Where are the volunteers from? World Tours

It would be great if children could learn to talk to people living in foreign countries without hesitation from a young age... That was the thought behind starting this international exchange camp.

It's a waste to only talk to Japanese people just because you are Japanese.

When you interact with people from various countries and see the world, you can learn that there are many different ways of thinking and that there are people with various values.
With the goal of broadening their horizons, the Children's Disaster Prevention Association invites volunteers from various countries.

Volunteers, where did you come from?

This time, too, people from various countries participated in this camp as volunteers.
Indonesia, the Philippines, the United States, Malaysia, and so on.
Their skin colors and hair colors are different, too.

At first, the children were a little shy because they were strangers and foreigners, but they gradually got used to it.

They showed us their national flags and explained the climate and culture of each country.

"Is this a passport?"
"Is this the writing? Wow, I can't read it at all."
"Huh? Is this money?"
The children are full of curiosity about things they are seeing for the first time.

This is a volunteer from Mongolia. They say that in Mongolia, summer is about as hot as in Japan, but in winter, it gets even colder than minus 30 degrees.
Wow, that's amazing! Can you survive that?

People from very hot countries, people from very cold countries,
lively countries, countries where people love to dance,
people from countries where many different races are mixed together,
listening to their stories makes me feel that what we take for granted as Japanese living in Japan is not necessarily the norm.

Experiencing a little bit of the volunteers' culture

There are various cultures with different religious backgrounds.
For example, a volunteer who came from Myanmar.
The people of Myanmar, who live freely and openly, are a people who value their individuality more than the Japanese. They cherish their religion and value their fathers and mothers.
Their food culture is also different, with lots of fried foods. They eat it with plenty of rice.
They say the streets are full of motorcycles.
It sounds like a hot, lively, and very fun country.

Huh? You put something on your cheeks?
It's a custom of the people of Myanmar called "Thanaka."
They rub the trunk of a citrus tree while wetting it with water, and apply the resulting white, cloudy cream to their cheeks and entire face.
It also serves as makeup, and is a versatile medicine that is highly effective as sunscreen, for treating wounds, and as an ointment for insect bites.
Japanese people usually apply makeup evenly so that the edges are not visible, so it's a bit surprising. The children also gave it a try with excitement.

We also asked a volunteer from Vietnam about Vietnamese culture and customs.
Many of the children had never properly talked to foreigners before, so this event was a valuable experience.

There are many benefits to engaging in international exchange while children are young.
It can foster a heart that respects people with various values without prejudice.

This also leads to getting along with friends who have different ways of thinking at school, and helping and supporting anyone in times of disaster.