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COPA Sapporeño
June 2007 - The Japan-Honduras Friendship Soccer Tournament
Good Will From Sapporo To Intibucá
The Hokkaido Forest Volunteers Associations Sends Ambassadors of Good Will
Sometimes simple gestures are all that is needed to begin a
process that can lead to greater
things. As we look back in history we see how simple gestures are the
beginning of activities that change our world. We look at the Dutch
Boy with his finger in the dike. Or we can look to the 47 Ronin or the
Battle on the Ugi River. Simple acts that change the world.
"Never be afraid to start small". In Japan the automobile empires began with
Sochira Honda who put a small motor on a bicycle after World War II.
Now we have Honda, Toyota, Nissan and other great Japanese automobile
companies. Yet it all began with one small act.
Mr. Kazuhiko Sakai worked for two years in Honduras at the Forestry school in Siguatepeque, Honduras called ESNACIFOR. He knew the people of Honduras and their needs. He decided to return again to Honduras and connected with a Honduran friend, Dora Valdivieso to discuss a visit to plant trees with young people. He worked with the Wakamatsu Primary school to raise funds for the trip to Honduras. He also talked to the Hokkaido Football Club to donate balls to bring to the young people of the Liga Menor here in La Esperanza. They donated 18 balls to the project. The Nippon Ham Fighter Baseball Team donated pens for the schools.
The
Sakai Party consisted of Mr Kazuhiko
Sakai, Mr. Shigeru Sugimoto, Ms. Kimiyo Watanabe and Ms
Hisako Shibata. Not only did they bring gifts, they actively worked in
planting trees
with the young people of the Liga Menor. They came and had dinner with
the welcoming committee of Dr. Ramon Dario Argueta, Dra. Carol Cross, Doña
Alejandrina Valdivieso, Ing. Victor Valdivieso and Chris Watkins. The
next morning they arrived at the school where the trees were to be planted
with the tools needed for planting as well as the trees they had purchased
from ESNACIFOR.
The morning was spent in chopping the grass and then planting begin in earnest. The 30 trees were planted with the young people working side by side with them. The volunteers explained to the children how to plant and how to cover with grass as a mulch. It was an inspiring and wonderful morning. After the planting they gave a donation of US$280 to the Liga Menor as well as the shirts, pens and balls.
After the visit, the party went with Ing. Victor Valdivieso to the Laguna Chiligatura to see the community of indigenous people there. Clouds came in and because this was the rainy season, they left returned to La Esperanza. There was an additional dinner with Dr. Argueta and his family.
All of the people in the Sakai
party were friendly and social with both the adults and children they met.
Their warm personality reached out to every person they met. Everyone
wanted to know when
they
would return. Because of their wonderful
interactions with the people of Intibuca, they won their hearts.
They especially seemed drawn to the children. Most of the people in La Esperanza are indigenous (Lenca Indians) and are the people who first entered Honduras in prehistory. The Lencas are very friendly when people are friendly to them and loved the Japanese party. They were so warm with the children, hugging them and helping them to succeed in the tree planting projects. It was a positive experience for all concerned. All the people they met want them to return.
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Links to Intibuca and Lenca Cultural Experiences
Children of Intibuca | Come and Roast Coffee the Lenca Way | About Intibuca | Farming In The Mountains Of Intibuca | Food and the Lenca |