On April 30^th, the Japanese volunteer, Yuki Ongo, gave a number of training workshops on the Japanese paper folding art known as “Origami” for An-Najah students. The workshops aimed to introduce this type of art which emerges from the history of the Japanese civilization and its various cultures.

More than 25 students who are enrolled in the Young Leaders training course which is organized by the Zajel International Youth Exchange Program and the Office of the University President Assistant for Graduate Affairs participated in the workshop. In the workshop, Mr. Ongo introduced the Japanese culture and heritage and trained the students on the Origami art.

Mr. Ongo also participated earlier in the Scientific Exhibition which was organized at the Faculty of Science on April 20^th through a special corner that presented the Japanese culture; visitors to the Exhibition were impressed by the Japanese culture and the origami art.

Also, Mr. Ongo participated in the Faculty of Fine Arts’ Exhibition where he played Japanese traditional music and presented a number of shapes which he made using origami paper. The students were introduced to the philosophy that behind such art which is based mainly on creating original shapes from paper without tearing the paper as an act of respect to nature. Such art trains the brain on creative mental work and the production of beautiful shapes using only one piece of paper.

Three more Origami training workshops were organized in which a hundred students participated and were trained on creating unique and beautiful shapes from paper.

Muthnna Al-Deek, a student from the Faculty of Science, said the Origami art is uniquely beautiful and charming and hoped that the Palestinians would create similar arts so as to communicate Palestine’s message to the world. Mr. Ongo commented on the workshops by saying that nothing can express a given culture better than the people of this culture as this would add a great value to this culture.

He also said he sensed a great interest in the Japanese culture especially the Origami art by the students who listened attentively to the trainer’s instructions to turn the pieces of paper into 3-Dimensional shapes.

Such workshops aim to familiarize the University’s student with the world’s cultures, gain more experience with respect to others’ traditions and habits and help in reinforce global dialogue among different cultures and people around the world.