2018 CFP Children’s Goodwill Ambassadors

2018 CFP Children’s GoodwillAmbassadors

-Philippine and Thai Children’s Goodwill Ambassadors visited Japan, deepened learning and pledged promoting CFP activities

From June 4 to 13, OISCA invited

to Japan a total of 6 persons, 2 school children and a coordinator each from Abra Province, the Philippines and Khon Kaen Province, Thailand under the Children’s Forest Program (CFP). They visited Japanese supporting companies for exchange activities and observed various efforts for environmental conservation in Tokyo, Saitama Prefecture, Hokkaido and Miyagi Prefecture.

In Tokyo, the visitors were divided into two groups and visited the private corporations which are supporting the respective countries. They came to know how their activities are supported by the Japanese supporters and were highly motivated for further promoting activities after returning home.

Moving to Hokkaido, the Children’s Goodwill Ambassadors and coordinators visited “Ecorin Village” located in Eniwa City and

participated in the Green Wave activity. They first received a lecture on the present situation of forests in Hokkaido and the role of forests supporting biodiversity in order to deepen understanding on sustainable forest development. Afterwards, they did such field works as carrying out thinning trees and firewood splitting under the guidance of the Hokkaido Forest Volunteers Association. Although it was a chilly day, they enjoyed the exchangesession with about 50 high school and university students coming from various parts of Hokkaido.

The visiting group commented: “we are surprised to find how different the forests here are from the ones in our country” and “we now understand that it is important, not only to plant trees, but also to take care and maintain them by thinning and replanting.” It turned out a useful opportunity to learn that steady maintenance activities would lead to the conservation of forests rich in diversity.

 In Miyagi Prefecture, they had an opportunity to observe the site of the “Coastal Forest Restoration Project” which is now underway on the coastal area of Natori City. Mr. Rap Rodriguez, one of the Filipino children, who has experienced mangrove planting in his own country, said: “I now understand that we can protect many

lives from natural disasters by raising coastal forests. After going back home,

I would like to try my best with friends in carrying out CFP activities.”In the future, the OISCA Headquarters intends to make a follow-up, so that the Children’s Goodwill Ambassadors who have deepened learning in the various parts of Japan would be able to lead activities at school and community after returning to their home country.