WFC News
WFC is happy to welcome Aja Golliday and Laura Westpfal as interns from Illinois Wesleyan University!
Aja is a Psychology major with a minor in Japanese Studies, while Laura is a graphic design major with a minor in Japanese Studies, and this internship is one of the last tasks they have to complete before graduating!
They will be here until August 13th. As part of their learning experience, they’ve visited various sites at Peace Memorial Park and around Hiroshima, been introduced to WFC English Classes and the Riji, and have listened to hibakusha share their stories.
Aja and Laura have also been working on other projects: Aja is continuing work to label the various gifts and artifacts WFC has on display which will provide a richer experience to visitors of the center. Laura is applying her technical skills by improving the logos for the WFC Yu-Ai newsletter.
Stop by anytime to get to know them!
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77th Memorial Day since the atomic bombing on August 6, 1945.
Barbara Reynolds, the founder of the World Friendship Center, had a consistent desire to “bring the voices of hibakusha to the world” and “abolish nuclear weapons.”
However, 77 years later, the abolition of nuclear weapons has not been achieved.
We welcome you to join us for these programs,
remembering those who lost their lives in the atomic bombing.
Hibakusha Talk by Ms. Toshiko Tanaka held in the morning (Japan time) would be in English only.
Please REGISTER here: https://bit.ly/3AFdnyq



Cherry blossoms are in full bloom in Hiroshima.
Thank you for your continued support of WFC.
In March, the restrictions on entry into Japan were lifted, and at the same time, visas were issued to the incoming directors, Matthew and Malachi.
Originally, the change of directors was scheduled for last summer, but after a seven months delay, Matthew and Malachi arrived in Japan at the end of March.
The directors, Roger and Kathy, continued to work for WFC for seven additional months in the midst of a pandemic, even after their two-year term was up, willing to serve as long as they could. We cannot thank them enough.
We would also like to thank their families in Seattle who have been waiting so long for their return.
Roger and Kathy left Hiroshima on April 1, after a short transition period with Matthew and Malachi, and returned to their families in Seattle.
We believe the two years and seven months have been an enjoyable and precious time for the directors and for everyone who has spent time with them.
We would like to express our deepest gratitude for the kindness received from everyone.
Please visit the official WFC Facebook page for more photos of Roger and Kathy on the day of their departure.
We were blessed with beautiful weather on the day of their departure, and the beautiful Japanese spring🌸 landscape also saw Roger and Kathy off.