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July 03, 2009
Kuniko wants to help out-Fiji
One of the participants of Decent Work Course is Deputy head teacher of Suva Spcial School and we found the following information about JICA volunteer who was dispatched to the school from the mailing list of "Disability and Development."
Thursday, July 02, 2009
Fiji Times
SHE is here to impart a very rare knowledge - to help disabled children with their speech.
And so far, Japanese speech therapist volunteer Kuniko Kobayashi is enjoying her stay.
"I have been a speech therapist at Tsu City Hospital and have worked with children and adults -- this has been part of my life," she said. Ms Kobayashi is here on a two-year stint under a Japan International Cooperation Agency program. She had never heard of Fiji until an internet search of its culture and people. She was very happy with what she learned.
"The culture is in a way similar to ours and that is something really good and I'm so excited about learning it and the language," she said.
Ms Kobayashi and another Japanese volunteer will be based at the Suva Special School. Head teacher Bishwa Sidal said speech therapists were rare in Fiji, with qualified ones having migrated overseas.
"This will really help the children and she will be able to bring to us a lot of new ideas and skills," Mr Sidal said.
He said speech therapists were also needed for stroke patients and accident victims, adding the school was lucky to be have them.
http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=124645
photo caption: JICA volunteer Kuniko Kobayashi
Posted by jicafriends at July 3, 2009 08:33 PM