Oriental Land performers explain about the issue of climate change. Photo by Curtis Christophersen/UNU.

On Wednesday, 26 August, UNU Centre – Tokyo welcomed a group of fifth- and sixth-grade elementary school students from Kunitachi City for a “Hands-on Learning Programme”.

Kunitachi City, which is located in the western metropolitan area  of Tokyo, has been host of the homestay programme for foreign participants in the annual UNU International Courses. This summer, as part of a children’s programme on international understanding, some 50 elementary school children from Kunitachi City visited the UNU.

In the morning, the children received a briefing from the UNU Office of Communications on the United Nations and the UNU, and on what the children themselves can do to help solve the global challenges we face today. Oriental Land, which has been actively conducting educational programmes for the children as part of their corporate social responsibility effort, then joined with the UNU to put on a show about climate change and organize a craft session. 

After a brown-bag lunch, the children received an information briefing by UNHCR.

The children busily took notes or simply enjoyed themselves. The UNU headquarters building, which is usually occupied by adults, had a different face on Wednesday, brightened by the smiles of the children.