When the news came through about the tragedy in Christchurch two weeks ago, Nelson College for Girls teacher Mika Sandford had an idea.
The Japan Society of New Zealand wanted to organise something to show how much the pain in Christchurch was being felt around the country. Mika thought that her students could help with that.
In Japanese culture, the origami crane has come to symbolise peace and hope in distressing times.
“If someone is going through difficult times or challenging times in sickness or if someone dies, to show support they are gifted 1000 paper cranes.”
So, for the past week, students at the college have been spending their time carefully making the cranes to be threaded onto a piece of string.
“The hope is that they will find their way to the mosque,” says Mika.
She says that it might only be a small gesture, but it is something to channel the sadness that is being experienced throughout the Nelson College for Girls community.
