On February 7th and 8th, a two-day activity report session by Ms. Naomi Iwamoto from Japan Overseas Christian Medical Cooperative Service (JOCS) was held at ARI and UCCJ Nishinasuno Church. Despite the cold snap that hit over the weekend, many people attended. We listened intently to the profound life stories Ms. Iwamoto shared, as she spoke about each child by name.

In Bangladesh, children with disabilities often have no choice but to be tied to a pillar in their homes, kept locked away, or left to wander the streets during daytime. A child’s disability is frequently blamed on the mother, leading many women to be divorced and forced into lives of extreme economic hardship.
We learned that tying a child to a pillar is not an act of abuse; rather, it is the only way a mother can ensure her child’s safety while she is away at work. One can only imagine the immense relief these mothers felt when a daycare center was established after their voices—pleading for a safe place to entrust their children—were finally heard.

The current situation surrounding people with disabilities in Bangladesh is a reality that could also occur in the home regions of the participants at ARI. It was a vital opportunity for us to deepen our understanding of these challenges.

We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to Ms. Naomi Iwamoto and the JOCS staff for providing us with the opportunity to hear such invaluable stories.