Meguro UNESCO Short News Introduction of the Committees We h

　We have already introduced Youth Activity Committee, International Support Activity Committee, Scholarship Program Committee, International Exchange Committee,Training Program Committee,Secretariat & Public Relations Committee and Cultural Activity Committee in the issues #193 & #194.

　UNESCO School was founded for children with an aim to inspire the spirit of international understanding, wholeheartedly valuing culture and developing a loving peace in the hearts of children who will shoulder the next generation. It reminds us the atmosphere of 1950's when the grown-ups wished to hand their ideals of peace to the younger generation.

After a short period of time when activities were suspended, we restarted the activity in around 1956, responding to the request from the Board of Education of Meguro City, to open a school “Japanese Language Class for children returning from China”. At that time,　the number of Japanese returnees, who were left in China after WWII, had been increasing and they started living in “Higashigaoka-So” Apartments with their families. Among them, children were in the most serious situation, embarrassed in an unfamiliar environment such as language and habits. They had a handicap studying at school, and needed support. Meguro UNESCO Association, Board of Education of Meguro City and an elementary school had a discussion and Meguro UNESCO agreed to send a Japanese Language tutor to the elementary school.

　Today, UNESCO School is accepting not only elementary school children, but also junior high and high school students and adults of Higashigaoka-So Apartments residents who wish to learn Japanese Language. In cooperation with the Board of Education and Higashine Residents Council, we open classes at Higashine Juku Center. On Tuesday, there are classes for adults and below elementary school age children and on Wednesday for junior high school students and older. For elementary and junior high school students, we support other subject, too, as much as possible to decrease the handicap caused by language ability.

After studying at UNESCO School some left Higashigaoka-So Apartments, some successfully go to higher level of education and some are still studying hard. All of them have their own lives to live. We wish them have a happy new year.