OVER 320 students and chaperones of school MY WAVE — Marianas Youth Welcome All Visitors Enthusiastically — Clubs gathered for the Marianas Tourism Education Council Tourism Summit on Friday, Jan. 24 at Garapan Central Park.
This year’s theme “Planting Peace – Manånånum Pås – Ffóttol llol Tipiyeew” encouraged students to understand, appreciate, and contribute to fostering peace in The Marianas, especially in recognition of this year’s 80th year of peace in The Marianas since the end of World War II.
MTEC also launched a project with MY WAVE Clubs students to fold 1,000 paper cranes to commemorate the anniversary and express hope for continued peace. The project is inspired by the life and story of Sadako Suzuki, a young Japanese girl who survived the nuclear bombing of Hiroshima and sought to fold 1,000 origami cranes to wish for peace. In Japanese culture, a person who folds 1,000 paper cranes will be granted a wish.
“The concept of peace — especially for a travel destination — is so important,” said MTEC Chair Vicky Benavente. “I hope that the students were influenced by the MTEC Tourism Summit to make sure that we remain a safe and peaceful destination for our visitors and guests.”
Students also visited educational exhibits by American Memorial Park; Carolinian Affairs Office; CNMI Historic Preservation Office; Division of Fish & Wildlife Aquatic Education Program, Sea Turtle Conservation Program, and Fisheries Conservation & Management; Department of Lands & Natural Resources; Marianas Visitors Authority Northern Marianas College; Northern Marianas Humanities Council; Northern Marianas Museum of History & Culture; National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration National Marine Fisheries Service; Office of Indigenous Affairs, U.S. Fish & Wildlife; and Western Pacific Maritime Academy.
Following lunch, students planted five trees at Garapan Central Park with the support of DLNR’s Division of Agriculture.
The MTEC Tourism Summit was supported by MVA.
For more information on MTEC, contact MVA Community Projects Specialist Jack Aranda at jaranda@mymarianas.com or tel. no. (670) 664-3200/1.
School MY WAVE Club members learn from an exhibitor from Northern Marianas College during the Marianas Tourism Education Council Tourism Summit on Jan. 24, 2025, at Garapan Central Park in Saipan.
Jack Sablan of the CNMI Historic Preservation Office teaches school MYWAVE Club members about coconut fiber rope College during the Marianas Tourism Education Council Tourism Summit on Jan. 24, 2025, at Garapan Central Park in Saipan.
Students explore coconut frond weaving during the Marianas Tourism Education Council Tourism Summit on Jan. 24, 2025, at Garapan Central Park in Saipan.
Steve McKagan of NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service, rights, speaks to school MYWAVE Club members the Marianas Tourism Education Council Tourism Summit on Jan. 24, 2025, at Garapan Central Park in Saipan.
Students of Da’ok Academy perform during the Marianas Tourism Education Council Tourism Summit on Jan. 24, 2025, at Garapan Central Park in Saipan.
Students of Koblerville Elementary School MY WAVE Club perform during the Marianas Tourism Education Council Tourism Summit on Jan. 24, 2025, at Garapan Central Park in Saipan.
Motono Higuchi of the Japanese School of the Japanese Society of the Northern Mariana Islands teaches students of MY WAVE Clubs how to make paper cranes during the Marianas Tourism Education Council Tourism Summit on Jan. 24, 2025, at Garapan Central Park in Saipan. The clubs will fold 1,000 origami cranes to mark 80 years of peace in The Marianas since World War II.
Students of MY WAVE Clubs learn to make paper cranes during the Marianas Tourism Education Council Tourism Summit on Jan. 24, 2025, at Garapan Central Park in Saipan. The clubs will fold 1,000 origami cranes to mark 80 years of peace in The Marianas since World War II.
MY WAVE Club students plant a tree at Garapan Central Park in Saipan during the Marianas Tourism Education Council on Jan. 24, 2025. In all, clubs planted five trees at the park.
