Report on Our Visit to Futaba Infant Home

Community Service Committee Chair　石川 佳照 

On Wednesday, October 25, the four of us — President 伊豆隆義, Committee Member 大西元博, Committee Member 山内浩実 and I, 石川佳照 — visited Futaba Infant Home in Minamimotomachi, Shinjuku City, to donate diapers.
As one of the activities of the Shinjuku 5 Clubs Joint Community Contribution Project Promotion Committee, the Shinjuku 5 Clubs take turns delivering diapers to this infant home each month. October was Tokyo Shintoshin RC's turn, so we paid a visit.
According to Director 都留, Futaba Infant Home cares for the children of parents who face difficulties raising them for various reasons. The director, childcare workers and many other staff members look after the children in three groups — infants under one, one- to two-year-olds, and children three and older — and currently care for just over 30 children.
Children can stay until they enter elementary school, and the home can care for up to 40 children.

Most children are admitted because of parental abuse, or financial problems resulting from divorce or single parenthood. As for leaving, nearly half of the children are taken back by their parents before entering elementary school, while the rest go on to children's homes and similar facilities.
Some children are also taken in by foster families through the foster care system.
 
Waving to the childcare workers gently caring for the children in each room and to the children with their innocent smiles, I felt a tightness in my chest at the realization that such harsh realities still exist in Japan.
All of us who took part in this diaper donation — President 伊豆, Committee Member 大西, Committee Member 山内 and myself — came away with a renewed appreciation of the importance of welfare and service.
 
Tokyo Shintoshin RC's next turn is in March 2024, so if you have never visited Futaba Infant Home, please do join us next time.