Paper of Hope-Spread Peace
The Art of Japanese Paper Folding-Origami. Central Luzon Region of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines recently concluded the First Regional Scout Venture Camp and Rover Moot 2023 at BSP Camp, Palayan City. Over 4000 scouts and scouters took part in the said momentous event. As part of the Regional Service Team, I was assigned to the Module of Betterworld Framework wherein I was in charge of the Base 5 Messenger of Peace. The activity that I gave was the Origami-Paper Crane. But before I teach the steps for folding the paper crane, I tell them the story of Sadako Sasaki a young girl who lived through the bombing of Hiroshima and eventually died from leukemia. During her hospitalization, she kept folding paper cranes because she believed in a Japanese Legend, that if she folded thousands of paper cranes, her wish would be granted. Her wish is to get well and get home.
Children's Peace Monument in Peace Park, Hiroshima, Japan
Copyright: Sadako Legacy NPO
When Sadako first realized how sick she was she had many thoughts and questions. She worried about her family, and if people would remember her. Sadako asked herself, “How can I make the world a better place while I’m still alive?” She wanted to leave the world a more peaceful place and she shared those thoughts and feelings with her friends and family. Though Sadako did not know her impact on the world when she died, Sadako did make the world a better place. After telling them the story, the scouts will now have the chance to make a paper crane. I gave them a piece of paper and started teaching them the steps of making the paper crane. I see in their faces how eager they are to accomplish the task and after they make it, they will write or whisper their wishes or message of peace. It is really difficult to spread peace if it is not happening within oneself.