2008-11-18T16:17:11Z Our Future is in the Hands of Children tag:www.pangaean.org,2008:/blog/english/4 Movable Type Copyright (c) 2008, kumakinoko 2008-11-18T16:17:11Z 2008-11-07T16:14:01Z tag:www.pangaean.org,2008:/blog/english/4.540 2008-11-07T16:14:01Z

Hello, everyone! A terrible cold knocked me down. I took a business trip...

kumakinoko http://www.pangaean.org/ info@pangaean.org 3. Newsletter Hello, everyone!

A terrible cold knocked me down. I took a business trip to South Korea at the end of September. The air temperature dropped sharply on the third day of my stay, and later on I started feeling sick. I hadn't caught a cold in a while... Phew, I am fully recovered and feel relived!

I have some topics to share. First, during my stay in South Korea, I worked with our staff members, Sophia and Ally, and volunteers at the MIZY Center. I was struck not only with their hard work, but also with the well-organized activities they designed. Second, we had visitors from UBS branches, located near our activity sites, in September and October. This emerged because UBS has been supporting our projects through its grant program. Our kids were pleased to show how to create animations and share their masterpieces when the UBS staff came to see our activities in Mie, Tokyo, and Seoul. Third, we've got a helping hand from an incredible South Korean supporter. She has been playing a key role in promoting our projects in South Korea. I will continue to work hard and update you on our progress.

I've spent the long autumn nights on pondering... In October, I attended the activities held in Tokyo. The 8th grade boy whom I mentioned in the last newsletter came back to join our activities. I hadn't seen him for a year and a half;
]]>
Our Pangaea Ring writer for this month is Ms. Yuko Yamada. We call her "Bambi." It's been three years since she started helping Pangaea as a facilitator in Tokyo. She recently got back from Canada where she had spent a year on studying. We are very happy to work with her again!

Yumi

]]> 2008-11-18T16:12:11Z 2008-11-07T16:06:54Z tag:www.pangaean.org,2008:/blog/english/4.539 2008-11-07T16:06:54Z

Hello. I am Yuko Yamada, alias Bambi. It has been 3 years since I start...

kumakinoko http://www.pangaean.org/ info@pangaean.org 3. Newsletter Hello. I am Yuko Yamada, alias Bambi. It has been 3 years since I started to participate in PANGAEA.

I was very shocked when I visited to Hiroshima and listened to the speech from a survivor of atomic-bombing. That made me start to think what I should do and what I can do for peace building. I then reached one conclusion that the approach I can take is to value peace and remove the choice of engaging in war, and not to emphasize of horrible history and make efforts to make better place. It is because the former could be inherited from generation to generation, even though they have not experienced such a horror. To make it feasible, I also realized it is necessary to work with children. So, it was lovely for me to know PANGAEA.
]]>
I hope children get over the wall of differences and learn to face to anyone mutually without prejudiced eyes through PANGAEA. At the same time, I think I would like to be a part of assistance always.

Yuko Yamada
Academic student, University of Tsukuba

]]> 2008-11-21T05:53:09Z 2008-10-31T17:02:33Z tag:www.pangaean.org,2008:/blog/english/4.535 2008-10-31T17:02:33Z

Voting for the Pangaea Drawing Contest is now closed. Many people particip...

kumakinoko http://www.pangaean.org/ info@pangaean.org 8. General
Many people participated in our online voting. We thank those who supported our contest!

The votes have been counted and the prize winners will be announced on this website on November 20. Please watch this space!

This contest is proudly supported by the UBS "Kids in the Arts" Grant Program, run by UBS and Social Innovation Japan.

]]> 2008-11-21T05:53:54Z 2008-10-10T03:03:25Z tag:www.pangaean.org,2008:/blog/english/4.529 2008-10-10T03:03:25Z

The First Pangaea Drawing Contest is Open! Please click on the web address ...

kumakinoko http://www.pangaean.org/ info@pangaean.org 8. General
Please click on the web address below to visit our online gallery and cast your vote for your favorite drawings. We welcome anyone who wants to vote.

http://www.pangaean.org/kiacon/index.html


This is the landmark project for us: we invited not only our activity participants, but also non-participants of the Pangaea Activity, including those who have received pediatric inpatient care, to this contest.

We simply asked the contest participants – where do you want to visit? And then, they openly drew their pictures using their imagination.
So, please take a look every piece of artwork and find your favorite ones.

You can cast your vote between now and October 31, 2008. You can vote for as many drawings as you'd like. However, you may only vote for each drawing once. The contest participants with the highest number of online votes will receive prizes.

This contest is proudly supported by the UBS "Kids in the Arts" Grant Program, run by UBS and Social Innovation Japan.
We are currently developing new programs to enable the hospitalized children to participate in our activities.

We deeply appreciate your continuing support and understanding.

]]> 2008-10-06T02:54:17Z 2008-10-05T02:53:14Z tag:www.pangaean.org,2008:/blog/english/4.527 2008-10-05T02:53:14Z

Hello, everyone! September is a back-to-school month. Our children came ...

kumakinoko http://www.pangaean.org/ info@pangaean.org 3. Newsletter Hello, everyone!

September is a back-to-school month. Our children came back to the activities after summer break with suntan and healthy smiles. During the activities, I had many touching moments. One of elementary school boys apparently grew taller. Additionally, I had a huge reunion with a boy who used to come and join our activities. I hadn't seen him for a year and a half since he moved to another town right after he finished 6th grade. He is now in 8th grade and visited us by train. It was a very heartfelt moment for me. Watching the growth of participants always makes me feel honored.

Although I was rejuvenated with attending the activities, don't assume that I have been slowing down or relaxing. Interacting with the children was just one of my September To-Dos. Indeed, I have been extremely busy juggling several projects: evaluating and reshaping the Pangaea Camp, applying for grants, attending the business matchmaking sessions organized by the Social Innovation Japan, promoting the Pangaea Project to raise more funds, and etc., etc.

And then,
]]>
Recently, I have gotten a speculation that our newsletter subscribers must be great "publicists" or "educators" because the well-educated individuals regarding our project - including the presidents of a private corporation, the heads of institution, and event planners - have contacted us through our subscribers. I have had smooth and productive first meetings with those who have the pre-knowledge. Thanks a million for the increasingly supportive atmosphere!

Our project has been moving into a new phase: the Pangaea Pack is fully developed, and we are ready to open more activity sites. That is, we need your support now more than ever. Please help us to get more people who are interested to join our project.

Today (September 23), I am leaving for South Korea with some projects. In addition to work with the Pangaea staff in South Korea, I will attend business meetings to promote our project. This is because we have been taking a giant step toward launching new activity sites in South Korea. To support us, the MIZY center has agreed to play a core role in operating our facilitator training sessions. Furthermore, at the MIZY center activity site, our facilitator leaders have put enormous amounts of time and energy into our project. They have superbly set up meetings and planed meeting agendas.

It's been seven years since the idea for the Pangaea Project emerged from the 9/11 tragedy. We still have a long way to go, but finally developed our own framework to implement our project. I never thought pursuing this project would be a very lengthy endeavor. If I knew it, I probably would not have tried... But I am more determined than ever to fulfill this project. I say to myself - Yes, I Can Do It - whenever our children and facilitators boost my self-assurance by sharing their smiles, growth, and rapport. Okay, I am gearing up for October to push myself even further.

Mr. Takaharu Kameoka, a professor of bioresources at Mie University, is the Pangaea Ring Writer of the month. He is one of active supporters of Pangaea who laid the foundation for the Pangaea playground at Mie University.

Yumi

]]> 2008-10-06T02:49:20Z 2008-10-05T02:47:48Z tag:www.pangaean.org,2008:/blog/english/4.526 2008-10-05T02:47:48Z

During my appointment as a vise president/board member of Mie University...

kumakinoko http://www.pangaean.org/ info@pangaean.org 3. Newsletter During my appointment as a vise president/board member of Mie University which has terminated last March, I had planned and executed a project called "Local community initiated Internationl Environmental Information Education Project" in cooperation with Mr. Shimamura of E-labo Experience Co. Ltd, where the member children attended the "squeak" class held by Mr. Alan Kay at Expo 2005 Aichi. It was during the process of planning this project when I first met Ms. Mori of Pangaea through Mr. Shimamura. Time does go by fast and it has been over two years since then.
]]>
I have also founded ALFAE (Area Wide e-Laboratory for Food, Agriculture and Environment) on July 31st 2007, with Ms. Mori's cooperation. We enjoyed a huge success at ALFAE workshop held in June this year, where we tried to introduce the excellent concept of Pangaea into ALFAE by working with Pangaea. It is the last year for us to hold Pangaea Activities at Mie University according to the contract. However, I do wish to look for a way to continue Pangaea Activities in collaboration with Mie University and ALFAE.

Takaharu Kameoka
Professor, Division of Sustainable Resource Sciences, Graduate School
of Bioresources, Mie University /
Chairperson, ALFAE

]]> 2008-10-03T04:32:44Z 2008-09-28T04:21:41Z tag:www.pangaean.org,2008:/blog/english/4.522 2008-09-28T04:21:41Z

We've been in Seoul since last week. Yesterday, a Pangaea activity was he...

yumi yumi@pangaean.org 8. General We've been in Seoul since last week. Yesterday, a Pangaea activity was held at the Mizy Center, near Myeongdong. I just observed most of the time, as I cannot speak Korean. Twenty-three excited participants came, greeting us with "an nyoung ha seh yo"!

We then formed two groups. One group participated in an anime workshop, while the other painted, colored on own works, and created a panoramic picture collage of everyone with the help of a Pangaea staff member we like to call "Woophin". Halfway though, the groups switched.

While sitting at the painting and coloring table, I met a young boy in about the fifth grade who remembered my name. "Yumi!" he said to me, followed by something I did not understand. It turns out he was in Japan for just three days over the summer at our children's camp. ]]>
I really wished I could speak Korean!
]]> 2008-09-18T02:09:17Z 2008-09-11T04:07:40Z tag:www.pangaean.org,2008:/blog/english/4.516 2008-09-11T04:07:40Z

We cannot forget this day now or ever. It was this day that inspired the c...

yumi yumi@pangaean.org 8. General
Last week, we received news from UNESCO that Kenya will be participating again. This month however it's Seoul, where we will be further strengthening the connections Pangaea has forged between children in Korea and Japan. While it is not entirely certain why our relations with Korea are proceeding at such a rapid pace, we undoubtedly owe immense gratitude to the director, facilitators, and volunteers at Seoul's Mizy Center. This time we will be creating animated movies.

]]> 2008-09-05T07:23:16Z 2008-09-05T07:18:54Z tag:www.pangaean.org,2008:/blog/english/4.512 2008-09-05T07:18:54Z

Hello, everyone, The scorching summer heat has finally faded away. It wa...

kumakinoko http://www.pangaean.org/ info@pangaean.org 3. Newsletter Hello, everyone,

The scorching summer heat has finally faded away. It was pleasantly cool here in Kyoto this morning.

Pangaea had a historic accomplishment this summer: from August 23 to 25, we held our first camp, called "Pangaea Brain Boot Camp," at the Fuji Institute of Education and Training in Shizuoka, Japan. We planned this camp to invite Pangaeans residing in Japan in order to design and develop our projects together. Overall, 25 Pangaeans, including our facilitators, technical staff members, volunteers, and advisers, joined the camp from Tokyo, Kyoto, and Mie. We had a very productive time during the camp.

To boost our brain function,
]]>
During the camp, we all attended a variety of workshops, such as "brainstorming workshop" and "role-play workshop," and then shared our "brainpower" to find out better solutions. I am hoping to coordinate our Brain Boot Camp in other countries as well. Plus, I want to put my exhilarating plan, inviting our volunteers from every corner of the globe to join our camp, into action. This is because I learned a crucial lesson from the camp: we need to work not only with our staff members, but with our volunteers, in order to gain diverse perspectives and avenues, enabling us to move forward.

I will post our new challenges coming up in September: We will take a major step forward for an exciting project, launching a new activity site in South Korea, in parallel to hold the Viscuit Workshop for the first time at the MIZY Center. Please send us a big Hooray!

Yumi

]]> 2008-09-05T07:18:34Z 2008-09-05T06:50:05Z tag:www.pangaean.org,2008:/blog/english/4.511 2008-09-05T06:50:05Z

From my personal background and experiences, I believe that "knowing and...

kumakinoko http://www.pangaean.org/ info@pangaean.org 3. Newsletter From my personal background and experiences, I believe that "knowing and understanding others" could mean "knowing and understanding one's ego" at the same time. While I, a Korean, studied European culture for a long time, I became, ironically but naturally, more and more get interested in discovering mine including my-self.

Therefore, I have been quite sure that international understanding programs invite youth not only to get aware of each difference and respect it while making friends from all over the globe, but also to meet more closely and deeply inner self.

The Seoul Youth Center for Cultural Exchange (MIZY Center), which is managed by the Korean National Commission for UNESCO has played a role as a Korean partner organization for the Pangaea Project since 2006.

As a Korean counterpart,
]]>
Moreover, it is more meaningful for me to witness that the Pangaea Project helps Korean participants, who are more led to their scholastic achievement than to their self-reflection, to examine their selves through creative and expressive activities based on drawing.

It is an important point that Korean facilitators who are indispensable volunteers present positive feedback to have been experiencing their growth step by step while meeting Korean children and conducting the project. Me also, I take a look at myself considering the perspectives of Korean children, facilitators and other staffs at the scene of the Pangaea Project and it gives me always good lessons.

Finally, the Pangaea Project helps not merely Korean children but every single person involved to grow up slowly but surely.

The Pangaea Project plays thus like mirror, through which we could reflect ourselves. I am sure that the mirror allows us to show others with whom we live together, but who we do not know and understand, as well as, to know and understand ourselves more correctly and deeply.

Sophia Ji-hye Yoon
Head, Multicultural Program Team
Seoul Youth Center for Cultural Exchange (MIZY Center)

]]> 2008-09-05T07:34:48Z 2008-09-01T07:33:42Z tag:www.pangaean.org,2008:/blog/english/4.513 2008-09-01T07:33:42Z

Last week, Pangea held a three-day, two-night retreat from Saturday until...

yumi yumi@pangaean.org 8. General Last week, Pangea held a three-day, two-night retreat from Saturday until Monday. Twenty-five facilitators, technology staff, advisors, and board members from Tokyo, Kyoto, and Mie attended. Attendees praised the retreat, calling it "exceptionally productive" and finding it "so stimulating that ideas continued to be generated even after the retreat ended." Although I initially thought we could spend some time getting to know each other, participants got down to business immediately, turning the retreat into a forum to share their ideas about the present, future, content, and framework of Pangaea. Three lecture series were presented to work groups: Kazuhiko Nishi analyzed Pangaea's operations, Toru Ishida spoke on the language grid that powers the multilingual communicate site used weekly, and board member Toshio Nagahisa presented multiple perspectives on the future of Japan.

The discussions continued until after 10 PM, and the number of questions from participants startled even the speakers. We also tested animation software developed in Kyoto, built personal connections, considered thoroughly future content of our community site, and shared our daily concerns about Pangaea. It turned out to be a very fruitful retreat. If possible, I would like to have a retreat very much like this one every year. I was surprised and excited by the brilliance of our participants and felt we were truly creating "everyone's Pangaea." Thank you dearly to those who participated. For those who did not, we welcome you to future retreats.

Yumi

]]> 2008-08-05T13:30:18Z 2008-08-05T13:27:24Z tag:www.pangaean.org,2008:/blog/english/4.498 2008-08-05T13:27:24Z

Hello, everyone, It's been a challenging summer for me due to roasting h...

kumakinoko http://www.pangaean.org/ info@pangaean.org 3. Newsletter Hello, everyone,

It's been a challenging summer for me due to roasting heat waves in Japan. I usually stay abroad for two months, from June to July, which gives me a sanctuary from the excessively hot and sticky weather in Japan. But this summer is very different: I have been in Kyoto for these two months and experienced a hot spell for the first time. Alas, I am dazed and groggy.

Volunteer of the Year 07 was announced to be given to Oriana of Mie University Village. She participated Pangaea in last two years. At the end of July, she completed her job with Mie City to teach children English at schools, and returned back to US to attend PhD program in University. When she joined, she could not speak much Japanese, and experienced difficult times to communicate with children. However,
]]>
On July 19, our activity took place in Shibuya, Tokyo. Although it was the first Saturday of summer break, all participants showed up and enjoyed the activity. Our new facilitators, who had just completed our training sessions, were invited to the activity and made their debut as a facilitator. One of Pangaea graduates, a high school freshman, helped with us as a facilitator, as well. She joined the meeting held after the activity and shared her feedback with other staff members. I am very pleased to have our graduates as our facilitators and to see their social growth.

Toshi and I finished our papers for International Workshop on Intercultural Collaboration (IWIC) at the beginning of July. We were assigned different topics. Because I am very new to the topic, I was stressed out and anxious from the paper work. However, I am very thankful for the given opportunity: I looked through enormous data (pictograph) to collect the information I needed, and in the process, I could understand our children much deeper. I am not sure whether or not my paper will be accepted, but I believe that writing the paper was a worthy experience.

We are now working on the following projects. To make our manual more understandable and usable, we are trying to describe our "Activity Menus" in as few words as possible. We are also planning to develop our e-training system for future Pangaea facilitators. The concept of the system is to hold our facilitator training sessions in any geographic location. That is, Toshi and I will be able to join the sessions without traveling.

As you know, we have strived to create our universal playgrounds across the globe. The number of our members has gradually increased, but we need your continuing support and understanding to go further. If you are interested in becoming an important part of our team, please apply for our membership.

This month I will introduce Ms. Miwa Omori as a Pangaea Ring writer. She is a Pangaea facilitator in Tokyo. We truly appreciate her devotion to Pangaea.

Have a Happy Summer!

Yumi

]]> 2008-08-05T13:26:14Z 2008-08-05T13:21:25Z tag:www.pangaean.org,2008:/blog/english/4.497 2008-08-05T13:21:25Z

Hello. My name is Miwa Omori. My encounter with Pangaea was an electrif...

kumakinoko http://www.pangaean.org/ info@pangaean.org 3. Newsletter Hello. My name is Miwa Omori.

My encounter with Pangaea was an electrifying experience. Two years ago, on one morning, I was watching NHK and suddenly the title "NPO Pangaea's approach - Simultaneous activity between Japan and Korea" caught my eyes and then I found myself exclaiming, "This is it!"
I could not believe what was being broadcasted on TV. What I saw was exactly the kind of activity that I had always wanted to take part in - the activity to create the bond between the children all around the world. I made friends with a Czechoslovakian
]]>
I searched the internet and contacted Pangaea right away. I was deeply moved by Yumi san's enthusiasm and dearly wished to be a part of Pangaea myself. Pangaea enables the children all around the world to communicate and understand each other over the barriers of the languages. I find Pangaea's approach to use optical tool of communication such as pictons and to hold activities making the best use of IT truly wonderful.

At the moment, I participate in Pangaea activities as a facilitator. Through attending the activities I have first realized what I was missing in my way of thinking. It was "the children's perspective" - what do they have on mind now, how do they feel about being related with other children around the world - the most important point of all. The adults can prepare the appropriate environment and encourage the children only so much if the children are not self-motivated.
I believe each and every child is given a full attention at Pangaea activity. Pangaea activity also draws the children's interest in getting to know one another in a very successful manner.
The children can, in spite of the language barriers, make their natural effort to communicate with one another even if they are only interested in knowing about each other more.

When I spend time with the children at Pangaea activity, I always learn something new, for example about the children's rich sensibility, how remarkably fast their growth is and the importance of caring for others and so on. To me, it is truly a meaningful experience. Also, getting to see the children's carefree laughs, away from the adult society where I spend most of my time, is the best source of my energy just like vitamins.

I hold dear all my experiences with Pangaea and I hope to stay as a part of Pangaea.
I dream a day when the Pangaea Network will have expanded all around the world letting the children communicate with each other.

Miwa Omori

]]> 2008-07-23T07:27:16Z 2008-07-12T07:21:03Z tag:www.pangaean.org,2008:/blog/english/4.494 2008-07-12T07:21:03Z

Today we held an activity at Mie University. The numbers have increased he...

kumakinoko http://www.pangaean.org/ info@pangaean.org 1. Activity Report Today we held an activity at Mie University. The numbers have increased here since last month, and there are now 25 children actively participating. Newcomers joined the regulars in their creative projects, and the environment warmed gradually as everyone's shyness faded.

One great thing about the activities at Mie is that ALTs (Assistant Language Teachers) from the city of Tsu participate as facilitators. Indeed, intercultural communication is possible right here in Mie! So far, six ALTs have participated as facilitators and provided support for our children.

Today was also the last day for one of these facilitators, an ALT named Oriana Gatta. She is returning to the United States after two years in Japan, but has not missed a single day of activities since we began Pangaea in Mie. She has always used her exceptionally gentle demeanor and smile to bridge linguistic and cultural differences, showing kindness and compassion not only to students, but to the entire staff.
]]>
During the closing of today's activity, Oriana received the 2007 Volunteer of the Year certificate and a parting gift. The children also presented her with a collection of thank you notes. The gratitude she expressed for these gifts was truly heartwarming. She told us, "participating in Pangaea was very enjoyable, and I have learned so much from all of you." We at Pangaea feel the same way.

Thank you very much, Oriana!

I am pleased that Pangaea can continue to bridge connections among not only students, but our staff as well.

Takekazu "Hana-pooh" Hanada
Chief Administrative Officer

]]> 2008-07-04T04:45:33Z 2008-07-04T04:42:53Z tag:www.pangaean.org,2008:/blog/english/4.488 2008-07-04T04:42:53Z

Hello, everyone, Within two months, powerful earthquakes rocked in China...

kumakinoko http://www.pangaean.org/ info@pangaean.org 3. Newsletter Hello, everyone,

Within two months, powerful earthquakes rocked in China and Japan. To make matters worse, the monsoon season has started in Japan. We are now concerned with landsliding in the areas affected by the earthquake. My prayers and condolences go out to the victims of the earthquake.

Well, now for the good news: the content and design of our website are renewed! Our translation volunteers in Japan, as well as Pangaeans in Europe, devoted their time and skills to get our work done. We all worked together to improve our website more informative and understandable. Please take a look at our refreshed website!!!

Our facilitator training sessions were held in Kyoto, Seoul, Mie, and Tokyo. I am very proud that one of our staff, Hana-pooh, became a great lecturer!
]]>
Slowly but surely, our projects have been moving forward. A couple of projects were added to our Must-Do lists. Because we received subsidies from the Assistance for Long Life, Child Care and Disability Projects, run by Medical Service Agency (WAM), we are able to develop distinct content for inpatient children and deliver our activities to a hospital playroom. Furthermore, our art contest, funded by the USB "Kids in the Arts" Program, is awaited.

We have many thanks to all our board members, who have been tapping into their personal network to publicize Pangaea membership. Over all, the number of Pangaea members has increased. If you already signed up for our newsletter, then we urge you to become a Pangaea member individually or corporately. Please join our team!

Mr. Hiroshi Shimamura, the president of Elab-experience Inc., is the Pangaea writer this month. He has been a big supporter of Pangaea technically and inspirationally; he enthusiastically pushed his proposal, launching Pangaea Activity at Mie University, forward. Because his ideas matched up with our project plans, we decided to implement our program at Mie University. We deeply appreciate his contributions, especially his expertise and the technical volunteers from his company.

See you next month!

Yumi

]]>