Every Saturday, Ms. Huong Lan, who lives in Kurume City (Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan), takes her 5th grade daughter more than 50 km to Fukuoka City, where she is very excited to participate in many cultural, culinary and living experiences with many Vietnamese children, as well as integrate with children of many nationalities.
"My little girl is very interested in cooking and baking activities. The children's cafeteria also has lessons to help children learn about the origins of where their ancestors were born and raised, such as learning about what September 2 is, how the Declaration of Independence of Vietnam was born and where it was read, how many provinces and cities there are in Vietnam, how many ethnic groups there are...", Ms. Lan shared with Thanh Nien about the community activity model organized by the Fukuoka International Residents Association (FIRA).
A Vietnamese class at FIRA
Ms. Bui Thi Thu Sang (35 years old), President of FIRA, said that this organization was launched during the Tet Quy Mao program on January 16, 2023 in Fukuoka City. "The need for support in educating children of Vietnamese parents in Japan is increasing, but most of them leave it to the parents and a few volunteers," she shared with Thanh Nien about the motivation to establish FIRA.
Last year, FIRA was sponsored by the Fukuoka City Government and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to organize the "Fukuoka International Children's Cafeteria and Space" on two weekends, providing free activities not only for Vietnamese children but also children of all nationalities, as well as free for accompanying parents.
Children experience making moon cakes at FIRA
"Here, we organize homework support, language teaching (Japanese, English, Vietnamese) and multicultural experience activities for children such as cooking, crafts, dancing, researching topics...", Ms. Sang said and said: "FIRA receives a lot of attention in Japan because it is an organization established by foreigners for foreigners, but can operate to attract the response, cooperation, and sponsorship of many individuals and organizations".
In nearly 2 years of operation, the Fukuoka International Children's Space and Canteen has organized for many children to experience Vietnamese cuisine and culture, as well as those of other countries according to the theme. This canteen has introduced and served many Vietnamese dishes such as bamboo rice, grilled chicken, Hanoi specialties such as bun cha, che khuc bach or banh gai, pho Nam Dinh, mi Quang, eel porridge, festival dishes such as xoi vo, gio lua, che hoa cau, banh chung, banh khuc, nem bui, banh phu the, banh chung ran, thit jelly, pickled vegetables, Tet feasts, year-end feasts, full moon feasts in January, vegetarian dishes.
Hanoi Festival to be held in Fukuoka in 2023
Ms. Tong Hong Tham, a Vietnamese living in Fukuoka, shared that her two children, a 5-year-old boy and a 2-year-old girl, really enjoy studying and playing with their friends at FIRA's space. "I find this model very useful because my children can study and play, integrate into an international environment while still preserving Vietnamese cultural identity," she said. Similarly, Ms. Dam Thi Khanh Huyen informed: "My 4-year-old daughter really enjoys going to class because she can learn to read, dance, and play games with her teacher and friends. I find this model very meaningful."
Many community activities
FIRA also organizes orientation sessions and seminars for new parents in Fukuoka on child education, social security, disaster prevention, etc.; organizes international exchange events, introduces traditional Vietnamese holidays. In addition, FIRA also participates in dialogues and promotes immigration policies such as at the conference of foreign community representatives in Fukuoka, dialogues on mother tongue education for children of foreign origin in Japan.
"If possible, FIRA will organize more activities for families with children aged 1-2 years old, build nurseries and multicultural kindergartens in Fukuoka," Ms. Bui Thi Thu Sang shared.
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/tre-em-viet-o-fukuoka-huong-ve-nguon-coi-185250106170512984.htm
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