Visit to Futaba Infant Home

Community Service Committee Chair 半場 慎一

As a joint project of the five Shinjuku clubs, we donated diapers to Futaba Infant Home.
On August 28, five of us, including Member 江成, Member 大西, Member 神農 and Member 村山, toured the infant home and met with Director 都留.
 
Infant homes exist in every prefecture, with 147 nationwide (11 in Tokyo, of which 9 are run by social welfare corporations and 2 by the Japanese Red Cross Society and Saiseikai).
The most common reason for admission is abuse, followed by the mother's illness. We were told that the abuse is more often psychological than physical.
 
At Futaba Infant Home, refusal to raise the child is also a common reason → The foster parent program (launched eight years ago by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and Futaba Infant Home) is now also run at the infant home in Machida, with about 15 children a year.
 
Diapers alone cost 4 million yen a year, so Rotary's contribution alone is currently not enough.
※Previously it was 2.5 million yen, but diapers themselves have also become more expensive
 
We intend to discuss at the Board meeting whether the Shintoshin Rotary Club could carry out a service activity of its own.