三重県代表としてヨゼフ生2名がひろしまジュニア国際フォーラムに参加しました

8月15日（火）～18日（金）に行われた第8回2023年度ひろしまジュニア国際フォーラムに三重県代表としてヨゼフ生2名が広島市に行ってきました。三重県の複数人の高校生から応募があった中、厳正な審査が行われ、6年生小川さくらさん、5年生脇田美雨さんが県の代表として選ばれました。「平和な世界の実現に向け私たちができること」というテーマで、国内外から集まった87名の参加者が広島市で4日間の活動に参加しました。講義やグループディスカッションを通して平和のメッセージを真剣に考え、その集大成として、世界に発信する「広島宣言」の作成に取り組みました。外国人高校生およそ40人も参加したため、活動は全て英語で行われ、かなり高度の英語力が求められましたが、さすがヨゼフ生、積極的に参加することができました。

以下は小川さん、脇田さんの英語によるフォーラムの感想です。

This was the first time for me to consider nuclear weapons and peacebuilding, so I was able to spend a meaningful four days. Everyone had different ideas even though they were based on the same goal, which broadened my horizons and gave me new perspectives. In my group, there were participants from South Korea and Germany. Both of them said that they hadn’t learned much about the atomic bombs at school. But I was surprised because they each had a clear opinion about nuclear weapons. Our group concluded that before abolishing nuclear weapons, each country has to foster mutual trust because there is a risk of war even if we abolish those weapons. We also decided that peace is not just the absence of war and there are many things that we young people can do to build peace, such as donating money and volunteering. We may not be responsible for past wars, but we have a responsibility to not repeat wars in the future. I’d like to keep learning English and convey the story of Hiroshima and Nagasaki to the world.

（小川さくら）

I went to Hiroshima Junior International Forum, hosted by Hiroshima Prefecture. 87 students from 27 different countries gathered and discussed the atomic bombs and peacebuilding. Our goal was to make a final draft of the ‘Hiroshima Declaration’ and to present that in front of the prefectural governor. The best part of the program was its diversity. Each of the 16 groups had students from different backgrounds. In my group there were students from Spain and Costa Rica. They taught me a lot about cultural differences and new ways of thinking. However, I learned a lot not only from them but also from the students who live in other parts of Japan. The participants from Hiroshima were much more knowledgeable about nuclear weapons and peacebuilding than I was. One of the other Japanese students was really fluent in English and he showed me how to give a speech and use new vocabulary. I think the best part of the program was meeting many new people, whom I would not be able to meet by staying in Mie Prefecture. I hope to meet them again and make strong and lasting friendships.

（脇田美雨）

（※脇田美雨さんの「脇」の字は「月」へんに「刀」3つ）