Hello, everyone! I am Zhao Ruifeng, a second-year Ph.D. student in our Empowerment Science Lab. I'm excited to tell you about the Empowerment Summer Camp in 2023.
We implemented a long-awaited hybrid strategy for the summer program this year. We were delighted to meet Ota sensei, who had traveled all the way from Okayama to Tsukuba to take part in the camp with us. There were also many other guests who were not able to come to the site, but participated in the camp online and had a great time with us.
The Empowerment Action Meeting and the Smile Action Meeting were held on the 26th in that sequence starting at 1:00 p.m. after we had officially welcomed Ota sensei to the Lab. At the beginning of the meeting, Anme sensei greeted everyone, the students introduced themselves, and the teachers and seniors who had joined online provided their recent reports after that. In the lecture part of the meeting, the speakers displayed their professionalism by presenting wonderfully about the topics that had been well prepared. We were impressed by the content of their presentations, and at the same time, we gained a great deal of cutting-edge knowledge from various fields, especially particularly those relating to childcare, and benefited a lot. After the meeting, which continued until 5:00 p.m., everyone who was offline, including the guest of Ota sensei, proceeded to a Chinese restaurant for the evening's dinner. Everyone had a great time playing games, drinking, and talking over the dinner, and it was a very enjoyable and satisfying way to close the first day of camp.
We traveled to the Tsukuba Space Center of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) in Tsukuba City early on August 27, the second day of the camp. During the tour, we followed Anme sensei and paid attention to her explanations. As a result, we learnt a great deal of information that we wouldn't often have access to, which widened our knowledge and deepened our insights. We enjoyed ourselves at the German beer restaurant around midday.
We got to know one another better via this camp, and Ota sensei kindly invited us to come to Okayama, where she lives, for next year's Empowerment Summer Camp. We are looking forward to next year's summer camp!
Hi everyone, I am Hilda, second year of doctoral program in empowerment lab.
After three years of waiting, we may finally have SYSTED23 offline in Mongolia!
Anme-sensei, Zhu Zhu, Li Xiang and me participated the SYSTED23 conference offline, while the other members joined it offline. It was a fantastic and unforgettable event for us!
We were able to meet our seniors, Amaraa and Choko, as well as other members of the committee! We also express our great appreciation to all the organizers of SYSTED23 in Mongolia.
Experts from all over the world participated in the SYSTED23 for exchange of knowledge, ideas and experience related to the community empowerment and respecting diversity, such as transferring ideas about child welfare, geriatric care, well-being, human development, and etc. Everything said there was priceless to us.
We were also invited to experience what it was like to be a native Mongolian by participating in the "Nomadics Culture Festival." During the event, we had the opportunity to enter a Ger - a Mongolian tent - and be greeted by the tribal chief.
We were also taken to another region to enjoy the tastiest lamb we've ever had! As if the joy wasn't enough, we were also surprised with a SYSTED23 Horse reward intended for the SYSTED family! What a wonderful present!
After that, we went to the Rehabilitation Development Centre for Children with Disabilities, which was a really attractive structure with finished facilities on the interior. Also, we resumed our adventure by visiting the Social Welfare, which is administered by Mongolian NGOs for the elderly and individuals suffering from disabilities and mental illnesses.
Following that, we went to Amaraa's house to meet his lovely family. We saw pictures and items from 10 years ago at his house and saw how quickly time passes.
As a perfect conclusion, we also visited the painting museum, which showcases the splendour of traditional Mongolian paintings. That concludes our tour to Mongolia. People come and go, but memories stay. We look forward to seeing each other again soon!
Hello everyone!! I am Shrestha Smarika, a second-year master’s student in public health in our Empowerment Science lab. We are already into the month of August which is known for its spectacular firework displays against the backdrop of summer nights, attracting locals and tourists. I hope everyone take this opportunity to embrace the festive spirit of Japan's firework festivals, create lasting memories, and enjoy a unique cultural experience.
In this blog I would like to talk about Childcare Evaluation and Empowerment training that was conducted by the members of our Empowerment Science Lab led by Anme Sensei on 3rd August. I believe that organizing such training is a great initiative to enhance the skills and knowledge of childcare providers. There were around 41 participants in the training program who were childcare professionals and interested in empowerment and childcare evaluation tools. To start the program, Anme Sensei firstly introduced five childcare evaluation tools which she developed and used in her research career. Among these five tools, she mainly focused on the Childcare Development Scale (CDS). This tool includes six sub scales: Gross motor, Fine motor, Social competence, Communication, Vocabulary, and Intelligence.
After explaining about the evaluation tools, Sensei showed the participants a real case study video of a boy enrolled in a childcare center. This boy had a brother and was enrolled to the care center because his mother went to work at night and she had no enough time to take care of him and his brother. Based on this case study, Sensei organized every participant, including us in different groups, where the participants had active discussions in planning tailored empowerment strategies that can help both child and parents. Finally, Sensei also introduced our lab website to the participants from where it will be easier for them to get detailed information about childcare evaluation tools and strengthen their knowledge and skills in this field.
The training program was indeed an enriching experience for me and my team mates from our lab. We would like to express our gratitude towards Anme Sensei and all those who contributed to the success of this training program. The training has not only equipped us with the necessary tools but also has inspired us to further improve our professional growth in the field of childcare.
Hello everyone! I am Ying, a first-year doctoral student in our empowerment lab.
Yesterday, on August 1st, our research lab had the privilege of hosting esteemed seniors, Professor Tong from Fudan University, and Yan san, who successfully graduated this year, along with his wife, joined us for the party. Professor Tong's return to the Empowerment Lab was marked by sharing her research findings and reminiscing about past memories. This was an enlightening event, filled with valuable insights and productive discussions. In this blog post, an review of Professor Tong's presentation will be presented.
Research Focus
Professor Tong Lian is currently engaged in multiple research projects, primarily focusing on "Early Childhood development" and "Child and Adolescent Mental Health."
One notable achievement of Professor Tong is the validation of the Parent-Child Interaction Rating Scale (IRS) for the Chinese version. The Empowerment Lab's research outcomes are positively impacting a broader audience. She conducted extensive training sessions for a lot of professionals specializing in child-related fields. Furthermore, two parent-child interaction observation rooms were established in Shanghai and introduced a parent-child interaction observation assessment at the Shanghai Children’s Hospital for outpatient care.
Professor Tong's work extends beyond research into practical applications. Her team implemented a group-based parent-child interaction intervention at the community level. This involved activities such as parent lectures, and parent-child interaction sessions. These initiatives have effectively assisted professionals in enhancing the quality of parent-child interactions, thus benefiting local residents.
Professor Tong's work in the realm of adolescent mental health includes a randomized controlled trial (RCT) study, focusing on providing mindfulness courses and WHO life-skills training interventions for teenagers to enhance their psychological well-being, conducted for one to two hours per week over a span of two months.
Welcome party
Following the insightful presentation, we hosted a warm welcome event to celebrate Professor Tong's visit and Yan san couple. A delectable spread of dishes and cakes awaited our guests. The occasion also provided an opportunity for us to engage with our seniors, seeking guidance on current research questions, and engaging in enriching conversations. The blend of camaraderie, learning, and delicious food made it a truly meaningful experience.
A Bright Future
This gathering was a profoundly meaningful learning experience, emphasizing the importance of knowledge sharing and continuous growth. We extend our best wishes to our senior colleagues as they continue on their research journeys. May their paths be smooth and successful.
In conclusion, Professor Tong Lian's visit to the Empowerment Lab was a truly remarkable event that enriched our academic community and inspired us to strive for excellence in our research pursuits.
Hello everyone!! I am Shrestha Smarika, a second-year master’s student in public health in our Empowerment Science lab. The rising temperatures this summer have been relentless, and I hope everyone stays hydrated and embrace the joy of summer.
Amidst the scorching heat of summer, this month few of our lab members together with Anme Sensei visited Tobishima village from 13th July to 20th July. First of all, we would like to express our sincere gratitude and appreciation to all the staffs of Tobishima village for their unwavering support, kindness, and generosity. We are also thankful towards Anme Sensei for providing us with this valuable opportunity and let us explore the world of possibilities.
The main task during this visit was to conduct Focus Group Interviews and personal interviews with different groups of people during their home visits. In addition to the interviews, we also visited facilities such as community centers, Tobishima school, child health center, and nonprofit organizations. This visit allowed our team to gain a deeper understanding of the daily life in Tobishima.
The participants in the survey were incredibly helpful and supportive throughout the entire process. Their active engagement and willingness to share their insights and offer valuable feedback is something I appreciate a lot. By working hand in hand with the participants, the survey was infact a collaborative effort, and it is evident that their dedication and cooperation were instrumental making this visit a transformative and empowering experience for all involved.
From laboratory protocols to communication channels, we explored various aspects during this visit that directly taught us the professional way of conducting research and building a strong team dynamics. It was an immensely rewarding experience which allowed us to gather valuable data, build stronger connections among lab members, and empower ourselves in the journey towards scientific excellence. As we concluded the survey, I believe that the excitement for future improvements and growth among our team members will be even more escalated.
