CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS
Making a Difference in the Okinawan Community

On October 15, 2007, members of KOSC attended the AWWA site visits to two local Japanese organizations. AWWA (American Womens’ Welfare Association) donates funds each month to various American and Japanese charitable organizations.

On a quarterly basis, members of AWWA conduct site visits to the Japanese organizations to observe their operations and to learn about the ways in which these organizations serve the Japanese community.

The first organization visited was Anju no Sato, a Vocational aid center for persons with intellectual disability. AWWA donated a tractor for use in agricultural projects conducted by clients at the center. Anju no Sato has been in existence for 8 years. The center’s clients are mostly young (in the teens and 20s) and suffer from intellectual disabilities, which prevent them from being able to live independently in their community.

The center trains clients to work vocational jobs, which helps them to develop social and cooperative skills. Also, they learn how to earn money, ride the bus, do their laundry, behave properly in recreational settings, and pay bills. The clients receive salaries ranging from $9 to $380 per month for the work they perform.

Anju no Sato serves 50 clients per month and is among the last large live-in facilities on Okinawa. The average length of time a client stays at the center is 7 years. During the site visit, KOSC members interacted with many clients and observed them making dolls out of straw for an upcoming festival.

The second organization visited was Mihara no Sato. This is a facility to support persons with special needs. Primarily, the clients at this center have physical disabilities, which require rehabilitation. This center has approximately 65 clients. The average client age is much older, with most clients between 50 and 70 years of age.

During the visit, KOSC members toured the facility, greeted many clients, and observed physical therapy treatments. AWWA donated a kiln for pottery classes conducted at the center. This enhances the quality of life for the center’s clients.

It was beneficial to see first-hand the ways in which the funds raised by KOSC are used in the Japanese community. Overall these site visits proved to be very rewarding experiences.