The Japanese proverb — “He that folds 1,000 origami cranes will be granted a wish” — is well known.
So is the book Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes. It’s the story of a young girl in Hiroshima when the atomic bomb hits. Later, she begins folding cranes.
She makes 644, before dying of leukemia. Her classmates fold the rest — and they are buried with her.
Six decades later, Japan once again fights the scourge of radiation. This time, 4 Staples sophomores are helping.
And they’re doing it by reenacting that crane story, right here in Westport.
Anya Kostenko, Jenna Ellis, Amanda Giannitti and Francesca Lam have already created 1,000 cranes. This Saturday (April 16, 7-10 p.m.) they’ll be on display at Toquet Hall.
Some of the cranes you'll see at Toquet Hall... (Photo/Jenna Ellis)
There will be musical performances by Staples students Rachel Samuels, Meaghan Elliot and Jacqueline Devine, plus Richard Granger and Ayrton Ellis.
Refreshments are available, too.
For a donation of $5 ($3 for senior citizens and children under 10), you can take a crane home. The money goes to Westport-based Save the Children’s Japan fund.
Plenty of Westporters have rushed to help victims of Japan’s triple tragedy. It’s hard to imagine, though, that anyone — anywhere — has been as creative as these 4 Staples sophomores.
(For more information, contact japancranes1000@hotmail.com)
...and all the cranes.
The minds and hearts of our younger generations is what helps make Westport so special. They know how to leave the “I” factor out of their vocabulary when necessary.
Creative and caring…special attributes.
Very special indeed. On a sidenote, I read that Isreal is leading the way with humantarian efforts while the petr0-rich Arab countries look the other way?
This is what makes me so proud of my hometown of Westport. Thanks to Anya, Jenna, Amanda and Francesca! You inspire us, as Ann Marie said.
I am so proud of all of you!
there were other contributors to this project as well, Josh Reedy, Anya Kostenko, Francesca Lam, Jenna Ellis, Amanda Giannitti, Sydney Schmerzler, Sarah Levenson and Nina Chasnow, Mie Higuchi, Luke Paschal, Kirsten Flicker, Julia Onorato, Ashley Hyun and Anastasia Kulikova
This was a wonderful event. Toquet Hall looked amazing with all the brightly colored cranes. My 3 year old handpicked a few and now we proudly display them at home. I don’t know how successful the fundraising was but I hope the townsfolk stepped up to support these students. Japan still needs a lot of support!