May 2010

UNICEF Official Observes Dharma Centers' Youth Day Activities for Peace

A civil society and parliamentary specialist at UNICEF's headquarters in New York, Mr. Stephen Hanmer, visited Tokyo in May to observe Rissho Kosei-kai's annual Youth Day activities for peace and to attend the symposium "The Role of Religious Communities to Protect Children Affected by Conflict" held on May 14 and co-hosted by UNICEF and the World Conference of Religions for Peace.

He toured three sites in and near Tokyo where young members of the Minami-Tama, Hachioji, and Atsugi Dharma Centers held UNICEF fundraising campaigns on the streets near each center's dissemination area. Rev. Koichi Matsumoto, director of the Youth Department, accompanied Mr. Hanmer. At the three sites, Mr. Hanmer spoke with each youth member working for the campaign and expressed appreciation for the young members' long-term support for UNICEF. He also joined them in urging passers-by to support UNICEF.

After visiting the three sites, Mr. Hanmer said he was very impressed by the young members' calling for support of underprivileged children around the world, an activity he said he had never seen in other countries. He praised the young members for their work at the cutting edge of activities to support needy children around the world. He said their work for UNICEF deepened his own concern for the welfare of others, his sense of solidarity, and his love for humanity.

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