4th Graders in Matsudo Reflect on 'What I Can Do Now' for World Peace

The nonprofit organization Nakayoshi Gakuen Project held a 'Learning Connected to the World' lecture on July 15 at Yokosuka Elementary School in Matsudo City, Chiba Prefecture, targeting fourth-grade students.

This lecture is part of the 'Matsudo Connecting with the World Learning Project,' implemented as the fiscal 2026 Matsudo City Community Activity Support Program. The project empowers elementary, junior, and senior high school students in Matsudo to transform knowledge and ideas gained from regular classes and extracurricular activities into teaching materials and deliver them to educational settings worldwide. Lectures have already been conducted at Seikin High School and Seikin Junior High School, marking the beginning of locally driven international understanding and peace education that transcends school levels.

Lecture at Yokosuka Elementary School

At Yokosuka Elementary, the lecture serves as a starting point, with students set to begin creating educational materials using their regular classroom learning starting in the second semester.

Showcasing Cases of Children Across Japan Changing the World

During the lecture, Nakayoshi Gakuen Project Representative Yuichi Nakamura introduced the organization’s educational support activities in Asia and Africa, along with case studies of the 'Learning Connected to the World' program implemented in collaboration with schools across Japan.

He shared how Japanese children have transformed what they learned in school—about disaster prevention, environment, hygiene, peace, and local culture—into picture books, cards, posters, and experimental teaching tools, which are now being used in actual classes overseas, supported by photos and videos from the field.

Examples include disaster prevention teaching materials created by students who studied local disasters, picture books on marine plastic pollution made by students, soap promoting handwashing awareness, and posters expressing wishes for peace—diverse educational resources born in Japanese classrooms are now being used in children’s learning around the world.

The students learned that even without special knowledge or great power, they can support someone in the world by applying what they learn in school and their personal strengths.

'What Can I Do Right Now for the World?'

The lecture emphasized not just learning about global issues like poverty, conflict, and educational inequality as abstract knowledge, but connecting them to personal action.

As fourth graders at Yokosuka Elementary listened to real-life examples from students across Japan, they reflected:

'How can I use what I love to do for the world?'

'What kind of teaching material can I create from what I’m learning at school?'

'What can I, right now, do to bring a smile to children around the world?'

World peace and international cooperation are not responsibilities limited to adults or experts. Every everyday activity—drawing, writing, researching, creating games, or learning about one’s community—carries the potential to connect children to the world.

Through the lecture, students learned they don’t have to end their thoughts with 'It’s sad, but I can’t do anything.' They realized they too can take the first step toward building peace.

Class Using the Disaster Prevention Book Created by Children in Inabe Town, Gifu Prefecture

From the Second Semester: Sharing Yokosuka Elementary’s Learning with the World

Starting in the second semester, Yokosuka Elementary students will begin creating educational materials using their regular classroom lessons.

Based on what they learn and what interests them in class, they will develop teaching materials that are easy to understand and enjoyable for children around the world.

The completed materials will be delivered to overseas educational settings where the Nakayoshi Gakuen Project operates, and will be used in local schools’ classes. But the process doesn’t end there—feedback, learning experiences, and impressions from local children will be sent back to Yokosuka Elementary, helping students reflect and fuel their next steps in learning.

This cycle of 'Learning in Japan,' 'Creating Materials,' 'Implementing Globally,' and 'Returning Local Feedback to Japan' is the hallmark of the 'CoRe Loop,' the circular education model developed by Nakayoshi Gakuen Project. Students gain a sense of purpose in learning and real-world engagement by witnessing how their academic achievements benefit someone far away.

What kind of materials will the students at Yokosuka Elementary create, and how will they connect to learning around the world? Their future activities are highly anticipated.

Nakayoshi Gakuen’s CoRe Loop

'Learning from Matsudo to the World'—Starting from Elementary, Junior, and Senior High Schools

This year, the Nakayoshi Gakuen Project is implementing the 'Matsudo Connecting with the World Learning Project' for elementary, junior, and senior high schools in the city, utilizing Matsudo City’s community activity subsidy.

Lectures have already been held for first-year students at Seikin High School and students at Seikin Junior High School. Now, fourth graders at Yokosuka Elementary have newly joined the project.

Each school and grade has different curricula, community connections, and student interests. By leveraging these differences and sending each school’s unique learning to the world, the entire city of Matsudo is becoming a unified field for international cooperation and peace education.

Ideas born in Matsudo classrooms cross oceans to become sources of strength for someone in the world. And through responses from abroad, children in Matsudo come to recognize the value of themselves and their communities.

Through this reciprocal learning cycle, Nakayoshi Gakuen Project aims to build a locally driven educational model where children create peace with their own hands.

Nakayoshi Gakuen Project’s 'Matsudo Connecting with the World Learning Project'

Comment from Yuichi Nakamura, Representative of Nakayoshi Gakuen Project

'It’s important to feel 'That’s sad' when hearing about global issues. But if we stop there with 'I can’t do anything,' the world won’t change.

At Yokosuka Elementary, we shared real examples of children across Japan using their regular classes and personal passions to bring smiles to others around the world.

Children who love drawing, those who enjoy creating quizzes, and those passionate about researching their communities—each strength can become a force that connects to the world.

We look forward to seeing how students realize they, too, have the power to change the world through the upcoming material creation starting in the second semester. We will responsibly deliver the learning born at Yokosuka Elementary to the world.'

Yuichi Nakamura, Representative, Speaking at the United Nations ACUNS Academic Conference

Comment from Rie Nakamura, Project Director of Nakayoshi Gakuen Project

'Elementary students’ flexible thinking holds a unique power to bring smiles to the world—something adults might never imagine.

We are excited to see what the children discover in their daily classes and what kind of materials they will create.

When they see their creations reach schools overseas and bring joy to children worldwide, they will gain confidence in their learning and begin to appreciate the strengths of their local communities and schools.

Matsudo has so much learning and charm that can be shared with the world. Together with children, teachers, and local residents, we aim to expand a circle of peace from Matsudo to the world.'

Rie Nakamura, Project Director, Explaining Human Creativity and Manifestation through Origami

Project Overview

Project Name Matsudo Connecting with the World Learning Project

Supported Program Fiscal 2026 Matsudo City Community Activity Support Program