The Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition (hereinafter referred to as “the Association”) will begin accepting applications for schools participating in the 2023 Junior Expo Educational Program for the fiscal year 2023 on Wednesday, May 24, 2023. From this fiscal year, the area where the program is conducted is expanded to not only domestic schools but also overseas educational institutions such as schools for Japanese students outside Japan. (The title of the program was changed from the “Educational Program” to the “Junior Expo 2025 Educational Program” this fiscal year)
This program has been conducted to encourage children, who will play a leading role in the future, to participate in the events targeted for Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan (hereinafter referred to as “the Expo”) even before the opening of the Expo, to learn about the SDGs, think of ideas for the theme of the Expo—”Designing Future Society for Our Lives” —and increase their interest so that they will actually want to visit the Expo in 2025. A total of 183 schools (82 elementary schools and 101 junior high schools) from Tokyo, Hokkaido, Osaka, Kyoto and 20 prefectures all over Japan have participated in the program since the start of the program in October 2020.
Teachers at each participating school conduct classes using the dedicated materials compiled by the Association. Approximately 10 hours of comprehensive learning and other class time will be used to deepen the understanding of the Expo and the SDGs. “Research Meetings” where companies committed to SDGs and children have an online exchange, and “Junior Expo” where children show their achievements learned through class, will be held.
From October 2023 to January 2024: “Research Meetings” (Junior high schools and junior high school students at overseas educational institutions)
Companies working on the SDGs announce the details of their initiatives, and children ask questions about their initiatives. The interaction will be conducted online.
Late February 2024: “Junior Expo – Presentation Session” (Junior high schools and junior high school students at overseas educational institutions)
To summarize what students have learned, a presentation session will be held in order for groups to share their ideas.
March 2024: “Junior Expo – Poster Session” (Elementary schools and elementary school students at overseas educational institutions)
To summarize what was learned, students will make posters. The posters, “Ideas for the Brilliance of ‘All’ Life,” will be widely distributed on the Association’s website and other media platforms.
*The presentation session is scheduled to be held within the “Kansai SDGs Youth Meeting” which is co-hosted with the Kansai SDGs Platform.
Public Relations Department, Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition
e-mail: media@expo2025.or.jp