For a long time I have wanted to invite Mrs. Hiroko Nitro to share her experiences as a WFWP volunteer in Guinea, West Africa. Finally, on Sunday, April 26, Mrs. Nitro brought pictures and shared many wonderful memories and experiences teaching dental hygiene, taking care of leprosy victims, setting up schools, and teaching marriage values in a country rife with polygamy. Attendees were deeply impressed by her stories of working hard with the other volunteers to love and educate the Guinean people. Below is Mrs. Nitro's inspiring testimony.

"Hello, my name is Hiroko Nitro; I'm a busy mom of 5 kids now. I became a WFWP volunteer for the Republic of Guinea for three years way back in 1994. Through the direction of Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon, WFWP's founder, 1600 Japanese WFWP members were chosen as volunteers to go to 160 nations, 10 for each nation.

When I arrived at the Guinea airport, the first thing I noticed were children begging on the streets. Then I saw their parents at the opposite side of the street guiding them on where to beg for foreigners. This meant that the parents allowed their children to beg from foreigners. It was so painful for my heart to see that.

In Guinea, they didn't have electricity for 24 hours; so we had to use candles every night. It was that kind of situation.

I would like to share with you our volunteer activities. First, we established a school and managed the school through a Foster Parenting Project. We held French and English classes. Guineans speak French, but there were many refugees from Sierra Leone who spoke English. In the beginning we were renting, but eventually we could purchase the land and build a school. This school is still operating today.

Second, we gave education for dental hygiene. Since most people used thin tree branches instead of tooth brushes, we taught how to brush your teeth and provided tooth brushes.

Third, we gave people knowledge on AIDS prevention. This was a tough issue because of the Guinean marriage system: one husband with many wives. Can you imagine that terrible situation? How can we see women's dignity?

Fourth, we had many donating activities: to hospitals, orphanages, refugee camps, and also Hansen's disease patients (commonly known as leprosy). In Guinea, Hansen's disease patients were isolated from the city, similar to during Jesus' time. Although the facility for Hansen's disease patients was a national institution, the patients themselves had to go out to beg for food because the hospital lacked sufficient funds.

At the beginning, none of the patients responded when WFWP members greeted them and brought rice, milk, and soap. However, after several visits, their attitude changed from complete despair to hope, and, partly as a result of our efforts, the government increased its budget for the hospital.

Honestly speaking it is not difficult to just give things. I feel sorry to the people of Guinea because we just gave something and left three years later. That kind of help is so temporary, so small. Just giving something makes people spoiled. More important is for people to become independent so they can make something by themselves. Then they can find the meaning of life.

When I was looking at the sun in Guinea, especially during sunset or sunrise, I often thought, "Is the sun currently seen here the same sun being seen in Japan?"

I actually struggle with why we can't bring or share our manpower to give more material aid to Guinea. For example, when we in the US or Japan get hit by natural disasters and there is total damage from earthquakes, tsunamis, or tornados, a few months, six months, one year, or three years is enough time to recover. Simply put, I have a big question about why we can't share and teach other countries like a mother, as a powerful G8 nation.

When I went to Guinea, I could only fill travelling suitcase with toys, clothes, and school supplies for them. But then after 3 years, the volunteers' small homemade activities in 160 nations steadily pulled up WFWP to reach General Consultative Status at the UN. Now we have the chance to move and shake the UN.

I'm sure we can make a difference to bring world peace through small activities with women's heart, a mother's heart. Thank you very much.”