November 13, 2009: Regional Training (Day 6)
Training Report - Leadership Development Course
In the morning, JICA participants went back to the Peace Memorial Museum to have a lecture by a hibakusha, a survivor of A-bomb.
Even though she became very weak due to a number of surgeries for the after effects of the bomb's radiation, she was very humble and she thanked everyone in the room for giving her this opportunity. She then started explained her unforgettable experience in English.
http://www.hiroshima-spirit.jp/en/index.php
http://www.wagingpeace.org/articles/1999/00/00_matsubara_spirit-hiroshima.php
Through her sincere message all the participants could learn what was really happened in Hiroshima on August 6, 1945.
And then participants moved to the different building in the park, where the International Peace Promotion Department, the City of Hiroshima is located, to learn about the A-Bomb and its damage, and the current status of nuclear weapons in the world.
The Director, Peace Promotion Division gave them brief explanation on the main projects of the City of Hiroshima such as testimonies of the A-Bomb experience, Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, A-bomb exhibitions overseas, peace information over the Internet, and Hiroshima-Nagasaki Peace Study Courses. The participants also learned the Hiroshima City's effort to abolish nuclear weapons such as Mayors for Peace, 2020 Vision Campaign etc.
http://www.city.hiroshima.jp/e/peace.html
Before leaving Hiroshima the participants could meet the Mayor of City of Hiroshima, Mr. Tadatoshi Akiba, and they directly learned from him about the Hiroshima's national and international efforts for the nuclear weapon free world.
The three day's visit to Hiroshima gave strong impression to the participants and they surely will bring the “Spirit of Hiroshima” back to home country.
