Masako Tsuchitani, Representative of GOOPA
philosophy
I wanted to create a place where children with disabilities could spend their time safely and happily—that was the idea behind hosting GOOPA. When my child transferred to a special needs school, the smiles on my family's faces increased, and I realized how important that is. While working as a babysitter and caring for over 300 children, I am also working hard to create a place where people with disabilities and their families can enjoy their leisure time.
Message from the Representative
Have you ever taken your child to a concert, park, indoor playground, etc., only to have them come home unsuccessfully? I have. While any place should be a fun experience, due to the specifics of their disability, they may become nervous in crowded places or in unfamiliar spaces, shouting loudly or moving around without being able to sit still, preventing them from enjoying themselves and forcing their parents to apologize. There have been countless instances where we have had to take them home, which has left their siblings who went with them feeling bad as well.
At GOOPA, we regularly hold events where we rent out the venue for small groups so that everyone can enjoy themselves. These are not lessons or therapeutic events, but rather events where children can participate in their own way and parents can watch over them with peace of mind.
The center is run entirely by volunteer staff, and includes teachers currently involved in special needs education, students, nurses, parents raising children with disabilities, and even people who have never worked with children before. This allows us to approach children from a variety of angles, which is one of our strengths.
We don't do activities that say, "We want to be able to do this" or "Please do this." Since this is an activity for children with disabilities, we want everyone to join in with a mutual understanding if something happens. Let's create activities together with friends who share our sympathy.