The Oleander Initiative for the Middle East is Back!

Oleander Initiative for Educators from the Middle East and North Africa, August 2023

In 2015, I met Bernard and Mike of the Otterman foundation who had an amazing vision – to harness Hiroshima’s extraordinary “power of place” to promote peace in the MENA region.

One year later, we implemented our inaugural Oleander Initiative and were amazed that each and every educator attending the program reported bringing what they learned in Hiroshima to their classrooms in the Middle East and North Africa.

Oleander Initiative Inaugural Cohort, August 2016

It was the first time in our history that a program accomplished a 100% implementation rate. Over the next three years, each new class of MENA educators transformed Hiroshima’s culture of peace into inspirational and effective educational activities that impacted thousands of students.  Just as we were exploring the true potential of this programs, we had to suspend the Oleander Initiative in 2020.

That is why the return of the Oleander Initiative for the MENA region this summer was so special.

Once again, we listened to the wise words of the hibakusha who implored our educators to help create the next generation of peacemakers in the MENA region.

We were also fortunate to learn important facets of peace from some of the top academics in Hiroshima

Professor Bo Jacobs and Professor Ron Klein at the Oleander Initiative

We visited key sites of conscience including:

Oleander Participants at the Atomic Bomb dome with Jogakuin High School students

Hibaku Jomoku Tree and Participants at the Honkawa School Museum (the closest school to the hypocenter of the atomic bomb)

Participants at the Hiroshima Memorial Museum and War Memorial on Hijiyama Mountain

Oleander Initiative participants also had the opportunity to engage in the rich culture of Japan and Hiroshima

Lion Dance at Motomachi Rooftop Studio

Japanese tea Ceremony, Okonomiyaki lunch, and Deer at Miyajima Island

Most importantly, Oleander participants worked together to design lesson plans that transmit the lessons of Hiroshima to their home classrooms throughout the MENA region

All of us at the Oleander Initiative are looking forward to their work and the impact the Oleander participants will make in their classrooms throughout the 2023-2024 academic year.

Thanks to the Otterman Foundation, Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, Honkawa School, Jogakuin School and World Friendship Center for their support for the 2023 Oleander Initiative.

Please contact me at RayMat@ume.org if you have any questions or would like additional information about the Oleander Initiative.

Best Wishes,
Ray Matsumiya, Executive Director