shiitake (Japanese mushrooms) are cultivated there and sells at Kokoroya.
The Shiitake from Tsuburaya-Kinoko-En received the Award of Minister from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fishery and Forestry. He could sell mushrooms at good price, however he sells them at low price at Kokoroya. He told them that he was happy about contributing to persons with mental disabilities. Six participants were impressed by the attitude of The owners of Tsuburaya-Kinoko-En.
Before leaving, the participants were called by a couple of a tomato farm next to Tsuburaya-Kinoko-En. They picked up and gave so many fresh tomatoes to the participants. Can you imagine how happy they were!
