This year, we again had the good fortune to have some of the foremost lecturers on matters of UNESCO. Mr. Eiji Hattori, an advisor to the Meguro UNESCO Association, attended for the second time this year. He made a major contribution to the UNESCO headquarters in Paris for 21 years. Some of those who attended last year recruited their friends and brought them to the lecture this year, because they were so impressed by the lectures. Moved by the participants' enthusiasm and desire to improve themselves, Mr. Hattori said on the last day, " you are the stars of our hope for the 21st century", and he also wrote an article which is the preface of this issue.

　Another lecturer was Mr. Yuji Suzuki, former president of AFCA, WUFCA, and federations of UNESCO's private associations, which number about 5300 in Asia and all over the world. He has made significant contributions to the UNESCO movement in the private sector. He took time from his very busy schedule to attend just before leaving for Finland for an international conference. (An abstract of his lecture is on page 6)

　Mr. Noriaki Sagara, standing director of the Meguro UNESCO Association, also attended, and was eager to speak with young people. Brought up in France, he worked for UNESCO Paris and now works in the National Institute for Education Research.

Mr. Shigeo Tajima, an advisor to the Meguro UNESCO Association, with experience in UNESCO Paris, played his usual role of Retreat Village Chief, and lighted a campfire, which was deserving of a leading figure.

　

　On the final day, I was entrusted with the Future Diary, which everybody had kept. It seemed like my diary or a letter written to me. Our memories of the retreat, plans for next year, and what we will be like a year from now were described there. It reflects our true selves, who lives our respective lives at our respective places, drawing on our excitement with the 3-day experience. We learned the importance of language and communication. We spent out time leisurely, star gazing, and sitting around a campfire. We encountered new　viewpoints through lectures and discussions, getting　in touch with ourselves and others through close contact. I think that each experience has been engraved in our minds and we will make full use of it in out lives, both now and in the future.

Everyone looked different at the closing ceremony. Is this because in the retreat, we laughed, sang, danced and thought from the bottom of our hearts?　Everyone seemed to spend each moment as vigorously as possible.

　Everyone was laughing on the return trip by bus,

which made me relieved and made me feel fulfilled. I was very happy. I learned a lot from the experience. I would like to thank everybody for the kindness and

excitement they gave me.　　　　

　

　I have served concurrently, as a leader, a person in charge of recreation and the campfire, etc. I feel proud that I have done fairly well as student leader (laughter). I was able to learn a lot from the retreat I attended as student leader this time. I didn't know that it takes so much time and　effort to bring a program into practice. I came to know that it is difficult to put something into practice, but it is still more difficult to make preparations. It was recreation time that we hadn't made enough preparations for. We had planned to play a game after the opening ceremony held on the first day, which eventually was canceled because of the breakdown of the bus, etc., but as the day drew near, I, who put off making preparations until later,　was afraid that the game I chose might look so improvised　that it could not warm up the participants. It may seem like a simple game, but in fact it's not. If I had given myself enough time, I would not have been so anxious. As for the campfire, I have more to say than can be described here, but my point is that making preparations is very important not only for the campfire but also for the retreat as a whole, so, in a sense, the retreat had started at the time of the preparatory training. I think the retreat is like fireworks, which take long and careful preparations but burn out soon or just in a three-day two-night period. I am determined now to display a spectacular fireworks next year.

　

　Although all the operations are carried out by young people, background support from members of the Meguro UNESCO Association can not be ignored. The director assumes great responsibility because UNESCO appeals to various sectors of society as an event of its own. As a result,　several adult members participate every year at their own expense in order to deal with matters involving some degree of responsibility, including external problems, liaison for supporters' organizations, a loss which might be shown in the end, or accidents which participant might have. However, their real motive is to receive joy from participation and cooperation rather than just to perform their duty or to take responsibility. When adults find young people wondering what they can do for peace, they want to be like that and return to their old-selves and feel young again for that day. They think they really did well to attend this year too. So far they seem to get along well with young people, working with them in perfect harmony.　　　

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