The 3rd Counsellor Training Course "Children with Irregular Residence" was held

On September 24, 2023, the third counselor training course, "Children with irregular residency," was held at the APFS office. The lecturer was Professor Natsuko Minamino of Toyo University.
First, we watched the video "Children without resident status" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFcCCLMAa68), which was broadcast on TBS last year, as a voice of the actual children involved. After that, the professor talked about how irregular residents became "irregular residents" in the first place, the legal status of "irregular residents" children, and the impact of not having a resident status on children (mentally, economically, educationally, etc.), incorporating episodes he has seen and heard in his research and studies. Finally, the professor told the participants that as supporters (counselors), they may be shaken by public opinion, but that when it comes to children in particular, the "best interests" should naturally be taken into consideration under the Convention on the Rights of the Child, so he asked them to engage in support with the awareness that "they need to be supported."

I participated as a staff member, and the biggest benefit I got from this course was that it allowed me to put into words and re-recognize the vague feelings I had while carrying out my daily support activities.

The next lecture will be on "Medical Care for Undocumented Immigrants and Refugee Applicants." The lecturer will be Dr. Junpei Yamamura of Minatomachi Clinic. (One person has cancelled (as of September 25th). If you would like to attend, please contact us.)