A Japan & Syria Art Mile Project

by Atsuko Shiwaku (Japan Art Mile)

Sherry's Kids English School participated in a Japan & Syria Art Mile Project,
which is a project supported by JAM, Kansai University,
JICA Syria (Japan International Cooperation Agency) and
UNRWA (the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees) .

This would be a typical model of Cross-cultural Learning through ICT and ART.
Japanese students and Palestinian students from Syria learned about the other culture
using ICT such as internet video conferences and email exchanges via BBS on the website,
and then created one mural in collaboration as a fruit of their learning.

The Palestinian students drew the Japanese World on the right half of the canvas
then Japanese students drew the Palestinian World on the other left half,
both based on what they had learned from the other.

This is the very process of understanding and respect for diverse cultures!
This is a real United World!

<Japan World painted by Palestinian students, 13-14 years old>

< Syria World painted by Japanese students, 13-15 years old>

<A mural co-painted by Palestinian students and Japanese students>

[Theme of the mural]

"FESTIVAL of PALESTINIANS & JAPANESE" - A Blended Culture

In the square, Japanese and Palestinian people in the respective national traditioanl costumes
play music and dance together, celebrating the festival of a blended culture hand in hand.

Around the square, there are food standshops and art craft markets,
which show peculiar culture rooted among the respective people.

Facing the square, each traditional town lies over,
and beyond the town, nature of its own feature spreads over.

And a white pigeon is flying over the two towns
just as a proof of friendship of the Japanese and Palestinian students
and also as a symbol of Peaceful Bright Future for the two nations...
hoping for leading to World Peace!