Preventing Isolation in Parenting Community Support Rejoice - Creating connections where women raising children can feel the joy of living authentically as themselves.

In December 2021, the organization "Community Support Rejoice (コミュニティ サポート リジョイス, hereafter CSR)" was born.

Amidst the suspension and closure of childcare support services and places for interaction due to measures against the spread of COVID-19, the individuals involved came together to seek a place for themselves and their children.

On November 14, 2023, just before the second anniversary of the start of activities, the second Care Marche Ladybug event will be held.

After the Care Marche, CSR is set to restart with a new structure.

We spoke with the three operators about the establishment of the organization, its history, and their thoughts on the activities.

We will introduce the organization while incorporating the content of the interview.

What is Community Support Rejoice (コミュニティ サポート リジョイス)

Community Support Rejoice (コミュニティ サポート リジョイス) is operated by three members, including the representative, Kasutiro Ayami.

The name Rejoice in the organization signifies "joy" and "let's rejoice."

It is a word that has always resonated in Ayami's heart, who has been familiar with the Bible and worship since childhood.

"I am not good at focusing on joy, but since we are given free will as humans, let's choose joy and rejoice."

There is a desire to create connections filled with joy within the community.

The principle of the organization is "to create connections where women raising children can live as their true selves and feel joy."

Second Care Marche Ladybug event on November 14, 2023

One of CSR's major events is the Marche.

The first event was held in November 2022.

The venue for this event was the large conference room on the second floor of Okayama Toyota Motor Corporation Kurashiki Store, located in Nakajima, Kurashiki City.

The vendors included the CSR management team, participants of the gatherings, and voluntary organizations that support CSR's activities.

A kids' corner was set up in a spacious area, with supporters watching over the children, creating an environment where both vendors and participants could feel at ease.

The second event is scheduled to be held on November 14, 2023, at the Tamashima Community Center.

Some vendors are gathering through Ayami's invitation, while others are offering to participate based on previous connections, with a total of 12 groups expected to participate.

Ayami expresses, "I want many people to know that there are organizations working to eliminate the isolation of childcare."

They are energetically focusing on holding the Care Marche to create opportunities for CSR participants to thrive and to raise awareness of their activities.

For the second event, four individuals, including participants from the beginning of CSR, have joined as operational supporters aside from the management team.

As per CSR's activity philosophy of "creating connections where joy can be felt," it seems that many connections are likely to be born.

This is an event that we hope many people, not just women raising children, will participate in.

Joyful Sound - A gathering for women raising children

Aside from events, the main activity is a gathering held on the second Tuesday of every month.

This is an activity where women raising children come together to enjoy interaction.

In hopes that participants can join with their children safely, supporters participate in the activities to watch over and play with the children.

The supporters are volunteers who agree with the purpose of CSR's activities.

Many of the supporters are women who have finished raising their children, and some support the activities with the thought, "I wish there had been such activities when I was raising my children."

At the gatherings, no one is denied what they say.

It is a place where participants can share difficult topics, such as relationships with partners or past wounds.

Perhaps because the management team can speak from the same perspective, without needing to state "the rule is not to deny," a naturally non-denying environment has been created together with the participants.

While there are moments when generational and experiential differences lead to misunderstandings regarding childcare, we value regular gatherings to allow each relationship to gently change.

Courses - Participants become instructors by utilizing their strengths

At the start of the activities, in addition to the gatherings, courses lasting about 15 to 30 minutes were held.

Of the three courses held in the past, two were taught by participants.

This is a space for participants to express their own strengths, which they rarely have the opportunity to express in their lives as mothers, to others.

Within the gatherings, if participants can recognize their own strengths and charms, the next step is to take half a step or a full step forward to turn it into a course.

CSR values supporting women raising children to be themselves.

"If there are things that mothers want to do but cannot, creating opportunities to do them might be a trigger to escape the isolation of childcare," says Ayami, the representative.

"Some people gain energy from teaching and sharing, while others gain energy from learning and acquiring new knowledge. I believe it can create good connections for both sides."

As of November 2023, this activity is temporarily on hold to deepen engagement within the gatherings, but it is one of the core activities of CSR.

Having successfully held a Marche within less than a year of starting activities, CSR is steadily leaving its mark.

As the second anniversary approaches, we asked the management team about the establishment of the organization, its history, and their thoughts on the activities.

Data on Community Support Rejoice

Organization Name	Community Support Rejoice
Representative Name	Kasutiro Ayami
Year Established	2021
Address	3-4-5 Chuo-cho, Tamashima, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture
Website	Community Support Rejoice

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