PAPER cranes originate in the ancient Japanese tradition of origami or paper folding. Today, they are known as a symbol of peace.
The connection between paper cranes and peace can be traced back to a young girl named Sadako Sasaki, who died of leukemia ten years after the atomic bombing.
Sadako’s story is best known through the book Sadako and the thousand paper cranes by Eleanor Corr. Sadako’s death triggered a campaign to build a monument to pray for world peace and in memory of children that died because of the bombing. Later, this story spread to the world and now approximately 10 million cranes are sent each year to the Children’s Peace Monument.
You can help Goulburn Valley Libraries contribute to the International Day of Peace by making origami paper cranes. They have a target of 1000 paper cranes, and will be running events where you can make them, or you may even make them at home and drop them off.
All cranes made will be displayed until Thursday 29th September before sending them to Japan where they will be placed at the Children’s Peace Monument that stands in Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima.
“We would like to see as many paper cranes as possible made and on display by the 21st of
September, the International Day of Peace” said Bronwyn Cole, program coordinator for Goulburn Valley Libraries.
“We want people from all our communities to contribute and then come in to see the display of what we hope will be thousands of paper cranes. Community members can make one paper crane or hundreds. Our libraries will be hosting origami crane making sessions throughout August and September so even if you have never made one before you will be able to contribute to
the project”.
Paper cranes can be dropped off at any Goulburn Valley Libraries branch, or to the Mobile Library from Tuesday August 1st until Thursday September 21st, the International Day of Peace.
The paper cranes can be made out of any paper but squares should be no larger than 15cm x 15cm.
If you would like to join us at one of the origami paper crane-making sessions in the library, please contact Goulburn Valley Libraries on 1300 374 765 or drop into your local branch.
For more details about this community art project check out the Goulburn Valley Libraries website www.gvlibraries.com.au.
