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The joy of Painting Across the Border in Poland and with Ukrainian children

2025.6.03-05

Poland is a kind country that has warmly welcomed many Ukrainian refugees who fled the country following the Russian military invasion. This is the ninth country for “The Joy of Drawing Across Borders,” and the project involves children from Japan, Poland, and Ukraine.

We launched a crowdfunding campaign with the hope of providing some relief to the Ukrainian children who had evacuated with their valuables and whatever belongings they could carry. We received support and encouragement from many people, and were able to present approximately 60 children with a set of 36 colored pencils, a sketchbook, GOFAR stickers, and Japanese sweets.

We at GOFAR BANK are working on the “Bridge Project,” which aims to create a peaceful world by using the power of art, which transcends language barriers, to build bridges of friendship between children around the world across borders.

With our full cooperation, the “Great Bridge of Friendship” that connected approximately 150 Japanese children with approximately 150 Polish and Ukrainian children, measuring 2.2 meters in length and 6 meters in width, was exhibited at the Polish National Manggha Muzeum. It was so beautiful that it left us speechless.

On June 4th and 5th, we held an art workshop for about 60 Polish and Ukrainian children at Primary School No. 85 in the beautiful city of Krakow, to build a “small bridge of friendship” between them and Japanese children, as well as an activity to make balloons featuring Japanese characters.
We received a warm welcome and lots of presents from the principal of Primary School No. 85 and the many teachers, children, and parents, and we were surrounded by the bright smiles and laughter of the children, which filled our hearts with emotion as GOFAR staff…

The children from Japan, Poland, and Ukraine who participated in this project have only one wish.

That is… “World Peace.”

The friendship and smiles of children can change the world.

We at GOFAR BANK truly believe this.

Our wonderful friendship with Poland will continue into the future.

 

☆The eye-catching image is a YouTube video of what happened on the day!

 

主催:NPO GOFAR BANK
共催:福井県人道の港 敦賀ムゼウム
後援:在ポーランド日本大使館
関西日本フィンランド協会
大阪府寝屋川市・寝屋川市教育委員会
協力:ポーランド国立Manggha Muzeum
ポーランド・クラクフ第85番小学校