Employment Support Facility Social Square Starts Joint Training Program with Local NPO 'Hananokoro', Exhibiting Art by People with Disabilities

Social Square Kamiarakawa branch, an employment support facility in Iwaki City, Fukushima Prefecture (operated by NPO Social Design Works, Representative Director: Tsuyoshi Kitayama), started offering a practical training program on November 6, 2025, in collaboration with "Hananokoro," a local NPO that provides art by people with disabilities to companies. This program was conducted as part of the practical training at Social Square, leading to a reduction in the workload for Hananokoro and creating opportunities for users to visit various companies and experience practical work. Background and Purpose "Hananokoro" conducts activities to rent artworks by artists with disabilities to companies. It lends artworks to multiple companies mainly in Iwaki City, Fukushima Prefecture, providing artists with a place for presentation and income, and bringing revitalization of the internal environment to companies. This time, users of the Social Square Kamiarakawa branch took charge of the replacement work of artworks exhibited at companies as practical training. Along with gaining practical experience close to actual operations on site, it has reduced the operational burden on Hananokoro. ■ Training Details In the practical training, a program is implemented where users actually visit the exhibiting companies and perform the following tasks: - Receiving and carrying in/out of artworks - Confirming the exhibition position within the company - Handling and safety management of artworks - Final check after exhibition completion Visiting the actual companies where the art is exhibited provided a practical experience that required detailed procedures and communication for the exhibition. ■ Comments from Members and Companies Who Experienced the Training For users, it provided practical opportunities such as "visiting external companies," "experience in processing practical work," and "experience of having a role." It helps continue stable artwork exhibitions while reducing the burden of replacing exhibits for Hananokoro. It is planned to be implemented continuously in the future. Participating Member Comments: - Through the practical training, I was able to experience what is necessary for employment, such as communicating with clients and keeping in mind careful work. - For myself, having been away from my days as a working adult for several years, it was an opportunity to regain my intuition. Crew in Charge Comment: - In job hunting, there are opportunities to visit companies such as tours and interviews, and many people feel nervous in unfamiliar places. Since support staff may not always be able to attend interviews, it is important to get used to the atmosphere of the company in advance. In this practical training, users get used to the place through company visits, which also leads to improving communication skills through layout consultations and other interactions. At our corporation, we want to expand the number of supporting companies so that artists with disabilities can have a place to present their work and earn an income. However, as the number of companies expands, burdens such as replacements increase. We are extremely grateful to have facilities like Social Square cooperate with us to deliver the artworks of people with disabilities to society. Furthermore, we believe this leads to the creation of places for training and active participation for people with disabilities. Specified Nonprofit Corporation Hananokoro https://hananokoro.jp/ [Inquiries regarding the facility] Social Square Kamiarakawa Branch 1-1 Sakura-machi, Taira-kamiarakawa, Iwaki City, Fukushima 970-8034 Phone Number: 070-3349-6785 Email: ss_kamiarakawa@sdws.jp Website | https://socialsquare.life/square_list/04-iwaki/ *There are two branches in Iwaki City, Fukushima Prefecture: Uchigo Branch and Kamiarakawa Branch. [Inquiries regarding coverage of this matter] Specified Nonprofit Corporation Social Design Works Person in charge: Watanabe Email: pr@sdws.jp [Corporate Overview] Corporate Name: Specified Nonprofit Corporation Social Design Works Established: November 2017 Location: 17 Mizunode, Uchigo-uchimachi, Iwaki City, Fukushima Prefecture Representative: Tsuyoshi Kitayama Business Description: Disability welfare business (Employment transition support / Independence training (Life training) / Employment retention support, etc.) URL: https://sdws.jp/ [Specified Nonprofit Corporation Social Design Works] Deploying disability welfare facilities "SOCIALSQUARE" nationwide. Implementing employment transition support, independence training (life training), and employment retention support services. We continue to be a team that fosters a culture where peers appreciate each other, pursue mutual happiness, cooperate, and respect and support diverse ideas, lifestyles, and working styles. In this environment, looking towards the future and society 20 years from now, we engage in various social contribution activities for people, the city, and culture. By not giving up and taking action at our bases nationwide, we aim to give courage to people in the local community, creating a society where people can take unyielding steps that lead to richness in life for many.