Sending messages by paper airplane

Do you volunteer in your community? I’m one of the volunteer cultural ambassadors for Chiba Prefecture, where I live. This month, the prefectural office asks us to share a youth project, NPO Origami, with our friends, colleagues, and communities. It’s a simple but powerful idea: write a message on a paper airplane.

Share words with the world - image created in Canva

The NPO, Origami, was hatched and nurtured by students and graduates of Chiba University, and has connected hundreds of student volunteers from universities across Japan. They’ve been involved in reviving defunct matsuri, supporting tourism for people with disabilities, and launching a suicide prevention program called Ikitech. The NPO aims to support young people in making connections and finding meaning in their lives.

Until June 30th, Origami’s Paper Airplane Project accepts submissions from anywhere in the world. The organizers ask participants to write their values, song lyrics, or quotations on a paper airplane, and then submit a video or photos. There's a chance the videos will be displayed at Expo 2025 in Osaka.

I'm consulting with the high school I teach at to see if our English club members can participate!