2月24日（日）、共同通信社の英語ニュースサイト『KYODO NEWS』に齋藤かおる准教授（社会学部社会福祉学科）の活動とコメントが掲載されました。
記事では、齋藤准教授が2年にわたり泉州エリアの精神障害者たちとの協働により続けてきた「きしわだこども食堂」の意義と成果の広がりが紹介されています。
また、齋藤准教授がゼミ生たちとの協働により昨年から続けてきた「ラジオきしわだ」への出演を通した地域貢献の試みが、齋藤准教授のコメントを交えて以下のように紹介されています。
（一部抜粋）
Also as part of its efforts to shift away from living in hospitals to living in the community, the group and Caoru Saito, an associate professor of Philosophy and Psychiatric Social Work at St. Andrew's University in the prefecture, have their own regular program at a community radio station run by the nonprofit organization Radio Kishiwada.
Saito is also a psychiatric social worker, but she has been supporting and getting involved with the group's activities as a friend rather than a professional.
"Working with people at the studio and chatting for the broadcast gives people with mental disorders confidence," Saito said. "They shine in the booth," she said.
Radio Kishiwada is experienced in helping modern-day recluses (known in Japanese as "hikikomori"), who sometimes shut themselves in their homes for years, reconnect with society through work at the radio station.
"It is necessary to understand first that they have difficulties or disorders, then both sides need to figure out how they can reduce or remove obstacles to get the job done," said radio chief Shotaro Kajino, adding "benefits are mutual" once they can figure out how to neutralize the obstacles.
Saito said people with mental disorders still frequently face prejudice and hardships as they try to break the stigma in society.
On one occasion a passerby handed back a flyer in disgust during Aoitori's routine activity at the cafeteria, according to Saito.
"That's the reality we face every day and it hurts," she said, while they have determined to lay down roots in the community despite adversity and get involved with the people there anyway. "We have no other choice," she said.
"We are discussing how we can change the minds of such people and let them join us at the table someday," Saito said.
記事では、齋藤准教授が2年にわたり泉州エリアの精神障害者たちとの協働により続けてきた「きしわだこども食堂」の意義と成果の広がりが紹介されています。
また、齋藤准教授がゼミ生たちとの協働により昨年から続けてきた「ラジオきしわだ」への出演を通した地域貢献の試みが、齋藤准教授のコメントを交えて以下のように紹介されています。
（一部抜粋）
Also as part of its efforts to shift away from living in hospitals to living in the community, the group and Caoru Saito, an associate professor of Philosophy and Psychiatric Social Work at St. Andrew's University in the prefecture, have their own regular program at a community radio station run by the nonprofit organization Radio Kishiwada.
Saito is also a psychiatric social worker, but she has been supporting and getting involved with the group's activities as a friend rather than a professional.
"Working with people at the studio and chatting for the broadcast gives people with mental disorders confidence," Saito said. "They shine in the booth," she said.
Radio Kishiwada is experienced in helping modern-day recluses (known in Japanese as "hikikomori"), who sometimes shut themselves in their homes for years, reconnect with society through work at the radio station.
"It is necessary to understand first that they have difficulties or disorders, then both sides need to figure out how they can reduce or remove obstacles to get the job done," said radio chief Shotaro Kajino, adding "benefits are mutual" once they can figure out how to neutralize the obstacles.
Saito said people with mental disorders still frequently face prejudice and hardships as they try to break the stigma in society.
On one occasion a passerby handed back a flyer in disgust during Aoitori's routine activity at the cafeteria, according to Saito.
"That's the reality we face every day and it hurts," she said, while they have determined to lay down roots in the community despite adversity and get involved with the people there anyway. "We have no other choice," she said.
"We are discussing how we can change the minds of such people and let them join us at the table someday," Saito said.