[IMCY] Link Page Update "Helpline for Foreigners"

We added this URL to our Link page.
"Helpline for Foreigners"

Toll free number for consulting, available in 7 languages. Please visit the website for more information.

http://279338.jp/yorisoi/index-f.html

[ACTIVITY REPORT] Tea Ceremony Workshop & Gathering #1 on June 12th,2014.

IMCYは2014年6月12日に茶道体験ワークショップ＆交流会を開催しました。

梅雨の雨の中、外国につながるママと日本人ママ、ＩＭＣＹスタッフ合計１４人のママたちが参加しました。最初の30分は講義形式で基礎を学び、そのあと５人ずつに分かれて茶室へ入り御抹茶と和菓子を頂きました。その間、待っているママたちは子どもたちを遊ばせながら交流しました。終了後のアンケートでは7人中6人のママが他のママと繋がることができた、そのきっかけになったと回答して下さり大変うれしかったです。

講師の先生は、西区の助成金をいただいている関係から西区の街の先生にお願いしました。先生は表千家で、英語と日本語の両方で進行して下さいました。先生の御抹茶はもちろんとても美味しかったですし、選んでくださったお菓子もとても素敵でした。

今回は、地元の和菓子店が横浜開港祭のために作ったという、「開港祭（終わった今は、『みなとまつり』に変更）」と色とりどりの金平糖を頂きました。当日お茶室や水屋のの電源が落ちるハプニングがありながらも、ママ達は穏やかな時間を過ごさせて頂きました。先生が準備を大変細やかにして下さり、まさにこれが茶道の「おもてなし」だと感じました。

すばらしい日本文化に触れるとても良い機会となり、また参加者の皆さんとその子供たちと一緒に楽しいワークショップでした。そして今回は秋田から学生のボランティアさんもお手伝い頂きました。この経験が彼女の今後に何かしら活かされることを祈っています。

参加して下さった皆さん、ボランティアスタッフの皆さん、そして先生とそのご家族の皆様に深く感謝致します。
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IMCY held Tea Ceremony Workshop & Gathering #1 on June 12th,2014.

In spite of the rain, there were 14 mothers from several countries including local mothers and IMCY staff.We had a lecture for the first 30 minutes to learn the basics, and had matcha green tea and Wagashi(Japanese confection) in the tea ceremony room 5 people at a time.In the meantime, other mothers and IMCY staff looked after the children and enjoyed talking with each other.According to the answers of the questinnaire, 6 out of 7 mothers said they got to know some new friends in this workshop.We were so happy to know that!

We found the instructor among the ones who registered as "teachers in the Nishi-ward community", since this workshop was supported by Nishi-ward subsidy.She is from Omote-Senke school, and instructed in both English and Japanese. Her matcha green tea was so delicious and the Japanese confection she chose was also wonderful. For this time, We had the Japanese confection which was produced by the local confection shop, named "Minato Festival (originally produced for Open-Port anniversary of Yokohama the other day) and colorful Kompeito (sugar confetti).Even though there was a temporary power-down trouble in the tea ceremony room and the washing room, mothers enjoyed the tea ceremony and had clam and relaxed time.The instructor prepared a lot for our workshop and it was exactly the "hospitality" of the way of tea.

It became a very good opportunity to experience beautiful Japanese culture and we enjoyed a lot with the participants and their children!It was also nice to have a student volunteer from Akita prefecture. We hope she learned something for her study.

We would like to show our deep gratitude to the participants, volunteer staff, the instructor and her family.

[PLAYGROUP] IMCY Multilingual Playgroup June Meeting

Date: Friday, 20th June, 10:00-11:30
Attention! This time it's in the MORNING, not in the afternoon.

Place: Furocho Chiiki Care Plaza, 3F Multi-purpose room

Please feel free to bring picture books in your language(s). You can come and leave anytime, with or without kids. Daddies are welcome, too.

[WELFARE] Child Allowance Genkyo-Todoke 2014

The Present Condition Form (現況届 genkyo-todoke) arrived again this year. The form has slightly changed, so here we'll explain the new version.

Please refer the last year's post about the Child Allowance and the Present Condition Form.
2013 version

Just like last year, we are supposed to turn in the form by Monday, 30th June, 2014.

[ACTIVITY REPORT]Wagashi（Japanese Confections）Workshop & Gathering #1 on May 20th,2014.

IMCYは2014年5月20日に和菓子ワークショップ＆交流会を開催しました。

当日は13人のママ達が写真のとおりにぎやかに和菓子（練り切りの桜と紫陽花）をつくり交流しました。少し気温も高かったせいか、練り切りの生地がべとつき紫陽花の小さな花を型で抜くときに皆さん苦労されていましたが、どうにか皆さん作り終え、思い思いの桜と紫陽花が出来上がりました。

ママたちのワークショップの間、11名のお子さんが同じお部屋で過ごしました。
残念ながらちょうどこの日、お庭で農薬散布がありお部屋の外に広がるお庭には出られませんでしたが、保育ボランティアの皆さんとIMCYのボランティアメンバーの協力を得て楽しく過ごすことができました。

終了後のアンケートでは13人中11人が他のママと繋がることができた、そのきっかけになったと回答して下さいました。このワークショップの第一の目的は「つながりを作る」ということでしたので、企画側としては本当にうれしく思います。

今回も参加者の皆さんの笑顔を見ることができて、とてもうれしかったです。
参加して下さった皆さん、運営スタッフとしてお手伝い下さった皆さん、ありがとうございました！

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IMCY held Wagashi（Japanese Confections）Workshop & Gathering #1 on May 20th,2014.

As in the pictures, 13 mothers enjoyed making Wagashi (Nerikiri of a cherry flower & hydrangea ) and talking with other participants.It may be because of the hot weather, but the dough was too soft and sticky.So participants had a lot of problem cutting out the small pieces of flowers for hydrangea. But anyhow, they all finished and we could see their unique Sakura(cherry flower) and Ajisai(hydrangea).

During the workshop for mothers, 11 children spent time in the same room. Children could not go out and play at the attached spacious garden, because unluckily there was a pesticide-spraying in the morning. But with the help of babysitting volunteers and IMCY staff, they enjoyed playing together

According to the answers of the qestionnaire, 11 out of 13 mothers said they got to know some new friends in this workshop!This was one of the most important purpose of the workshop, so we were so glad to know that.

We were really happy to be able to see their smiling faces.
We would like to show our deep gratitude to the participants and volunteer staff.