５週間くらいアメリカに行きます。

 

スタートから３日。本当にたくさんの瞬発力ある応援ありがとうございます。ご寄付とともにいただくメッセージがどれも熱くて感動してしまって、コメントを書きすぎています笑

 

このクラウドファンディングを準備しながら、同時進行で頑張っていたことがあります。それは、Japanese Women’s Leadership Initiativeという社会変革をおこす女性のリーダーシップを育てるプログラムへの応募でした。６００ワードの英語の小論文や英語の履歴書を送り、一次審査を通過した後は英語の面接、そしてこのクラウドファンディングのページがオープンする２日前に合格の知らせがきて、〆切がタイトな宿題が同時に出たりして、てんてこ舞いでした。

 

今年は過去最多の応募があったそうですが、その狭き門に光栄ながら12期生として参加させてもらえる６人の一人に選ばれ、４月なかばより５週間くらいアメリカに行きます。今日はそのオリエンでした。あっという間の９時間。

 

ボストンでNPOの視察やアクションプランの作成、英語でのプレゼンテーションの練習、そしてたくさんの発表の機会、１週間の集中コース＠Babson大学などインテンシブなプログラムです。この贅沢な学びを現場に、そして社会に、還元できるよう、頑張ります。

 

今回の応募に当たって作成した600ワードの小論文を以下ペーストします。

Empowering every woman after childbirth
by forming a social infrastructure of postpartum care in Japan

My name is Maco Yoshioka. I am the founder and the CEO of MadreBonita dedicated to support the mental & physical health of new mothers. MadreBonita not only provides fitness programs for women after childbirth but also focuses on researches and raising awareness on postpartum care. The effect of the program ranges from benefiting their mental and physical heath, encouraging them return to the workforce to reducing relationship stresses and helping build a good partnership in their marriage.

I started MadreBonita in 1998, then established the nonprofit organization in 2008 with other instructors I trained and trusted. Last November we finally gained the status of “Certified Nonprofit Organization” which only 2% of nonprofit organizations have obtained with way more stringent criteria. Our vision is for Japan to be a society that values and supports the importance of postpartum health.

I first developed a program three months after I gave birth to my son in 1998 when I was a graduate student studying sports science. I was always curious about the human body and its correlation with mind. Pregnancy was the most exciting thing that ever happened to me in terms of my curiosity. Soon after that however I faced the harsh reality. People’s attention was on the baby with congratulatory manner and they never notice mother’s pain and fatigue caused by delivery and sleepless nights after that. The experience is so painful that mothers are not willing to talk about it. This is how the serious postpartum issue had been hidden and overlooked.

Lack of postpartum care leads to many serious problems such as postpartum depression, relationship stress, child abuse, fewer women re-entering the workforce and falling birth rates. If parents get ready not only for the babies but also for their own wellness, and if people have more understanding for postpartum health, they can prevent these problems and it can get much easier and more enjoyable to start a family.

My experience led me to start a postpartum program. If there is none then why don't I create one? The first participants came to me saying this class saved their lives, not only themselves but also their babies and husbands. Some even referred to the class as a life-changing experience. I was convinced by then empowering mothers at this very critical period benefits the whole family.

I made MadreBonita out of nothing 19 years ago. It grew into one of a flourishing movement of expanding postpartum care in Japan. We currently have 300 support members, 300 volunteers, 10 staff members, and 28 trainers. 60 classes are held in 16 prefectures. Over 50,000 mothers participated for the past decade.

Even though we’ve worked hard so far, we are not satisfied at all. Our next ambition is to make postpartum care more accessible. We want to form a social infrastructure that enables every family to get the opportunity to learn and practice postpartum care to regain physical strength and mental stability. I am sure it will enhance their quality of life and enable them to live their lives positively.

I apply for JWLI because I’d like to draw a more explicit roadmap to realize this vision. I now recognize my role as a leader is not only to manage the organization but to “inspire” people by sharing my vision, a society better than the existing one, and trying to fill a gap by taking actions. I truly believe citizens, industries and the government can come together to form a social infrastructure of postpartum care in Japan.