Note to Correspondents

YOKOHAMA STUDENTS TO BRING CITY’S GOODWILL TO UN CHILDREN’S FUND

 

ON MONDAY, 10 OCTOBER

 

Students from Japan designated as “Yokohama Children Peace Messengers” will deliver approximately $128,448 (¥14,129,319), donated by residents of the city of Yokohama, to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) on Monday, 10 October.

In addition to Yokohama’s deep history of involvement in a range of international exchange activities, the city’s activities throughout the International Year of Peace (1986) won them official recognition by the United Nations as a “ Peace Messenger City” in 1987.

Each year, as one part of the city’s peace-related activities, students are chosen through an original peace-related speech contest and designated as “Yokohama Children Peace Messengers”.  The students travel to New York City, representing the international peace efforts that Yokohama has made throughout the year.

During their weeklong stay in New York City, the students will visit the United Nations and meet with Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s Chef de Cabinet, Mark Malloch Brown.  They will also visit the Japanese Mission to the United Nations and UNICEF, as well as participate in classes at the United Nations International School.  There has been a long tradition of cooperation between United Nations International School and the Yokohama Board of Education.  Indeed, they fully support two language teachers from Japan.

The “Yokohama Children Peace Messengers” will also hold a press conference on 13 October at 4:30 p.m. at the City of Yokohama New York Representative Office.  Please contact Lara Mones at tel.:  212-867-6070 or e-mail:  lara@cityyokohama.org for further information.

* *** *

For information media • not an official record