What image comes to mind when you hear the word “refugee”?
Over 7 years have passed since the beginning of the war in Syria. While moves are being made to settle this lingering conflict, even now many Syrians are being left with no other choice but to flee to other countries and live as refugees.
Many of those escaping from the civil war are children whose hearts still carry the scars of the conflict and who can see no future beyond living day by day as refugees.
Now at the ICC we have invited a staff member of the Japanese NPO “Kokkyo naki Kodomotachi (KnK, Children Without Borders)” who is supervising the support for Syrian refugees on the ground in the middle east; Ms. Haruko Matsunaga to give a talk session.
Ms. Matsunaga currently works in the Za’atari refugee camp in Jordan, only 15 kilometres from the Syrian border and home to around 78,000 Syrian refugees. Within the camp she works to provide cultural education in subjects such as music, theatre and writing to the children. She also works in the local Jordanian host community outside the camp in cooperation with the Jordanian Ministry of Education and JICA to introduce special Japanese style educational activities in public schools (day duties, group activities etc.), supporting children’s growth through these two projects.
What is everyday life like as a refugee for Syrian children?
What kind of support is required to recover the education of refugee children and help them move forward independently in the future?
Those interested in the future of international organizations and international cooperation and of course those interested in hearing real experiences of support for refugees and cultural education, you can’t miss this talk.
This is your chance to come and listen to the real story of supporting refugees on the front lines!
Date & Time
May 29, 2019 (Wed) 6:15-7:45pm (Doors open: 6:00pm)
Venue
Okuma Garden House (1F, Bldg 25)
Eligibility
Waseda students, Staff & General public
Language
Japanese (Q&A in Japanese & English)
Fee
Free
Registration
Not required (80 seats, first come first serve, standing room available)
Guest Profile
Ms. Haruko Matsunaga
Kokkyo naki Kodomotachi (KnK, Children Without Borders), Syrian refugee support project manager.
Born in Aichi prefecture. Graduate of University of Tsukuba Graduate School of Arts majoring in Carving and Modeling. After serving as a teacher of fine arts in Japan and Vietnam, in 2011 she joined the Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers as a visual arts teacher in Jordan for 2 years and later worked for another NGO in the same country. From 2014 she has worked as a resident officer of Kokkyo naki Kodomotachi (KnK, Children Without Borders) in Jordan working on projects to engage both Za’atari refugee camp and their host communities. Currently working as a project manager of general support for Syrian refugees and children’s education, including grassroots technical cooperation with JICA.
Kokkyo naki Kodomotachi (KnK, Children Without Borders)
Established in 1997 as a Japanese Non-Governmental Organization (NGO). Their vision is to “Education and Friendship for All Children beyond Borders”. Currently conducting activities in 7 different countries and regions including Japan.
Japanese Website
English Website
Inquiries
Tel: 03-5286-3990
E-mail: [email protected]
