ANT-Hiroshima, an NGO based in Hiroshima, Japan, draws its inspiration from the experience of the A-bomb survivors who, together with international support, worked to rebuild their shattered city in a spirit of peace and reconciliation. In a similar spirit, ANT-Hiroshima is involved in a range of activities related to peace education, peace building, peace culture, and fundraising for peace projects.

Hiroshima information

ANT-Hiroshima is now involved in a number of projects, both domestic and international.

In cooperation with HOPE ’87-Pakistan, ANT-Hiroshima implemented the Shamshatoo Health Camp in 2006 as a basic health unit project in the Shamshatoo district in the Northwest Frontier Province of Pakistan. In response to a request from the local community, this health unit is now being maintained in 2007. As we strive to overcome various challenges posed by this project, we seek to ensure its long-term sustainability. Fortunately, contributions from supporters have created the opportunity to construct a permanent health care facility in this location.

People in Pakistani Kashmir were losing hope as the region has been in conflict with India over territorial rights and then was devastated by the 2005 Pakistan Earthquake. However, after reading “Sadako’s Prayer”, children there empathized strongly with Sadako’s sorrow as well as her hope. Inspired by the children, adults in Kashmir established an NGO called Sadako Trust to rebuild their local towns. ANT-Hiroshima donated educational supplies to local schools to assist Sadako Trust, which plans to construct schools and promote peace education.

ANT-Hiroshima has donated a variety of school equipment including desks, chairs, and textbooks to support a school construction project by an NGO called TEDDS (Trust for Education & Development of Deserving Students). TEDDS has established a school which deserving students from impoverished families attend. We seek to make a difference in the lives of children forging the future of Pakistan by offering support to this school.

ANT-Hiroshima has provided support to Steven Okazaki, an Academy Award-winning film director from the United States who has worked on Hiroshima-related projects for the past 25 years.
His efforts have culminated in two documentary films, “White Light/Black Rain” and “The Mushroom Club”.

＊”White Light/Black Rain”＊
This 86-minute feature documentary film tells the story of A-bomb survivors in Hiroshima and Nagasaki and was broadcast nationwide in the United States on HBO on August 6, 2007. In Japan, the film is being shown at theaters in various cities nationwide this summer. Tomoko Watanabe, Executive Director of ANT-Hiroshima, served as a consulting producer for the film.

＊”The Mushroom Club”＊
ANT-Hiroshima helped Steven Okazaki produce a film about A-bomb survivors in Hiroshima. The 30-minute documentary film was nominated for an Academy Award in the “best short documentary” category of 2005. We then produced English and Japanese DVDs of the film for distribution.

In cooperation with other NGOs and volunteers, ANT-Hiroshima will hold its 5th annual benefit art exhibition, Art Party, December 7~12, 2007. In the exhibition, we display and sell artwork created by children in need from countries around the world. 100% of the proceeds from the sale of this artwork are then donated to the participating children’s groups. Moreover, we strive to make the exhibition a memorable event that can promote cross-cultural exchange between these children and visitors to the gallery.

Over the years, ANT-Hiroshima has worked closely with AANI (Association for Annapurna Neurological Institute), a Hiroshima-based NGO to assist neurologists in Nepal. Several Nepalese doctors have received medical training in Hiroshima, including, in 2007, Dr. Hemav who is studying at Hiroshima University. As AANI’s sister NGO, ANT-Hiroshima is helping to support his stay in Hiroshima.

We are engaged in organizing a variety of activities to promote peace education and peace building. These activities include: holding public lectures and seminars by Japanese and international speakers; arranging screenings of films with peace-related themes; coordinating exchange projects for students; and supporting groups of young people involved in their own peace activities.

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