Have you ever thought about peace? To me, peace means that we accept each other’s differences and live in a world where there is no disparity between rich and poor and between rich and poor and between rich and poor and between rich and poor and between rich and poor. If we do not understand and respect each other’s differences, we will impose our own ideas on each other, and we will be at odds with each other. Disparities also divide people and cause them to clash with each other. These may lead to many wars.
When I thought about what I could do for peace, I realized that it would be difficult on a global scale. So I thought about what I could do. In my class, there is a system in which students who are good at French and students who are not good at French pair up and teach each other. I thought this system, in which students help each other, was wonderful. At school, two people who are good friends are often paired up, but I would like to create a system where two people who have no contact with each other are paired up. I would like to call it a “buddy” system.

In this buddy system, people who do not know each other teach each other. By working together, we can learn about different ways of thinking and living environments. We will then extend this system not only to other students from our own school, but also to students from schools throughout Japan and around the world. By doing so, they can meet students from other countries, learn about other cultures, and discuss problems they are facing with each other. Of course, it is difficult to speak another language to each other. However, with the use of translation software, I believe that we can communicate with people who speak other languages.
Also, by teaching each other how to study, we can compensate for each other’s deficiencies. Ultimately, we would like to develop a system in which children who are unable to attend school for various reasons can also participate in the buddy system.
And if we can expand the circle of children’s buddies, or rather the circle of peace, I believe we will be closer to a more peaceful world.
Thank you very much for your kind attention.