We’ve received a thank you letter from the Nagaoka International Exchange Association, in regards to their Honolulu visit we assisted in!
Below is the original letter in Japanese, and an English translation:
February 1st 2024
To: the Hawaii Global Education Foundation
Executive Director Mayumi Miyahara
Please accept my sincerest appreciation for your assistance in planning and managing the Honolulu trip for the 15 middle school students from Nagaoka City.
I was told of all the amazing learning experiences the students had in your city. They told me of the Peace Education, an essential part of the sister city exchange of Nagaoka and Honolulu, followed by the volunteer activities to preserve the Hawaiian nature and culture, and of the time they spent with the students of the Island Pacific Academy, letting them mingle with youths of the same generation. By having this real-life experience, the students have acquired an irreplaceable treasure that will surely broaden their future opportunities.
It is my understanding that the Peace and Educational enterprises for our youth is essential to our sister city exchanges. I believe that by communicate their experiences to their friends and family, the 15 students who attended this trip will play a crucial part in spreading the importance of peace to the people around them, and ultimately to the rest of the world.
With your help, I hope to continue these educational programs in the future to come, not only by working with the youth of Nagaoka city, but by deepening our friendship with the city of Honolulu.
Let me also express my gratitude for arranging medical support when one of our students developed a fever during the trip. Thanks to you, they’ve returned safely and are in good health.
I look forward to the day we can meet again in Nagaoka city.
Finally, I wish good health and happiness to all the people at HGEF.
Sincerely yours
Noriko Irizawa
Executive Director
Nagaoka International Exchange Association