Duskin Leadership Training in Japan

Rashed's Final Report

Back to Rashed's Biography

Final Report

Objectives of the Training

I came to Japan on August 30, 2004 to study the Braille library, PC operations, production using Daisy and project proposal writing.

Food in Japan

Cooking in Bangladesh and Japan are completely different. Japanese food and food in Bangladesh are also totally different. However, I had no problem with Japanese food during my stay. I tried a whole new range of food and drinks, for example mackerel, pacific king mackerel, cod, sukiyaki (a Japanese grill-stew), chanpon (regional noodles), sashimi (raw fish), tofu, and wanko noodles. None of these can be found in Bangladesh.

Three months of Japanese Language Training

I studied Japanese for approximately three months. I also went swimming every week during the Japanese language course. Teachers taught me how to swim in many different styles.

We also went to Osaka, Kobe, and Nagoya to participate in a variety of events. In Nagoya, I ran a marathon for the first time in my life. It was totally exhausting!

I also gave my first Japanese speech, at the Kanagawa Institute of Technology. It was very difficult but we did our best.

Home-Stay Program and Skiing

Between December 27 and January 3, I stayed with a Japanese family in Gifu. I went to many places with my host family. We visited a school for the Blind, and a zoo, where I went horse riding.

On January 20, we went skiing in Niigata. Since we have no snow in Bangladesh, skiing was a first and a very interesting experience.

Individual Training

1. Training at Japan the Braille Library

Individual training started on December 13. I had a two-week training at the Japan Braille Library. I learnt about the history and management of the library from Mr. Tanaka Director, Japan Braille Library. It was the first time that I had seen various devices for Braille book production.

2. General Support Center for the Visually Handicapped, Chiba

I had approximately three weeks of training at Aiko in Chiba Prefecture, which enabled me to experience many things. They had a Braille library and a General Support Center for persons with visual or severe disabilities. For the first time in my life I saw persons with disabilities producing Braille name cards and clothing. In Chiba Prefecture, I also had a chance to visit a school for the Blind.

3. Saga Prefectural Braille Lilbrary

I had one month of training at Saga Prefectural Braille Library, where I learnt how to make books and how to use the DAISY system and make recordings. In Saga, I studied about associations for persons with visual impairment, and about Braille notation volunteers. I was given a lot of information and had many new experiences. I also learnt about outreach book delivery systems, which I find are great services. I met many persons with severe disabilities and learnt a lot about their lives. The Director Mr. Takeda was very kind. He always cared about me and offered help. We became good friends. At the end of the training he came to the station to see me off. We shook hands and parted. It was a very sad moment.

4. Shimane Lighthouse Library

I had three weeks of training at the Lighthouse Library in the city of Matsue. I learnt a lot of things; studying PC operations, recording, making newspapers, cooking tuna, making rice balls, and Braille printing. In particular, Mr Shiozawa taught me a lot about PCs. We went to Izumo Taisha (Japan’s oldest shrine) and Horikawa, and went on a boat trip. I also visited a special skills school which was another new experience.

For the first time in my life I learnt finger Braille in Shimane, and communicated with the deafblind people. Until then I did not know how to communicate with them, so it was an especially touching experience. I then went to stay with Mr Yamamoto, who is deafblind person. We went to see the cherry blossoms together. I also went to visit the school for the Blind with Mr Asano, and saw many methods to enable people to study efficiently. I am grateful to be given so much knowledge during the training in Shimane.

5. WITH

I had a one-week training at WITH in Hamamatsu. Mr. Shiba taught me a lot of things including: the history of WITH; how to make a white cane; how to take out weeds in the garden; as well as a variety of information and philosophies that concern persons with disabilities. Mr. Shiba and I visited universities and special skill schools, where I attended Mr. Shiba’s lectures with other students. The lectures were about persons with disabilities and Duskin Leadership Training Program.

6. Slash PC School

For one week I went to the Slash, a PC school for persons with visual impairment in Ogikubo, Tokyo, to study computers. Mr. and Mrs. Maruyama, Ms. Masae Takahashi, Ms Tomoka Takahashi and volunteer staff taught me how to make dial-up internet connections and webpages, how to use Hotmail Chat, and how to transcribe text into Braille using computers.

7. Morioka

Mr Sakurai in Morioka once taught at a school for the Blind . He had a “touch museum” in his house. I touched many devices, stuffed animals and fish. There is a lot of information touching can give. I thought it was a very good idea. I also experienced my first wanko-noodles in Morioka. I ONLY had 91 bowls.

Group Training

During the group training, we went to the Nippon Foundation and JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) and received a lot of information. Inspired by other trainees, I learnt about Independent Living Movement. It was a new concept for me. I also learnt how to generate peer groups and attended two days of leadership training to understand other important concepts. I also learnt many interesting methods of presentation.

My Dreams

I have a dream, which is to create the first Braille library in Bangladesh. I had little confidence about it before coming to Japan. But I met a lot of wonderful Japanese people and had many new experiences, which led me to believe that I can make my dreams come true.

To Conclude

I had an unimaginable and unforgettable experience of learning, about culture, social systems, education, movements/politics/history and the lives of persons with disabilities. The six other trainees, now my friends, were such warm people. I learnt a lot from them.

I am extremely grateful to Duskin Ainowa Foundation and the people in Japan for giving me such wonderful opportunities. When I am back in Bangladesh, I will never forget you. Thank you very much to everyone.

Wanko Noodles: an entertaining way to enjoy buckwheat noodles. The idea is to see how many bowls of noodles you can eat. Each serving is small, however every time you empty a bowl, the waiters immediately fill it again with noodles. As a rule, you are only allowed to stop if you can put the lid back on your bowl before the waiter fills it up again.

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