Iraqi lawmakers visit elementary school in Hiroshima to learn about peace education
Jan. 28, 2017
by Gosuke Nagahisa, Staff Writer
On January 27, seven lawmakers from Iraq, members of the Iraqi parliament’s Committee on Education of the Council of Representatives of Iraq, paid a visit to Hiroshima. In Iraq, many cities are still occupied by militant groups, including the so-called Islamic State (IS), and armed struggle there continues. In the midst of these conditions, they visited Hesaka Elementary School in Higashi Ward to learn about peace education in the A-bombed city and make use of their experience back in their homeland. They also laid a wreath of flowers at the Cenotaph for the A-bomb Victims in the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park in Naka Ward.
After the seven visitors arrived at the elementary school, they first listened to a presentation on the peace education curriculum from the staff of the city’s board of education. In addition, they interacted with the children of the school. Afterward, they met with Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui and exchanged views. They also toured the Peace Memorial Museum in the Peace Memorial Park.
The Iraqi lawmakers have come to Japan to take part in a seminar on education from January 22 to 28, which is being hosted by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Serwan Abdull Ismall, 50, the head of the Committee on Education, said that the children’s efforts to convey a message of peace to the world are remarkable, and that he hopes to pursue a peace education program in Iraq to help build mutual understanding among people from a variety of groups and religions.
(Originally published on January 28, 2017)
On January 27, seven lawmakers from Iraq, members of the Iraqi parliament’s Committee on Education of the Council of Representatives of Iraq, paid a visit to Hiroshima. In Iraq, many cities are still occupied by militant groups, including the so-called Islamic State (IS), and armed struggle there continues. In the midst of these conditions, they visited Hesaka Elementary School in Higashi Ward to learn about peace education in the A-bombed city and make use of their experience back in their homeland. They also laid a wreath of flowers at the Cenotaph for the A-bomb Victims in the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park in Naka Ward.
After the seven visitors arrived at the elementary school, they first listened to a presentation on the peace education curriculum from the staff of the city’s board of education. In addition, they interacted with the children of the school. Afterward, they met with Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui and exchanged views. They also toured the Peace Memorial Museum in the Peace Memorial Park.
The Iraqi lawmakers have come to Japan to take part in a seminar on education from January 22 to 28, which is being hosted by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Serwan Abdull Ismall, 50, the head of the Committee on Education, said that the children’s efforts to convey a message of peace to the world are remarkable, and that he hopes to pursue a peace education program in Iraq to help build mutual understanding among people from a variety of groups and religions.
(Originally published on January 28, 2017)
