Nagano student launches peace education project for local youth

In Nagano Prefecture, 19-year-old university student Coco Murasawa has launched ‘Shinshu Peace Lab,’ a project designed to introduce international issues and peace education to elementary, junior high, and high school students. Murasawa, who majors in Arabic, aims to bridge the gap between local students and global events, such as the situation in the Middle East, by using accessible methods like food, film, and geography quizzes.

Her initiative seeks to move beyond focusing solely on conflict and poverty, instead fostering a deeper interest in the diverse cultures of the Middle East. Murasawa intends to use her platform to help local youth view global issues as interconnected with their own lives rather than as distant, unrelated events.