10th Anniversary of Death of UN Volunteer Atsuhito Nakata
On April 9 of this year, more than 200 school children, local villagers and officials attended the 10th anniversary commemoration ceremony for the late Mr. Atsuhito Nakata at Nakata Atsuhito village in Cambodia’s Kampong Thom province on Tuesday, 8 April. Atsuhito was 25 years old when he was shot and killed in Kompong Thom province on 8 April 1993. He was serving as a United Nations Volunteer (UNV) Electoral Supervisor with the United Nations Transitional Authority (UNTAC).
Guest of honour at the ceremony was Atsuhito's father, Takehito Nakata, who was appointed a UNV Honorary Ambassador in 1993. In his speech, Mr. Nakata expressed his great affection for the Khmer people and his gratitude to the people who had been involved in building a new school for the children of Nakata Atsuhito village. He handed over the school building to the village, a gift of the Atsuhito Nakata Memorial Foundation.
Ruby Banez, UNV Coordinator in Cambodia, delivered a speech on behalf of UNV Executive Coordinator Sharon Capeling-Alakija and spoke about Atsuhito's idealism and commitment to being a volunteer.
"Atsuhito's passion for, and contribution to, peace and development as a UN Volunteer have continued to inspire many people, especially the young and a number of them have become volunteers themselves. I still come across UNVs who were motivated to serve after listening to the story of Atsuhito," Ms. Banez said.
The climax of the ceremony was when Ambassador Nakata received the Cambodian government's Gold Medal for National Reconstruction from the Governor of Kompong Thom province, HE Nou Phoeung. The Governor expressed his thanks and appreciation particularly to the Japanese government for its assistance in building roads and schools in his province, a province that has been particularly damaged by more than 30 years of war and conflict. At the end of the ceremony, boxes of food were distributed to the local community and school notebooks were given to the students.
"World citizenship is all about respecting others through showing attitudes of appreciation, keeping promises and paying special attention to others," Mr. Nakata said following the ceremony.
Celebration of International Volunteer Day
To give recognition and tribute to the valuable efforts that volunteers provide towards development and other humanitarian causes, the UNV Country Team celebrates International Volunteer Day (5 December) with special events each year.
During four successive years (1996-1999), UNVs in Cambodia joined in the physical improvement of three orphanage centers and a primary school along with volunteers from other foreign volunteer groups operating in Cambodia and other groups of participants. The volunteers joined together to help carry out wall painting, repair and renovation of the various parts of the centers, cleaning and garden landscaping.
In 2000, groups of volunteers were organized to help renovate the Center for Child Mental Health. A ceremony was held thereafter to inaugurate the renovated building. The event was attended by the First Lady of Cambodia, Madame Bun Rany Hun Sen, the UNDP Resident Representative, Ministers and Ambassadors and representatives from various local and international organizations. In the same occasion, the celebration of year 2001 as International Year of Volunteers was launched. Likewise, awards were distributed to selected ten outstanding volunteers.
In 2002, a tree planting activity was carried out in Anlong Kangan, a resettlement site for the urban poor, located on the outskirts of Phnom Penh. About 400 people joined in this event, including the residents of Anlong Kangan, employees of the municipal government, more than 50 university students, UN Volunteers and other volunteers from the Volcam Network, the umbrella organization for volunteer agencies in Cambodia.
This year, 2003, the Volcam agencies are planning to host a special event to celebrate International Volunteer Day. Volunteers will be invited to participate in an inter-volunteer agency sports event on 6 December. A photo exhibit will be displayed as well as booths from the different agencies to showcase their activities and to provide information on opportunities for volunteering in Cambodia. This year’s International Volunteer Day theme is “Youth Involvement in Community Development”.
Main Event Page
|
