Maki went to Japan and visited Fukushima Kids who joined our refresh camps before.
Since 11/03/2011, we have thought a lot of potential opportunities to support Japan from Cairns in the way such as the events of Japan Day of Hope etc. Through many of the chances and the connections, we started Smile with Kids with a concept that the Kids who are restricted to play outside in Fukushima can have a great time in the nature in Cairns.
After 7 years from the March 11, there are a lot of different thoughts and situations in Fukushima nowadays. Also in Smile with Kids, we are placing important on sharing the real voices and real situations of Fukushima with the kids and Cairns people. Now, what is the most important thing to do in our activities? What do they want us to do? We never know that only thinking here in Cairns.
KIDS KNOW THE BEST WHAT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING FOR THE PEACE IS.
Here is the report from hearing of Fukushima Kids who came to Cairns before and also who are going to join the next project.
Photo: 3 new children who are going to join the next year project. Thank you for sharing your feelings right now. They are cute!
They were restricted to go outside and had to watch the fireworks from inside the rooms.
It was hard to find the programs which older kids such as over Year 7 could join, that's why they were so glad to find this Cairns Project.
Next:
The kids who already joined the project before shared their experiences.
Their mums shared their voices as well.
All the kids who joined 2018 March project told their parents that
Everything has various aspects.
You have to see things from the different points of view and learn then think yourself.
You have to tell your own opinions.
Even after we came back home from Cairns, we have been thinking this is very important.
After the 2 hour talk session, we had a little chatting time over the Australian sweets.
Everyone who joined the Refresh Camp is doing their best now keeping what they learnt in Cairns in their mind. They encourage us!
2016 Refresh Camp students; Maho, Kokoro, Tomomi (mum) & Minako (mum)
Kids power is unlimited!
Thank you for organising, Kodama san, Deniz (came from Germany for volunteer works of Earth Walkers) and everyone who joined this meeting.
Actually 1 week before this meeting, I had another chance to visit Aizu-Wakamatsu City to meet other 3 boys and parents. Koki, Heaun & Riku!
Even after 2 years, they still remember about their experiences in Cairns it warms up their hearts, they shared.
Thank you everyone!
-From the voices of the parents-
After the disaster, we could not let them touch the nature and we were getting down seriously.
However, we did not want to make our little kids worry. We wanted to give them a normal life.
That is why we naturally avoided talking about the disaster and the radiation.
It was a very good chance for us to discuss it with our children through the preparation of speech
in the Cairns Project.
After the project, boys are really enjoying their lives.
Also we learned that there are a lot of people in a distance who are thinking about Fukushima and supporting Fukushima.
We are encouraged by that and appreciating all the supporters.
Thank you for sharing!
There are a lot of different situations and ideas.
None of them are wrong.
We want to keep the stage where people can share their real voices
and hope love & peace will be spread from there.
If the Cairns Refresh Camp could be the stage for it, it would be great.
Never forget the March 11.
We will do whatever we can do from Cairns.
Even though it is little by little, we will continue it as much as possible.
Maho reminded us with the words she got though the Peace Messenger activities,
We might not have so big power but we are not powerless.
