Kumamoto,
The Embassy of Angola in Japan participated from 23 to 24 October 2024, in Kumamoto, Kyushu Province in Southern Japan, in the 6th Congress of High School Students for “World Tsunami Awareness Day” which took place under the Theme : “Learning about life-saving measures and creative reconstruction.”
The annual meeting brought together students from all countries and regions of the world who came together to learn about the threat of tsunamis, disaster prevention measures and risk reduction.
On the Japanese side, as host, members of the government, JICA, Japan Meteorological Agency in Kumamoto, as well as high school students from some schools in Kumamoto, participated.
In this edition, more than 500 students from 43 countries and regions participated, including Angola, which was represented by students from the French School, namely: ANNA DUARTE, BRÁULIO PIRES, ISABELLA VIGÁRIO, JOEL CUPESSALA and VIVIANE FERREIRA, both students from the Escola do Allioune Blondin Beye High School, located in Luanda, being the only African country to participate.
The highlight of the event was marked by the recorded Message from the Prime Minister of Japan H.E. Shigeru Ishiba, who thanked everyone for their presence, recalled the damage that natural disasters have caused worldwide, and in Japan in particular, and appealed to young students to become future leaders who will continue the search for solutions to the cause highlighted, to save as many lives as possible.
The event was followed by several moments, namely, the commemorative tree planting ceremony, performances with musical instruments, dance, and the impactful speeches of Kumamoto students who witnessed the 2016 earthquake.
During the congress, several workshops were also held, in which students were able to witness traces of the damage that the earthquake of intensity 7 on the Richter Scale caused to Kumamoto Prefecture in 2016. Afterwards, students from 43 countries, in groups, also presented reports on what they learned during the workshops, with emphasis on the presentation by Angolan students, Viviane Ferreira and Bráulio Pires, who gave a brilliant presentation on prevention measures, reduction risk and how to improve communication during a natural disaster alert.
The closing ceremony was enhanced by Japanese cultural music and dance.
*Unofficial translation
