It's 6 a.m., and at the sound of the alarm clock, we force our heavy bodies out of bed and head outside. Soon, the music of the morning radio gymnastic exercise is heard and still half-asleep we begin to move our arms and legs sluggishly.

On the other hand, running around with laughter and bright smiles, the children are bursting with energy, even so early in the morning, marking the start of the day. This is a typical morning scene at Ninoshima Gakuen.

Ninoshima is an island located 50 minutes by ferry from Ujina Harbor, in Hiroshima Prefecture. Twice a year, we come and stay in Ninoshima for about a week and we do activities with the children, such as sports, cooking, hiking, and arts and sports festivals.

Our student activity circle, called “Ninoshima Work Camp,” has a long history. It started right after the end of the Second World War. After the blast of the atomic bomb in Hiroshima, casualties were brought to the island of Ninoshima, which served as a temporary hospital. The activities with children started when students from universities such as Waseda and Keio went to help out with caring for patients both in and outside the hospital. Afterwards, the hospital became an institution for war orphans, and now, called Hiroshima Municipal Ninoshima Gakuen, it serves as a facility providing education and care for children who are unable to live with their parents for various reasons.

Ninoshima Gakuen houses children from the age of 2 to 18. Despite its sad history, the children are now living at ease on the island, surrounded by the beautiful ocean and the lovely view, a place where time seems to pass so slowly. We are proud of our student circle, with over 50 years of history. We engage in community projects, which we truly enjoy. What gives us utmost pleasure is the children, who are anxious to see us every time we visit. They are young and cute, and watching their happy faces makes us want to come back again and again to see the children who become through time, our own brothers, sisters, or children.

It is very difficult to express our thoughts in words, but we can say with confidence that this organization provides the members with invaluable experience and memories that will last a lifetime.