Malegno is a town located about an hour by train from Castegnato.
Primary school teachers were the ones who applied. As the school informed the town about its participation in the Kaki Tree Project, it received the full cooperation of the town hall for the tree planting ceremony. The municipal library has also been cooperating with the Project in its publicity through various activities.
As we arrived in the town, we saw a big rainbow-colored “PACE” flag placed on the front wall of the town-hall building.
There were already many people gathered in the front yard of the site. The tree planting ceremony invitation was sent to every single elderly person within the village. The elderly, other inhabitants of the town, all the kindergartens, primary schools and middle schools participated in the ceremony.
The ceremony began with the Mayor’s speech. After a primary school teacher offered a few words, children’s performances took place. Primary school pupils read their poems and played ‘Blow in the Wind’ on the recorder. After their singing, 16 children held the paper on which a letter was written above their head as they presented the ‘Malegno’s Peace Message.’ It was a wonderful presentation and received a cheerful applause.
The planting took place after Mr. Francesco Foletti and Dr. Ebinuma made speeches.
Two representatives, a boy and an 83-year-old man put soil over the tree with a big shovel.
A priest sent a congratulatory message to the planted kaki tree, and all the participants prayed. Lastly, the priest gave the blessing and offered a silent prayer for the tree.
After the planting, middle school students and kindergarten pupils did their performances.
Children placed the pebbles painted with many colors around the tree. After the Kaki Furoshiki presentation, they closed out the ceremony with primary school pupils’ singing. It was very cute and impressive as they held origami cranes in their hands and fluttered the crane wings at the end of the song.
