FY2021 Kiribati ProjectPreparatory Project for
Assisting Establishment of
Kiribati Non-governmental
UNESCO Association
Project Report Sendai UNESCO Association

SendaiJAPAN

Republic of Kiribati

K i r i b a t i
FY2021 Project Overview and Prospective
The Project Keyword for FY2021 is “Cultural Exchange” and “School Exchange”
The objective of the Kiribati Project is to contribute to establishment of non-governmental UNESCO Association in Kiribati bycreating the environment for its establishment by spreading UNESCO Spirits through youth activities to educational institutions suchas the ASPNet Schools and awareness activities to the grassroots level in Kiribati. After the establishment of the association, we
will promote cooperation and collaboration between our two non-governmental UNESCO Associations in order to achieve the SDGs,
especially the Goal 13 of “Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts” that Kiribati seeks, and at the same time,
we will draw attention among the youth in Japan to the world and carry out activities to foster them by showcasing the current stateof Kiribati, as they will play a leading role in a sustainable society.
FY2021 being the 2nd year of the Project, various activities were carried out based on “promotion of dialogue, tolerance andmutual understanding among peace and culture” and “promotion of education through school and social educations for stimulating
UNESCO activities by participation of youth” stated in the “2014-2021 UNESCO Medium Term Strategy”, by the outcome of the
FY2020 Project.
Escala t ion of t he COV ID -19 pandemic hinder ed t he pr ojec t
implementations. However, this is the very hinderance that made us
realise impor tance of problem solving in a global perspective. Next
UNESCO Medium Term Strategy (2022-2029) suggests advancing
towards an inclusive, equitable and sustainable recovery from the impactof the global COVID-19 crisis. Therefore, we carried out “Online
Grassroots Cultural Exchange” and “Primary School Online Exchange” bynoting advantages of online international exchange.
This Project Report covers mainly on summary of these two exchange
activities.

Republic of Kiribati
The Republic of Kiribati is located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean at the intersection of the Equatorand the 180th meridian, consists of the Gilbert Islands, where the capital Tarawa is located, the Phoenix
Islands, which is a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site, and the Line Islands, where the first islands to greet the rising sun in the world.
It is a country of 33 beautiful islands, scattered over a vast area of 5,000 km East to West. It became independent from the United
Kingdom in 1979 and has a very close relationship with Japan. The islands are made up of coral atolls and averages of only about 2
meters above sea level (excluding Banaba Island). It is a paradise island in the South Sea, which about 120,000 people (as of 2020) who
live in harmony with nature and are calm and love singing and dancing, call home. However, it is at the frontline of climate change, with
the World Bank and other international organisations predicting that climate change could make these islands uninhabitable in the worst
scenario by 2050. (extracted from Japan-Kiribati Association)
While the Phoenix Islands being the largest marine protected area in the world designated as the UNESCO World Heritage in 2010
and primary and junior secondary schools and a national senior high school, KGV/EBS, in capital Tarawa are registered as UNESCO
Associated Schools Network, no Non-governmental UNESCO activities are carried out and the UNESCO World Heritage as educational
material is underutilised.
FEDERATED STATESOF MICRONESIA

TarawaSOLOMON
ISLANDSParis

TUVALU

SendaiVANUATU

FIJI

New Caledonia I. (FRA)

Republic of Kiribati

Republic of Kiribati
SAMOA

TONGA

AUSTRALIANEW ZEALAND

Cook Is. (NZL)U N E S C O
2021 Kiribati Project

Month

Related Events etc

Publicity in Kiribati andAssistance to COVID-19
Pandemic

Advisory Com
Update Meeting

OutputStudies
Programme

School Exchange

War Memorial PS &Movie (Youth) Presentation/Report
Shishiori PS

Cultural Eventand Video
Production

Confirmation of theschool6
Online meeting
Adivsed MoE etc the FY2021
Project plan via letter
Called for WG
Members

7・8

Selection ofparticipants &meeting
Applied to SenTIA subsidy
Lecture by Mr
Kentaro Ono
Appointment
letter and meeting
notification
9

1st Update Meeting
Lecture on
Kiribati by Mr
Kentaro Ono
Teachers exchange
1st Advisory
Committee

10Venue booking &meeting
3rd ESD for 2030 Study
SeminarPresentation

Kesennuma Roundtable
Conference

Presentation

Applied to Tohoku
Exposition Memorial
International Exchange
Fund subsidy

11

Class 3 & 4exchange

TV and newspaper coverage in
Kiribati
WG (Cultural Exchange
Event)Class 5 & 6exchange
Lecture to theparticipants

SDGs Platform National
Seminar12

ESD Promotion Network
National Forum2nd Update Meeting

Presentation

Tagajo HighSchool lesson
research andstudies

Presentation

Advised MoE of the Cultural
Exchange Event and requsted
for participating a discussion

Applied for change in theevent contents

2

Called for emergency
donation till
20/Feb5th Japanese Society for
ESD Conference

Shipment of masks etc
Dep 04/Mar, Arr 12/Mar
Press release in Kiribati(YouTube channel)

3State of Disaster and Lockdown

COVID-19 outbreak in
Kiribati

1

RecordingPresentation

Practical lesson
2nd Advisory
Committee

Video
production(slideshow andmessage)

Donation drive by the
pupilsReport making

Messagerecording

Upload to
YouTubeProject Sum Up(After FY2022)

Perspective●Advocacy of the UNESCO Spirits in Kiribati ▶ Establishment of Kiribati non-governmental UNESCO Association●Proposing collaboration plan between two UNESCO Associations ▶ ESD for 2030
●Collaboration and cooperation ▶ Teachers exchange●Expansion of school exchange mainly among the ASPNet Schools●Wide publicity of Social Studies Programme ▶ Use of HP●Studying possibility of creating the studies programme into upper schools and other subjects●Promotion of youth & grassroots (cultural) exchangeK i r i b a t i

U N E S C O
2021 Kiribati Project

In Collaboration with Kiribati=Kiribati/Sendai Online Cultural Exchange Event=
Te Reitaki ma Tiaban Rinanon te Intenete n te Mwaie ao Anene ae Aanaki n
Ana Boto ni Iango te UNESCO
Date
Saturday, 29th January 2022 10:00-12:00 Japan Time, 13:00-15:00 Kiribati Time
Venue
Fureai Hall, Sendai Welfare Plaza >online< Kiribati
Programme Part I “Introduction of the Republic of Kiribati” by Mr Kentaro Ono
Part II Online Discussion (deferred)
Ms Reetina Katokita
Director, Policy, Planning, Research & Development Unit. Kiribati Ministry of Education
Dr MIKAMI Kazuyuki
President, Sendai UNESCO Association
Part III Cultural Exchange
From Kiribati
Kiribati dance and songs by TM Youth (deferred)
From Sendai
Kosuzume-kai Shouryo Kento Omoto-gumi (Sendai traditional “Suzume Odori (sparrow dance) troop)
Medley: “Taiko Dokusou (solo drum)”, “Suzume Odori (sparrow dance)”, “Irodori”, and “Kaicho-on”
Chorus Club, Miyagi Prefectural Sendai Dai-ni Senior Secondary School
Acappella quartet “Kamome (seagull)” and “COSMOS”
Song: ARA Mizuka
Shamisen guitar: SAWADA Katsumasa
Traditional folksong “Kome-bushi” and “Nanbu-tawarazumi-uta”

TM Youth that their Kiribati dance performance will be uploaded at later date

Message from =Kiribati/Sendai Online Cultural Exchange Event=We, Sendai UNESCO Association, have been focusing on the issue of global
warming for creation of sustainable society.
Ngaira, te Sendai UNESCO Association ngkanne, ti waakina ara waaki
ibukin boutokaan karikirakean te Aonnaaba n te aro ae teimatoa ke
promoting creation of sustainable world inanon tabeua te ririki ngkai,n ikotaki ma te ka-otaota iaon Bibitakin Kanoan Boong.
Kiribati is located in the Central Pacific facing dire effects of climate crisis. We
are eager to deepen understanding of rich and great culture of Kiribati as wellas its challenges and to introduce Japanese culture to the people of Kiribati inorder to foster especially young generation that will play a key role who
respect mutual culture and the UNESCO Spirits.
E tabe Kiribati, ae e mena n Nuukan Tebetebeke, ni namakina
korakoran Bibitakin Kanoan Boong, ao bon rang kakawaki ataan ao
neweabaan Katei ni Kiribati aika a moanibaa n tamaroa man rakaarona, n ikotaki naba ma tibwatibwaan Katein Tiaban nakoia kain
Kiribati, riki roronrikiraken Kiribati, n te aro bwa ti kona ni boutokaa
karikirakean aroia roronrikirake aika a na karinea katein te aba teuana
ma teuana ao ai kakawakin ana Boto ni Iango te UNESCO.

This event is a part of Sendai UNESCO Association’ s “FY2021 Preparatory
Project for Assisting Establishment of Kiribati Non-governmental UNESCO
Association”.
Te reitaki n te tai aei ao e waakinaki iaan ana karikirake te Sendai
UNESCO Association, Tiaban, ae arana “The Preparatory Project for
Supporting Establishment of the Kiribati Non-govenrmental UNESCO
Association by Sendai UNESCO Association”.
Sendai UNESCO Association is the very first non-governmental UNESCO
Association established in 1947 to promote the spirits of the United Nations
Education, Science and Culture Organisation (UNESCO) which was establishedto aim for creation of the world without war.
Sendai UNESCO Association bon te moan rabwata ae e mena
itinanikun te Tautaeka ae kateaki n te ririki 1947 ibukin boutokaan ana
Boto ni Iango te United Nations Education, Science and Culture
Organisation ke te UNESCO nakoia te bootanaomata n te Aonnaabaaei. Oin katean te UNESCO ma te kantaninga bwa e na manga akea tebuaka te Aonnaaba aei.

We hope that today’ s event will give you an opportunity to understandimportance of preservation of environment and culture, as well as the UNESCO
Spirits that is “since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men
that the defences of peace must be constructed”, especially to our friends in
Kiribati.
Bon ara kantaninga ae moan te bati bwa ara waaki n te tai aei e na
kaota ao karaababaa kakaawakin kateimatoaan te ootabwanin ao bonte katei, n ikotaki ma na Boto ni Iango te UNESCO ae “te buaka ekarioaki man nanoia aomata, ibukin anne e na riai n tei inanon ana
kantaninga temanna ma temanna te ootanga ibukin kamanoan te rau”
ke "since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men thatthe defences of peace must be constructed".
Each country has its own unique culture. Cultures in every corners of the world
are treasures passed on from one generation to the other. We believe thatmutually respecting culture will bring international understanding which the
UNESCO Spirits treasures most.
Boni iai oin ana katei te aba teuana ma teuana aika a tibwatibwaaki
nakon rooro ma rooro bwa te bwai ae e moan te kakawaki ai aron tetirewa ma koora. Te kaai ni karinerine nakon katein te aba teuana mateuana e na bon karikirakea te iraorao imarenaia aaba aika akakaokoro n aron ana Boto ni Iango te UNESCO.
There are many challenges that the global community have to tackle, such as
climate crisis and COVID-19 to name a few. The challenges of Kiribati are thechallenges of Japan as well.
Ara Aonnaaba aei a mwaiti kakaewenako n aron Bibitakin Kanoan
Boong, COVID-19 ao a mwaiti riki. Kakaewenako nakon Kiribati bonana kakaewenako Tiaban naba.
Let us understand each other and collaborate each other starting from thisevent.
Tia karikirakea ara iraorao imarenara man te tai aei ao tia kaai ni waaki
ni kaitarai taian kakaewenako aika ti mena inanona.
This event was sponsored by Tohoku Exposition Memorial International
Exchange Fund and Sendai Tourism, Convention and International Association.

K i r i b a t i

U N E S C O
2021 Kiribati ProjectExchange between Shishiori Primary School and War Memorial Primary School1

12 November 2021, Class 3, Class 4thClass 3Theme

The Treasure We Have (Tradition, Culture and Environment)

Class 4
Theme

Water is Life

Activity

Activity

Mutual traditional dance and song performance followed
by Q&A session on the dance and songs as well as what
they thought/felt.

Introduction and Q&A session on how they both getwater, issues related to water/river/sea, what are thewildlife/animal/fish at river/sea near the school.

Aim

To understand unique and precious culture of Kiribati and
Kesennuma through traditional dance, and to enhance
importance of culture preservation and respecting
different culture.

19th November 2021, Class 5, Class 6

Poster Presentation by
Class 6 Pupils,
War Memorial
Primary School

Class 5
Theme

Industry & Job
What do we think and feel of climate change andsea level rise?

2

3

As both Kiribati and Kesennuma are depending on sea
and there is a river nearby Shishiori Primary School, tointroduce what is river and its wildlife to the War
Memorial Primary School pupils since Kiribati has noriver and for Shishiori Primary School pupils tounderstand clean water is not something for granted.
We are worried.

We are scared.

4

5

What can we do against climate change andsea level rise?

Do not litter and do separate wastes.

6

山路を登りながらTo work together in one heart against climate change and global warming.
7

8

To plant mangroves along the coastal line.
9

What can we do with our friends of Shishiori Primary School
to solve climate change and sea level rise together?
10

To build seawall made of natural material.

To use renewable energy even more.

Theme

The Future We Want

Activity

Activity

Introduction and Q&A session on characteristics ofKiribati and Kesennuma City.

Introduction and Q&A session on the issues of Kiribati
and Kesennuma City and the future they want.

Aim

Aim

Class 6

Kesennuma being one of the busiest fishing ports inJapan where tuna fishing boats that I-Kiribati fishermen
work call this port every now and then, and Kiribati beinga “Nation of Ocean and Fish” and many I-Kiribati men are
working on Japanese fishing boats, to assist the pupils
understand there are similarities between Kiribati and
Kesennuma. The activity will aim, therefore, expanding
the logic/thinking to importance of tackling global issues
together such as fish stock conservation and climatechange by realising they are not far apart.

Aim

As Kesennuma has social issues such as decreasing
population, decreasing number of the workforce atfishing and fish processing industry anddecreasing/changing fish resources, and Kiribati hassocial issues such as rapid change of custom(westernisation), unemployment etc and various dire
issues created by climate change including a threat tosurvival as a nation, the pupils will express the future
they want to see in each country and what they want
protect/preserve.

Kiribati ProjectPreparatory Project for Assisting Establishment of Kiribati
Non-governmental UNESCO Association

Advisory Committee/Resource Persons Meeting Member List (random order/ without honorifics)
SUZUKI Yuji
YAMADA Takurou
NISHIMURA Katsuo
ARAKI Hideo
SATO Yumiko
ASANO Ryo
ABE Hiroyasu
MIURA Satoshi
SAKURAI AikoOYASU Kiichi
NAGAI Hideki

Representative Director, National Federation of UNESCO Associations in JAPANPresident, Shiroishi UNESCO Association
Director-General, Shiogama UNESCO Association
President, Kesennuma UNESCO Association
Member, Kesennuma ESD/RCE Promotion Committee
Member, Kesennuma ESD/RCE Promotion Committee
President, Tomiya UNESCO Association
Vice Superintendent, Tomiya City Board of Education
Professor, Tohoku University International Research Institute of Disaster Science /Toyo Eiwa University
Director, Education Cooperation Department, Asia-Pacific Cultural Centre for UNESCO
Senior Coordinator for Climate Change and Marine Information, Disaster Mitigation Department,
Regional Headquarters of Tohoku Area, Japan Meteorological Agency

IWADATE Toshiaki

Section Head, Environment Management Division, Tohoku Regional Environment Office,Ministry of the Environment

HARADA Kazuaki

Senior Policy Coordinator, Resource Recycle Management Division,
Tohoku Regional Environment Office, Ministry of the Environment

ABE Kiyoto
ICHINOSE Tomonori

President, MC LaboINOUE Kuniyasu
Kentaro ONO
AdvisorDirector, Consortium for ESD and ASPNet Schools in Tohoku Region/Professor,
Miyagi University of Education
Chief Executive Officer, Tohoku Region ESD Activity Support Center
President, Japan Kiribati Association (JAKA)AMAKO Yoshihiro

Director, Oparations Division, National Federation of UNESCO Associations in JAPANSendai UNESCO Association
SENDAI

5F Sendai Daiichi Seimei Bldg., 3-1-1 Kokubuncho, Aoba-ku,
Sendai City, Miyagi 980-0803, Japan
TEL: +81-22-224-2581 FAX: +81-22-302-3406
E-mail: sendai@unesco.or.jp URL: https://www.unesco.or.jp/sendai/