July 6, 2009 : Samegawa Tampopo-no-ie (Local visit 2)
Training Report - Decent work course
In the morning participants visited the beginning place of Samegawa Tampopo-no-ie (Samegawa house of dandelion) in Samegawa village. “Samegawa Tampopo-no-ie”, had remodeled the building of the Maternal and Child Health Center of Samegawa Village, rented it for free, and opened in April 2003. They started with a total of 20 users including 17 users from the inside of Samegawa. The building was made of wood and constructed 46 yeas ago, and the site of the facility was designated as a steep-slope dangerous zone by Fukushima Prefecture. When they had a bad weather or an earthquake, they were often seized with anxiety. Under such circumstances they started Tampopo-no-ie, a sheltered workshop for persons with physical and intellectual disabilities.
Participants were asked to think how they could create the work opportunities for users with physical and intellectual disabilities and support their living under the same circumstances. They beat their brains, utilized their knowledge and experiences to develop the plan through a head-to-head discussion. Before leaving the facility staff of Tampopo-no-ie gave them hints to open the door.
And then they moved to the present Tampopo-no-ie.
After the lunch JICA participants learned how Tampopo-no-ie developed and expanded their projects for providing work places. Manager explained not only the background but also the process to success. She also showed them several kinds of popular products of Tampopo-no-ie.
On the way going back to the hotel, they made a short visit at Temame-kan, a community shop, where local vegetables and processed products made by villagers are sold. Participants could learn how Tampopo-no-ie interacts with village people and utilizes the network established in the community.
