We are an organisation based at Ishinomaki city in Miyagi pref. We have started our activity in order to re-obtain and provide play areas for children that has reduced drastically after the disaster. We hold events and workshops aimed for pregnant women up to mothers with children of pre-school age.

We have variety of activities in our workshops, such as physical exercise with music where mothers will move with the baby/children, Baby massage, Baby Sign, which are all aimed for health of mother and child in all levels. As a part of post-disaster care, we have workshops including "Heart care" and "Art therapy". We may also work together with the local government to provide seminars on aspects of parenting or about radiation.

Through our activities, we aim to build a support network in our community, in order to support birth and parenting locally.

Through the disaster, especially the families with pregnant women and or families with pre-school children has experienced the importance of being connected with the society in terms of being able to obtain important information as well as support. We have learned through our disaster the importance of connection between people. Hence would like to promote deeper connection between the parents and the community as this can be a great help during an emergency situation as well as to prevent situations such as child abuse arising from lonely isolated parent.

We will aim and work to rebuild our city through supporting parenting and connecting new lives so that Ishinomaki will be a place where everyone is able to bring up children in a safe happy environment.

NPO Baby Smile Ishinomaki, Representative Yumi Araki

Baby Smile Ishinomaki HP