04 A Festival for Peace in the Community
/04 A Festival for Peace in the Community
*Rillia was a kind-hearted girl who lived in a small village surrounded by beautiful nature.
/*Rillia was a kind-hearted girl who lived in a small village surrounded by beautiful nature.
However, more people were moving to the city, and the village was gradually losing its liveliness.
/However, more people were moving to the city, and the village was gradually losing its liveliness.
Long ago, the village used to hold a “Peace Festival,” where people gathered to strengthen community bonds and wish for world peace.
/Long ago, the village used to hold a “Peace Festival,” where people gathered to strengthen community bonds and wish for world peace.
But for many years, the festival had not been held.
/But for many years, the festival had not been held.
One day at school, *Rillia learned about “the connection between hometowns and the world.”
/One day at school, *Rillia learned about “the connection between hometowns and the world.”
She thought, “I want to bring back the peace festival in my village!”
/She thought, “I want to bring back the peace festival in my village!”
*Rillia shared her idea with Sara, the village elder.
/*Rillia shared her idea with Sara, the village elder.
Sara had once helped organize the peace festival in the past.
/Sara had once helped organize the peace festival in the past.
“*Rillia, the peace festival is a place where people cooperate and think about the future of the community and the Earth,” Sara said.
/“*Rillia, the peace festival is a place where people cooperate and think about the future of the community and the Earth,” Sara said.
“But preparing for it is hard, so everyone needs to work together.”
/“But preparing for it is hard, so everyone needs to work together.”
So *Rillia spoke to her school friends and villagers.
/So *Rillia spoke to her school friends and villagers.
“Let’s bring back the festival to revive our village and wish for peace in our community and the world!”
/“Let’s bring back the festival to revive our village and wish for peace in our community and the world!”
At first, not everyone agreed.
/At first, not everyone agreed.
But as *Rillia kept working hard, more and more people began to support her.
/But as *Rillia kept working hard, more and more people began to support her.
During the preparations, they added activities like planting a “Tree of Peace” and creating a board called “Promises to Protect the Earth.”
/During the preparations, they added activities like planting a “Tree of Peace” and creating a board called “Promises to Protect the Earth.”
They also decided to include dances that everyone could enjoy, instead of activities that were too difficult.
/They also decided to include dances that everyone could enjoy, instead of activities that were too difficult.
On the day of the festival, village children displayed drawings and messages wishing for happiness for people around the world.
/On the day of the festival, village children displayed drawings and messages wishing for happiness for people around the world.
Villagers and tourists sang songs of peace together and prayed with one heart.
/Villagers and tourists sang songs of peace together and prayed with one heart.
The festival carried messages not only of community bonds but also of thinking about the future of the entire Earth.
/The festival carried messages not only of community bonds but also of thinking about the future of the entire Earth.
The village regained its energy, and smiles filled the faces of the people.
/The village regained its energy, and smiles filled the faces of the people.
Through the festival, *Rillia felt, “Even actions from our small village can have great meaning for the Earth.”
/Through the festival, *Rillia felt, “Even actions from our small village can have great meaning for the Earth.”
After the festival, Sara spoke to *Rillia.
/After the festival, Sara spoke to *Rillia.
“*Rillia, thanks to you, the village came together again and remembered the importance of peace.”
/“*Rillia, thanks to you, the village came together again and remembered the importance of peace.”
“Cherishing your hometown connects to the future of the whole Earth.”
/“Cherishing your hometown connects to the future of the whole Earth.”
*Rillia took those words to heart and decided to keep thinking about what she could do for her village and the Earth.
/*Rillia took those words to heart and decided to keep thinking about what she could do for her village and the Earth.
Review Questions
/Review Questions
Why did *Rillia want to bring back the peace festival?
/Why did *Rillia want to bring back the peace festival?
a. Because she wanted to revive the village and wish for peace in the community and the Earth
/a. Because she wanted to revive the village and wish for peace in the community and the Earth
b. Because she wanted to eat lots of sweets at the festival
/b. Because she wanted to eat lots of sweets at the festival
c. Because it was a school assignment
/c. Because it was a school assignment
What was one of the activities held at the peace festival?
/What was one of the activities held at the peace festival?
a. Planting a Tree of Peace
/a. Planting a Tree of Peace
b. Playing competitive games with everyone in the village
/b. Playing competitive games with everyone in the village
c. Building a new school building
/c. Building a new school building
Let’s Think!
/Let’s Think!
How do you think *Rillia felt when she acted with the wish to connect community energy and world peace?
/How do you think *Rillia felt when she acted with the wish to connect community energy and world peace?
Also, what kinds of activities can you do in your community to wish for peace?
/Also, what kinds of activities can you do in your community to wish for peace?
What ideas do you have to connect your love for your hometown to the future of the Earth?
/What ideas do you have to connect your love for your hometown to the future of the Earth?
Talk about it with your family and friends.
/Talk about it with your family and friends.
