Young Visitors to Meguro UNESCO Office
On May 21, eighteen students from Iga Municipal Aoyama Junior High School in Mie Prefecture visited our office. It was the second day of their school trip of four days and three nights, and they were full of vigor, having many exciting plans such as visiting Tokyo Disneyland that afternoon.
After everyone introduced themselves, we told the students briefly about our activities such as a “study tour to Cambodia”, language classes, international exchange programs, art exhibitions, concerts, etc.
The students had faxed some questions to us in advance: “What is the most accessible UNESCO activity that anyone can do here and now?”; “What inspired you to participate in UNESCO activities?”, etc. In response to the first question, we explained the campaign for miswritten postcard collections. Replying to the second, all the seven members attending the meeting told their own stories.
At the end of the meeting, the teacher who was accompanying her students said, “These third year students, who are supposed to decide their courses soon, will find what they have learned today very useful and encouraging.”
Later, we received a copy of their wall newspaper introducing UNESCO activities, and many thank you letters. Their sincere messages seemed to indicate that we managed to get UNESCO spirit across to the young people, and we felt happy about this rewarding experience.
-reported by Masumi Saito, member of UNESCO Movement Promotion Committee
