UNICEF Tree of Prayers Project

Tokyo Midtown Design Hub (participating organizations: Japan Institute of Design Promotion [JDP] and Japan Graphic Designers Association Inc. [JAGDA]) will hold an exhibition from Friday January 13th to Sunday February 5th, to showcase all the 1,200 ornaments contributed to the UNICEF Tree of Prayers Project in 2011.

 

Objective

The UNICEF Tree of Prayers Project was launched, to give thought to children in affected areas on Christmas after over six months since the disaster, and to bring about smiles on their faces by gathering the power of design across companies and universities.

 

The Japan Committee for UNICEF has continued support activities toward children including those attending kindergartens and nursery school in Miyagi, Iwate, and Fukushima prefectures. As many of them have barely held the seasonal events after the disaster, we decided to make their irreplaceable Christmas of 2011 very special.

 

In response to the call, professional designers in advertising and art industries and art students volunteered to design Christmas ornaments for "tree of prayers" with warm wishes.

 

This ornamented "big trees" was exhibited at eight places in Ginza, Yurakucho, Sendai and Kesennuma, and were also delivered to kindergartens and nursery schools in affected areas. Fund-raising events to present ornaments to those who made donations, were also held at the venues.

 

With help of the Japan Committee for UNICEF, the trees were sent to 35 schools in Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima. A total of 100 volunteers also held workshops to make ornaments with 900 children and presented many Christmas gifts donated by sponsors. Thus 1,000 kinds of amazing smiles were born.

 

The Design Hub exhibition will feature all the 1,200 ornaments contributed to the project.
Project reports and films covering the activities will be also presented.
Be sure to keep your eyes on Japan's one of the largest creative projects that unified power of design.