Relationships with reliable adults could help develop children's self-esteem and provide them with the power to open the way to the future.
Today is Children's Day. The importance of the sound growth of children being watched over not only by their families but also by their communities must be recognized anew.
The number of meal service facilities for children, dubbed "kodomo shokudo," has been increasing. Hot meals are provided there for children in the local community, either free or at low prices. According to a survey conducted by the association of organizations operating kodomo shokudo, such facilities exist at 2,286 locations across the country, with an estimated 1 million users annually.
There are more than a few families that have no time to prepare meals for children because the parents are busy making ends meet and are pressed by work. Community ties have become thin and the number of playgrounds has declined. Providing places where children can feel safe through mutual support by community residents is highly significant.
Hiroko Kondo, 58, a greengrocer in Ota Ward, Tokyo, is said to be the founder of the kodomo shokudo. She opened it in 2012.
She was motivated to do so when she heard from a teacher who came to the store that there was a student whose only full meal of the day was the school lunch because the child's mother had fallen ill and could not prepare meals. Area residents volunteered to cooperate in her activity that was started with the idea of "supporting children through mutual cooperation by community residents."
About 60 children in her neighborhood and children with their parents on their way home from nursery schools visit the kodomo shokudo every Thursday evening. On one day, a fifth-grade elementary school girl smiled, saying, "It's yummy, and it's nice to eat together."
Widen circle of goodwill
Visitors to kodomo shokudo include children of single-parent or needy families. In contrast to solitary consumption of meals bought at convenience and other stores, it can be especially pleasant to sit at a table and eat together with other people. If non-family adult members join, it might be possible to elicit worries that children keep to themselves.
Expectations are placed on kodomo shokudo to play a role as places to build and reinforce community ties. Kazuo Yamada, 69, who has operated the Kanamecho Asayake Kodomo Shokudo in Toshima Ward, Tokyo, since 2013, is a widower who lives alone. Yamada, who has an open house twice a month for kodomo shokudo, said pleasantly, "I've become acquainted with more people in the community."
Operators of kodomo shokudo range from nonprofit organizations to homemakers' groups. In Shiga Prefecture, such activities are mainly operated by community residents' associations. Seminars have also been held for those wishing to operate kodomo shokudo.
Local governments such as those of Kyoto and Tokyo have started providing assistance, but it is no easy task to maintain such activities. It is imperative to work out improvement measures to ensure safe management of such activities, including securing places where cooking can be done. Contribution of food supplies by companies can help.
Arrangements have begun to accept junior high and high school students who cannot afford to attend cram schools. The Adachi Ward government of Tokyo has set up facilities where entrusted NPOs provide meals and study guidance to such students. University students voluntarily have supported students looking to advance to high school or university, but whose families are facing financial difficulties.
A growing number of people wish to provide support to children in their communities. Arrangements must be prepared for the circle of goodwill to be widened.
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 5, 2018)
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