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Hitoshi Takami
What
we learned from Audrey Hepburn
Audrey Hepburn was a well-known actress all over the world,
but most of us don’t know that after she retired, she
devoted her life to helping poor, starving children as a
Special Ambassador for the United Nations Children’s Fund.
She went to Ethiopia, Latin America, Sudan, Bangladesh,
Vietnam, Somalia, and many other needy countries. All these
places had no sanitation, no heating, and no water, and
children were suffering the most. Especially in war-torn
Somalia, which was her last and most difficult journey, she
said, “I walked into a nightmare. I have seen nothing like
this-so much worse than I could have possibly imaged. It’s
so hard to talk about because it’s unspeakable. Most of
the population was starving to death.”
Four months after Audrey’s return from Somalia, she
died of cancer. She spent her life to inform us of the
unbearable disastrous situations in other countries and to
help children there.
In spite of her devotion, there are still some children
staving to death now. What can we and what should we do to
change this situation? Japan is one of the richest countries
in the world, so first we can give some money to UNICEF in
order to help poor children. Second, older people who
experienced World War 2 should convey to their children and
grandchildren the things that war brings in order that war
should never break out again. I think that this is our duty
as the only country in the world to have been bombed with
nuclear weapons, and only older people can tell us about
this!
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Asuna Arai
Japanese
Culture for Non-Japanese
In 1
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Miyuki Dempoya
Audrey’s Great Work
Audrey Hepburn accomplished great work as a UNICEF goodwill
ambassador after she was retired as an actress. She played a
wonderful role in saving many children who suffer from their
bad situation in the world. Her love power for children was
amazing and her work had very important meaning. I think she
was an essential person in UNICEF to save children who need
help .
There are many children who suffer from their poor
circumstances in the world. Many of them are concentrated in
developing countries like part of Asia, Africa and Latin
America. They need help as soon as possible. Many of us know
this fact and hope these children will become happy. But
unfortunately few people know what we should do or can do.
Moreover it is difficult for us to save them.
On the other hand, Audrey could help them on a grand scale.
Her activity attracted public interest because she was very
famous allover the world. So she was able to spread news
of the conditions of children in developing countries.
They mainly have problems of child protection, girl’s
education, immunization plus, HIV/AIDS and early childhood.
She helped us to know these specific facts and inspired many
people. In addition, she had a warm personality and strongly
hoped for world peace. She understood her position and her
role.
Therefore we can say she was the most suitable person to work
as a UNICEF goodwill ambassador for children in need. Her act
is a good example for us to follow. Many of us may not be able
to make a huge contribution like her but we can help them
through volunteer activities, fund-raising and so on. I think
I will start to do anything I can. I’d like to become a
beautiful person like Audrey.
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Keita Tokunaga
Elderly Volunteers
Elderly people can do many things for other people.
First and foremost, I think that the elderly should tell
their experiences to the next generation. When elderly
people live to a great age, they should have acquired much
knowledge out of various events and their daily lives that
is useful for us to be better off. I think that their wisdom
is very valuable, so young people should learn from them,
and talk with them positively. Some of their wisdom is too
out-dated to use in modern life, so we should blend our
knowledge with that old wisdom which seems to be of use.
Furthermore,
some knowledge may be useful for people who live in
developing countries. They are suffering from a shortage of
food, so if we make use of this wisdom for developing
countries, their lives may be better and they may live more
happily. That’s why I respect senior citizens and I want
to cooperate with them in order to improve everyone’s
lives.
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 Mayu Maekawa
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Masayo Fukuhara
Girls’
education
The
United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund,
known as UNICEF, doesａlot
of work to help children around the world, especially in
poor countries. I’m interested the most in girls’
education. UNICEF has given girls opportunities to learn. I
have three reasons why I’m attracted to this topic.
First,
I know well the importance of education. If people can’t
do calculation, they won’t be able to work in any shops.
If they can’t read and write, they won’t be able to take
a message on the telephone. So education is very essential
at work for not only boys but also girls.
Secondly,
girls must study much more than boys. Girls have fewer
career choices than boys, because girls have barriers, for
example marriage and childbirth. So they must train for
different skills in order to get a job.
Thirdly,
women should be dealt with equally. Women’s roles once had
been decided, for example cooking, washing dishes and
clothes, raising children and staying home. But now they
have been changing. Women have just as much abilty as boys
do. So it’s a waste to ignore a girl’s ability.
Education for women is a good start for modern society.
I
think education for girls is the most effective way to solve
various problems, for example population explosion, unequal
opportunities for women and impiety of women. I want UNICEF
to continue this effort.
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Kazushi Yuasa
Let’s start from
practicing a “love that gives”!
I don’t think most older
people can volunteer like Audrey Hepburn did, so I’ll
propose one thing which not only older people but everyone
can do very easily, and which will surely change the world
for the better. My proposal is to give love to other people.
Actually, the other day, I read a book called “The Law of
Happiness” and I was very impressed by it! (I really
recommend you read this book!) This book says, “The
important thing is to give up the idea that you cannot
become happy without getting love from others. You should
recognize others’ good points, be thankful for what you
have been given and change your way of thinking. Let’s
stop constantly robbing others of love. Let’s give others
love. The more love you give to other people, the happier
you will become” (Okawa, 2003). The book I have is written
in Japanese and I translated a part of the book by myself.
I
hope that this principle of love spreads and the world will
become more peaceful.
Reference ; The Law of
Happiness (Ryuho Okawa)
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