Our Community Partnerships Coordinator Yulia Panfylova recently spent two weeks in Japan where she was selected as one of two interns to work with the Mayors for Peace initiative in Hiroshima.
The Mayors for Peace Network is coordinated by the Hiroshima Peace Culture Foundation (HPCF). Established in 1991, the network aims to achieve global peace and address pressing issues like nuclear disarmament, poverty, and human rights abuses.
We joined the programme in 2021 and are one of over 8000 cities/regions that belong to the Mayors for Peace.
Every year HPCF invites two representatives from their member cities to complete an internship. All costs of travel and accommodation are covered by HPCF.
Interns learn about the atomic bombings that occurred at Hiroshima in August 1945 and encourage the implementation of peace initiatives in their home regions.
During her two week internship, Yulia and her fellow intern – Harun, from Bosnia – participated in seminars, meeting officials, visiting museums and memorials, as well as presenting to HPCF staff and high school students on Tasman’s peace initiatives – such as the annual Peaceful Towns Art Competition.
As well as studying the devastating impacts of the nuclear bomb, there was also an opportunity to learn about Hiroshima’s resurrection and peace projects.
Yulia met the Mayor of Hiroshima and presented him with a toki pendant sourced from the Tasman District.
She also met with Hibakusha Keiko Ogura (atomic bomb survivor), who was just eight when the bomb was dropped on Hiroshima.
Entries are open until 1 September for our 2024 Peaceful Towns Art Competition. You can find all the details to get involved here.(external link)