Representative of Leave a Nest Singapore Kihoko Tokue Gives Lecture at Inagi No. 4 Elementary School
Kihoko Tokue, the representative of Leave a Nest Singapore, gave a lecture titled “The Power to Change the World is Within Everyone” to 600 elementary school students at Inagi No. 4 Elementary School in Inagi City, Tokyo, on June 12, 2024.
The lecture was part of an ESD (Education for Sustainable Development) class on how to think about the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) and was delivered in three parts to students from grades 1 to 6. The content of the lecture was tailored to each grade level, with the message for grades 1-2 focusing on the importance of having a sense of excitement and curiosity about the mysteries around us, the message for grades 3-4 emphasizing the importance of proactively trying to understand the planet, especially when tackling the SDGs which have no clear answers, and the message for grades 5-6 stressing the importance of questioning the obvious or social norms
When asked “What kind of person changes the world?” the children responded with answers like “The President!” and “A person with power”. In response, Ms. Tokue said, “ Anyone can change the world if they take an interest in the problems around them and pursue what excites them.”
As an animal behavioral ecologist, Tokue discovered that a host bird in Australia, can abandon a cuckoo chick, which was previously thought to be impossible. This discovery started with her questioning the “common sense” hat cuckoos are always raised by other birds. She stressed the importance of not being confined by assumptions, but being curious, questioning, and investigating things for oneself in order to take action.
Tokue’s message was that in order to take action on global-scale issues like the SDGs, it is important to break them down and start by learning about them from a familiar and relatable place. She encouraged the students to cherish the feeling of excitement and to continue pursuing their genuine curiosity. The lecture concluded with a strong message that the power to change the world is within everyone.
◆The event was also featured by Yomiuri Shinbun on June 13th, 2024
https://www.yomiuri.co.jp/local/tokyotama/news/20240612-OYTNT50184/
◆Enquiry on lectures
At Leave a Nest, we hold seminars towards secondary and high school students for career development and research. For those who which for a seminar, please do not hesitate to contact us.