A Fermanagh teenager shares his experiences this week after returning from the 23rd World Scout Jamboree in Japan, where the 70th anniversary of the Hiroshima bombing has been marked this month, August.

Fifteen-year-old Mark Crawford - one of a number of representatives from the county in attendance - is a member of 1st Rossorry Scouts, and he was among 40 scouts from Northern Ireland who made up Unit 62 at the major event, attended by 35,000 Scouts from 150 different countries worldwide. Hannah Armstrong, of 1st Lisnaskea, was also among local Scouts who were part of the major gathering.

The Scout Jamboree was “a life changing experience” according to Mark who feels it “has made such an impact” on his life. He described it as “an incredible opportunity” for him “to learn, respect, have tolerance and an appreciation” for other people’s cultures and by learning through the examples of everyone.

Mark believes that the Scout movement is “the most amazing adventure any teen could wish to embark on.” He enthused: “It has given me friends that feel like family, memories that will last a lifetime and a totally new perspective on life and society, all which I am eternally grateful for.” The Enniskillen schoolboy, a pupil at Portora Royal School, turned his focus to the 70th anniversary of Hiroshima.

“The city of Hiroshima was destroyed by an atomic bomb 70 years ago, but was rebuilt to become a city of 1.2 million people,” he said, adding: “The location of Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park near the epicentre was once the city’s busiest downtown commercial and residential district. It has now become a symbolic place to show the horrors of nuclear weapons and Hiroshima’s wish for world peace.” He highlighted that the Scouts of Hiroshima had prepared a “Hiroshima Peace Programme” for the Scouts from around the world to foster discussions about peace. The programme included visits to the Memorial Cenotaph, the Peace Memorial Museum, and the A-Bomb Dome and included activities such as readings of the victims’ memoirs, folding paper cranes and calligraphy.

“Through the folding of paper cranes, they wished to convey to future generations, the prayer for peace of a girl who was affected by the atomic bomb,” indicated Mark, who said that the paper cranes they folded were to be presented to the “Children’s Peace Monument” after the Peace Memorial Ceremony, which was being held on August 6.

“In the process of Hiroshima’s recovery, warm support was provided from around the world,” said Mark, who went on to say that their support gave courage to the people of Hiroshima. “In the Peace Memorial Park, there are monuments to praise their contributions,” he said. Mark continued: “Restoration is supported by people’s goodwill and this goodwill in turn forms strong bonds to connect people. This is very similar to the theme of the Jamboree “A Spirit of Unity”.” At the Hiroshima National Peace Memorial Hall for the Atomic Bomb Victims, Mark says they “paid tribute to deceased A-bomb victims” and “prayed for everlasting peace.” He also spoke about them handing down “memories of the experience of the atomic bombing to future generations.”