Last November , 17-year-old Lena Kawasaki, who attends a school in Osaka, was selected for the International Children's Peace Prize

, which is given to young people who are doing outstanding work to protect the rights of children .



This award is presented annually by the Kids Rights Foundation, an international children's rights advocacy group headquartered in the Netherlands. Past Nobel Peace Prize winners Malala Yousafzai from Pakistan and Sweden Environmental activist Greta Thunberg also received the award.



We asked Ms. Kawasaki, who started her career on the world stage, about her thoughts on the future.


(Osaka Broadcasting Station Reporter Sachiko Inoue


)

Rena Kawasaki.

She is 17 years old and attends an international school in Osaka.



She was awarded the International Children's Peace Prize out of more than 175 nominees from 46 countries, in recognition of her activities to deliver the voices of young people to society.



This is the first time for a Japanese to receive the award.



Ms. Kawasaki:


“I couldn’t believe it either. It was quite different from my character at school, and no one thought I would win the award, so class LINE exploded when they found out about the award.”

Activities from 8 years old

The impetus for her activities was a photo book she encountered in the school library when she was eight years old.



This is a picture book that introduces the activity of delivering randoseru used by Japanese children to refugee camps in Afghanistan and elsewhere.



Mr. Kawasaki said that when he saw children receiving education on the ground, using school bags as desks, he learned for the first time that there are children in the world who cannot receive education due to political reasons.

It seems that they started activities by selling the handicrafts made by everyone in the class at the school festival and donating to them, thinking that they could do something themselves.

After that, he started activities to “deliver the voices of young people to society”, and at the age of 14, he launched the Japanese branch of the global NGO “Earth Guardians”, and created a place where junior high and high school students and local politicians exchange opinions online. I made.



We are also working with the government.

Mr. Kawasaki and others made a proposal to Niihama City, Ehime Prefecture, and also made efforts to deliver the voices of young people to the city government through QR codes.

like Malala

Past recipients of the "International Children's Peace Prize" include Malala Yousafzai from Pakistan, who continued to advocate the need for women's education despite being shot by Islamic extremists.



Ms. Kawasaki, who received the same award as Ms. Malala whom she respects, has renewed her determination to contribute to her society.

Ms. Kawasaki:


“Despite the terrible experience of being shot at the age of 15, Malala is still fighting for the children of her country. I think it's amazing as a fellow young person.I may not be able to be like Malala, but I also want to spread the most important mission in Japan, which is to deliver the voices of young people."

Kawasaki's real face

At the award ceremony, Mr. Kawasaki made a speech in fluent English.



Kawasaki says that he has never actually lived abroad, and that his parents are not particularly good at English.

His parents, who had experience studying abroad in the United States, wanted him to be good at self-expression, so they went to see an international school and decided to go to an international school because he liked it.



In addition, Ms. Kawasaki herself said that she likes English and that she likes to talk to many people, so she might have improved her English.

According to Mr. Kawasaki, his parents are "the principle of leaving him alone."

I am grateful that Mr. Kawasaki supports what I want to do while watching over him.



Her favorite things are dance and musicals.

Her favorite food is zaru udon, and she enjoys eating it with her friends.

“Wakuwaku” is important

Mr. Kawasaki wants more young people to be interested in politics and social participation, because they are teenagers and there are things they can do.



The key to Mr. Kawasaki's activities is "excitement."

Mr. Kawasaki


: I think that the feeling of excitement is very important. I think that the feeling of having fun with something and wanting to do it is the most sustainable. "



Because teens are a bit of a dream, you can say things like, 'Maybe we can create a society like this.' And it is very exciting to see the voices of young people actually reflected in the government, and the voices of young people being reflected in the government. I would like to create a system that will connect with people who want to deliver their voices.”

Mr. Kawasaki, who will graduate from high school this year, has a dream for the future.



Ms. Kawasaki


: I want to go to university overseas. I have many dreams for the future, but ultimately I want to do a job where the voices of the youth can be heard by governments and big places. I'm the type who wants to do something together.I really felt that something would change if the kids who were interested gathered in the activity, so I really think it would be nice if everyone could do something together.



" At the award ceremony, I received the trophy from Yemeni political activist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Tawakul Karman, who has been active in women's empowerment and democratization. I was inspired a lot. Once again, I feel like I haven't done anything yet.I feel that I want to do something more with this award as an opportunity."

Mr. Kawasaki, who won a big award.

I was full of energy to change the future.



His mother, who was very pleased with his award, told him, ``You won't be amazing just because you won this award. it is.



Mr. Kawasaki thought, "It's exactly what your mother said!"



Mr. Kawasaki, I am very much looking forward to his future activities.

It made me feel that I want to create an exciting future together with young people like Mr. Kawasaki.