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On behalf of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), I would like to express our sincere gratitude to the Japan Quality Assurance Organization and the International Certification Network for organizing the 13th International Environmental Children's Drawing Contest. It is a great pleasure to learn that many children from all over the world participate in this contest every year and show us their gratitude to the gift from the earth as well as the affection of their family and community members through their paintings full of inspiration and imagination. On 11 March this year, the northeastern part of Japan was hit by the unprecedented earthquake and tsunami disaster. Many children in the affected area had unimaginably sad experiences of losing their family members, friends and their own house. In response to this emergency, UNICEF has cooperated with the Japan Committee for UNICEF (JCU), which donated picture books contributed by supporters across Japan and offered therapeutic play. By watching children who regained their strength through participation in these activities, I renewed my faith in the power of drawings. "Blue Planet I wish to live upon" is this year's theme of the contest. UNICEF gives the highest priority to the most vulnerable children who live in the most impoverished conditions and those who have been marginalized or deserted, and extends helping hands to them. Messages which are expressed through their artwork by children who participate in the contest as well as voices of the voiceless who could not join it should be humbly and seriously heard. I strongly believe that this will make all of us including children themselves, think what each of us can do to achieve a world fit for children. |
