By Mio Yamamoto | Executive Director
Dear our generous donors,
Seven years has passed since the Great East Japan Earthquake. Yet, many social entrepreneurs and nonprofit leaders are working tirelessly for the people affected.
Miyoko Sato, a founder and Executive Director of Mammaru Mom Iwate and one of the social entrepreneurs WIT supports, has hosted more than 450 gatherings for affected mothers and babies since 2011. The gatherings have become open and safe space for more than 4,000 pregnant women and new mothers, where they can interact with each other and ask professional midwives and nutritionists for advice. In remote rural areas where Mammaru Mom operates, it is not unusual for women to travel hours by car to see OBGYN doctors. Mammaru Mom is dedicated to creating an environment where mothers can enjoy their pregnancy and childbearing regardless of where they live.
Miyoko shares the reason why she continues her work even after seven years. In a Japanese interview article ( https://39.benesse.ne.jp/lifestyle/content/?id=19515), she says, "psychological damage is hard to heal. I don't think the disaster is over; we are still surrounded by elevated lands, vacant lots, and temporary housing. The earthquake further aggravated depopulation, and we have fewer OBGYNs now than pre-disaster. Our gatherings play an important role to connect mothers and experts like midwives."
WIT has supported Mammaru Mom through Cross-Border Learning Journey program and management support. We introduced them an accountant, who them helped them incorporate a charitable organization. Mammaru Mom also utilized WIT's organizational development program to bring in professional team coaches over the six months. The team coaching allowed Mammory Mom's team to have honest discussion and dialogue on their vision and activities, and improved their teamwork performance dramatically.
At WIT, we feel very blessed to support and work with such innovative and committed social entrepreneurs.
It is your generous support that has made our activities possible. Thank you so much!!
With heartfelt gratitude,
Mio Yamamoto and WIT Team
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