To follow on from Will’s blog about the success of our inaugural Japan Tour I wanted to add a little about something special that took place whilst we were in the city of Hiroshima. Let me backtrack as it all began in our classroom!
In Term 3 Stage 4’s Japanese project led them to organise a Spring festival for our primary college students. In small groups, Stage 4 went about designing fun stalls with Japanese themes. They had to advertise their stalls by designing posters and banners written in Japanese and they also had to set the price of their wares in yen. On festival day Stages 2, 3 and 4 spoke as much Japanese as possible as they bought and sold from each other. It was truly a rewarding experience to see the term’s work culminate in a fun Japanese speaking festival.
When planning the festival Stage 4 realised they could use it as an opportunity to raise money for a worthy cause. They researched and discussed various charities, the common thread being the desire for their donation to benefit the people of Japan. As we had previously discussed the A-bombing of Hiroshima it was proposed to somehow donate it toward ongoing awareness of this historical event. A volunteer organisation called ‘The Hiroshima Peace Cultural Foundation’ was found. They use donations to actively promote international world peace based on Hiroshima’s experiences of the A-bombing. They have a museum and library as well as huge parklands with monuments to the victims both young and old, which have been set aside in the middle of Hiroshima City. Visitors from all over the world come and spend time learning about the after-effects of the bombing on the inhabitants of this city over the last 70 years. It certainly is a place which evokes strong feelings for peace from all who visit.
It was our privilege whilst on our cultural and sporting tour to be able to personally visit the offices of this foundation and hand over our donation of $600AUD to the director, Mr Katsumi Kuratani. He was quite emotional to think that a group of high college students in Australia had worked hard and raised money for a cause he has dedicated his whole life to. It was even more rewarding for me as a teacher to know that this was driven by our students and it felt so special to be able to be a part of making this happen.
Congratulations Stage 4 on making a difference to the world!
Students with Mr Katsumi Kuratani and his assistant at the headquarters of the Hiroshima Peace Cultural Foundation handing over their donation of $600.
Students at Peace Park Hiroshima in front of the eternal flame monument.
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