2021年度活動報告
本年度の活動内容
気候変動, 環境, 文化多様性, 世界遺産・無形文化遺産・地域の文化財等, 国際理解, 平和, 人権, ジェンダー平等, 貧困
Kyoto Gaidai Nishi High School – 2021 UNESCO School Activities Report
United Nations Understanding
KGN sponsored and organized the 31st annual Kansai High School Model United Nations, June 21st – 23rd, at the Kyoto International Conference Center (KICC). Due to the ongoing situation with COVID-19, the event was re-organized as an online event with KGN students joining from the KICC and students from other participating schools joining online from remote locations.
- Agenda: The Social Impact of COVID-19 on Children (Education, Child Labor, Health & Safety).
- Over 250 high school students from 11 Japanese high schools participated.
- English event.
- KGN students served as student leaders, participating as pages, delegates, bloc leaders, secretaries and assembly presidents.
- KGN students spent 12 weeks preparing for the KHSMUN. English preparations included: United Nations research, country research, agenda research, presentations and debate.
International Exchange
KGN students and teachers participated in international exchange opportunities both abroad and in Japan; however, due to the COVID-19 situation, many planned exchange programs were either canceled or postponed. Exchange relationships were maintained with schools in Australia, Canada, Guam, Korea, Malaysia, United States, and New Zealand.
- Four students were able to depart for long-term student exchange programs in Canada.
- 3rd year students in the Course of International & Cultural Studies participated in a two-month online exchange project with high school students from Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara. Students from each school were paired together and exchanged self-designed avatars. Students then took the printed versions of the avatars on a cultural tour of their hometown, explaining the sites in English, and videoing the tour. Videos were uploaded and viewed by classes.
UNESCO Club
Due to COVID-19, KGN’s UNESCO club activities in 2020 were heavily reduced; however, club members continued to organize and plan for UNESCO activities for the 2022 school year.
Traditional Culture and Understanding
KGN students participated in both curricular and after-school activities designed to foster an appreciation for Japanese culture and cultural understanding; however, many activities were canceled due to COVID-19.
- Students in the Course of International and Cultural Studies studied Japanese Tea Ceremony with Omotosenke twice a month. Tea Ceremony lessons were conducted both online and in a regular face-to-face class.
UNESCO ASPnet Kyoto (Community involvement and ESD activities)
- KGN students and faculty joined the UKYO VOICES project, a project with Kyoto University of Foreign Studies, and the Ukyo-ku ward office of Kyoto to celebrate the 90th anniversary of Ukyo-ku. Students and faculty interviewed numerous residents of Ukyo-ku and published the interviews in both English and Japanese on the UKYO VOICES website.
https://kyotogaidai.org/ukyoxkufs/ - 24 KGN students and faculty joined the Camp Pax Mundi, a two-day English workshop designed by students in the Community Engagement Program at Kyoto University of Foreign Studies. Activities included presentations, workshops and fieldwork on SDG 11 with a focus on sustainable cities and world heritage sites. Fieldwork included a trip to Kamigamo Shrine, a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site.
https://kgn.kufs.ac.jp/info/detail/2acamp_pax_mundi.html - KGN teachers continue to maintain communication with the ASPnet Kyoto UNESCO High School organization , a group of teachers from 7 UNESCO High Schools in Kyoto, who share resources and ideas on ESD, and organize the annual ASPnet Kyoto UNESCO High School workshop at Kamigamo Shrine. Due to COVID-19, ASPnet Kyoto activities for 2020 and 2021 were canceled.
ASPnet Kyoto Workshop 2019 Event link: http://kgn.kufs.ac.jp/info/detail/esd.html
来年度の活動計画
Next year’s activity plan
- KGN teachers and students will continue to maintain communication with various community organizations involved with SDGs, planning to return to active participation in community activities once the COVID-19 situation is brought under control
- KGN will continue to produce and teach teaching materials focused on SDGs, as students participate in international exchange and Model United Nations activities.
- Students will continue to learn about Japanese culture in order to share their culture with others in English.
- KGN’s UNESCO Club will continue to cooperate with the Kyoto UNESCO Association, the Kyoto City Ukyo-ku ward office, and other community organizations to join community events that support SDGs and ESD in the Kyoto area.
- KGN will continue to cooperate in hosting and organizing regular meetings and events for the ASPnet UNESCO High Schools in Kyoto.
- KGN will organize and host the 32nd annual Kansai High School Model United Nations with the agenda: Achieving Gender Equality and Empowering all Women and Girls.
- KGN will continue to organize both short-term and long-term exchange programs for students in Canada (Vancouver, Victoria), New Zealand (Auckland, Christchurch), the United States (New York City, Boston) and Malaysia (Penang).