Girl Scouts in Hiroshima are engaged in peace activities
Sep. 10, 2012
“Girl Scouts Hiroshima,” based in Asakita Ward, Hiroshima, is involved in such activities as the tidying of local areas, international exchange, and support for developing nations. Their mottoes are “Do something useful for others” and “Value compassion.” Established in 1973, Girl Scouts Hiroshima has a nearly 40-year history.
One of its activities takes place in Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. The Girl Scouts join together pieces of rectangle-shaped fabric, adorned with pictures and messages of peace, and make a long banner that goes all the way around the Atomic Bomb Dome. This effort is undertaken every five years, in the summer, and the pieces of fabric are collected from places in Japan as well as overseas. Girl Scouts Hiroshima leads the event held at the A-bomb Dome, with its members singing such songs as “Blue and Clear Sky.”
Yuki Kitanaka, 17, a third-year high school student and a resident of Asakita Ward, took part in the event in 2010. She recalls how her participation inspired her: “The banner contains each person’s wish for peace. I felt a duty to appeal to the world for peace on their behalf.”
Each June, Girls Scouts Hiroshima also takes part in a memorial ceremony for Marcel Junod, the Swiss doctor who delivered 15 tons of medical supplies to Hiroshima in the aftermath of the atomic bombing. The ceremony is held in front of the monument dedicated to Dr. Junod, located in a green zone south of Peace Memorial Park.
This year, about 30 members of the group took part in the ceremony, reading out a pledge for peace: “We vow to extend a helping hand to people in need.” The words were crafted by Chisa Kamikawa, 13, a second-year junior high school student from Nishi Ward. Chisa told me, “I want to follow the example of Dr. Junod, who did his best to help people, no matter what side they were on.” (Miyu Sakata, 16)
(Originally Published on July 30, 2012)
One of its activities takes place in Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. The Girl Scouts join together pieces of rectangle-shaped fabric, adorned with pictures and messages of peace, and make a long banner that goes all the way around the Atomic Bomb Dome. This effort is undertaken every five years, in the summer, and the pieces of fabric are collected from places in Japan as well as overseas. Girl Scouts Hiroshima leads the event held at the A-bomb Dome, with its members singing such songs as “Blue and Clear Sky.”
Yuki Kitanaka, 17, a third-year high school student and a resident of Asakita Ward, took part in the event in 2010. She recalls how her participation inspired her: “The banner contains each person’s wish for peace. I felt a duty to appeal to the world for peace on their behalf.”
Each June, Girls Scouts Hiroshima also takes part in a memorial ceremony for Marcel Junod, the Swiss doctor who delivered 15 tons of medical supplies to Hiroshima in the aftermath of the atomic bombing. The ceremony is held in front of the monument dedicated to Dr. Junod, located in a green zone south of Peace Memorial Park.
This year, about 30 members of the group took part in the ceremony, reading out a pledge for peace: “We vow to extend a helping hand to people in need.” The words were crafted by Chisa Kamikawa, 13, a second-year junior high school student from Nishi Ward. Chisa told me, “I want to follow the example of Dr. Junod, who did his best to help people, no matter what side they were on.” (Miyu Sakata, 16)
(Originally Published on July 30, 2012)
