We held our first counselor training course.

On June 25, 2023, the first session of the "Counselor Training Course" was held at the APFS office. The speaker was Hiroko Yamazaki, a volunteer staff member who has been involved with APFS for many years.
The presentation began with an explanation of APFS's founding history, the people involved, and its activities. The focus was particularly on APFS's counseling services, which are a cornerstone of its work, with a strong emphasis on supporting undocumented immigrants. We discussed APFS's involvement and role in addressing the backgrounds, lives, and children of undocumented immigrants. During the Q&A session, questions were raised about how to interact with undocumented children and the current situation of children separated from their parents. Additionally, some expressed hesitation about volunteering with APFS due to a lack of expertise. The speaker advised that there are various volunteer opportunities and encouraged people to participate.

The session consisted of a 1.5-hour presentation by the speaker and a 30-minute Q&A, and it was packed with information and many questions were asked, making it a very productive session. In the post-session survey, we received feedback such as "I learned about the realities of undocumented immigrants through APFS's activities," and "It was very educational."

The next counselor training course will be held on July 23rd (Sunday) and will cover "Introduction to Immigration Law." This session is already full, but there are a few spots still available in other sessions, so if you are interested, please contact APFS as soon as possible.