Children express condolences with drawings, paintings, cards on the Earthquake and Tsunami

The earthquake and tsunami that devastated northern Japan on 11 March 2011 (3.11) touched everyone in the world prompting an outpouring of sympathies and comforting gestures. Immediately after the disaster strike, many people expressed their condolences to the Embassy of Japan here in Addis Ababa, among them many school children. New Grand School and Durassela School together sent over 118 drawings while students from One Planet International School and the Greek Community School sent handmade cards with signatures. All of them are school children below the age of 12 and   expressed their feelings in hand made cards, drawings and paintings.         Haleta Tesfaye is 4 ½ years old. She is a student at One Planet International School. She sent the Embassy a handmade card that has pictures of a fish, sun and heart. The card also carries the signatures of 13 of her classmates. The message on her card says, “we are sorry for what happened in Japan and the life which be taken by tsunami and earthquake. Our pray is always with them. God bless Japan and the Japanese people.” Ato Tesfaye (her father) said that Haleta plans to visit the victims in the near future. She is currently collecting money for the victims from her classmates.   For artists, a drawing of a rising sun can also symbolize a setting sun. But for a little artist called Runa who is a grade 2 student of the New Grand School, there is no dichotomy of meaning or cynical interpretation of either. It is always the rising sun that filled her pure and transcendent heart when expressing her thought of the 3.11 tragedy. Under her picture of the rising sun with flying birds and flowering grasses, Runa wrote, “when the sun rises everything will be alright”. She foresaw hope and a bright future for the people of Japan.  Ruth Elias sketched a crying sun (under the Japanese flag) looking at the destruction of 3.11 while Kalkidan Tewodros portrayed the sun and the moon crying closing their eyes with red tears flowing over their faces.  Both Ruth and Kalkidan are from the New Grand School. The following are some of the drawings and messages of condolences from Durassela School: A grade 2 student drew a picture of the tsunami destroying houses and cars. In the middle of the drawing is a Japanese flag with a message that says, “We, Ethiopian children are very sad, Amanuel Dereje Grade 2.” ”I heard that bad problems happened in Japan. I felt very sorry. I wish you to cope up with the problem. To all people of Japan, may peace, love and happiness be upon you!” This wasTsion Yohannes’s message on her drawing. ” I am grieved to hear about the sudden death of our brothers and sisters in Japan. I want to be among the many who are expressing to you this letter of condolences, sympathy and sorrow,” Efrata Tsegaye, grade 4, wrote on his work. A message on a handmade large card sent from the Greek Community School says,” to our Japanese friends. The students of the Greek Community School share the grief of the Japanese people. We pray to God to ease the suffering and comfort the affected victims”. The card carries signature of over 109 students. Meanwhile, Mr. Yoshiaki Ito, Minister and Counselor at the Embassy of Japan expressed his gratitude to all the school children on behalf of H.E. Ambassador Hiroyuki Kishino. Mr. Ito wrote that his Government will make every possible effort to overcome the current difficulties. These natural disasters have come as a great shock to us all and your beautiful card with your signatures attached and impressive drawings are a great comfort, Mr. Ito wrote. He further pledged to convey the children’s messages to H.E. Ambassador Hiroyuki Kishino, upon his return from Japan.