The Kodomo no Mura foster home in Imazu, Nishi-ku will celebrate its third anniversary in April. The facility, which was built with donations from local residents and companies, was opened in April 2010 to provide a safe haven for children who are abused or unable to live with their families for economic or other reasons. The facility can house up to 25 children and has five houses on-site for the caregivers. Over the past three years, the home has accepted a total of 24 children, 11 of whom were returned to their families after circumstances improved. There are currently 13 children aged one to 13 living in Kodomo no Mura, and the facility plans to add more caregivers this year so it can accept more children. Over 1,000 visitors from around Japan come to observe the facility each year. Last year, a group representing children who lost their parents in the Great East Japan Earthquake visited and now plans to open Kodomo no Mura Tohoku next year. In a press conference held at City Hall, the head of Kodomo no Mura Fukuoka, the non-profit organization that runs the home, expressed his desire to “strengthen support networks and provide a loving atmosphere for many children.” Source: Nishinippon Shimbun, Apr. 9, Official HP: http://soscvj.org
