Children from Bunkyo Ward, Tokyo, which is the host town of the refugee team, who participated in the Tokyo Paralympics, interacted with the team online and deepened their understanding of the refugee issue.
Bunkyo Ward is the host town of the refugee teams participating in the Paralympics, and has been interacting with six athletes such as swimmers and taekwondo before the Games.
On the 3rd, an online exchange meeting was held for elementary school students in the ward to deepen their understanding of refugee issues through dialogue with the team.
At the beginning, a person in charge of UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) explained the actual situation of the refugee issue that the number of people leaving their home countries due to conflicts is increasing year by year, and there are more than 80 million people in the world.
Next, Irena Rodriguez, a former refugee from Cuba who participated in the London Paralympics as an American representative of swimming and is the head of the refugee team at this tournament, talked with the children.
Rodriguez said, "When I couldn't walk, I didn't know what would happen to my life after that, and it was the hardest thing to do. Still, I was able to continue to think that I could still swim and still live. I have lived positively, believing that there is a sun. "
On top of that, "Refugee athletes are facing two difficulties: evacuation from their home country and their own disabilities. It is wonderful to be able to get to know refugees and send a message of hope by fighting on this stage as a team. That's the significance of participating in this tournament.
A boy in the 4th grade who participated in the exchange meeting said, "I am not only a refugee, but I am making great efforts despite my disabilities, and I thought the players were really amazing. I also play soccer and dance. So I want to work harder. "
In addition, a girl in the fifth grade of elementary school said, "I am glad that I was taught various things about refugees. I would like to continue studying and deepening my understanding."