New!! Wear Relay Project

In this project, children are going to create a new costume from their old clothes as a gift to children in different parts of the world. Likewise, the children who receive the costumes will then create a new costume (traditional or regional outfit) from their own clothes to give to more children in other parts of the world. They will perhaps never have the chance to meet each other, but they will continue passing costumes from one country to another, creating a chain of children. The purpose of this project is for children to work hard to create a costume for someone with whom they have never met or talked, in order to establish an invisible but strong tie with their innocent but determined hopes between the countries and regions where diplomatic relationships have been lacking. Also, in order to share the fascinating experience with many people other than the participants, I am planning to film their works, exhibition sites, the daily lives of the children, and interviews of the participants themselves for their opinions and feelings towards this project.
I will invite participants from areas where the climate differs significantly, such as Asia, Africa, Europe, US, and South America. I will purposely choose children from two countries that do not share the same latitude and have almost exactly the opposite climates to create costumes for one another. For example, children in Uganda will create costumes for the children in Italy (Milan), and Italian children will then create costumes for the children in Nepal, and Nepalese children will do the same for the children in the US (Washington), and in the end the children in Uganda who started the process will receive costumes. All the children will take a picture wearing the costume they receive and send a letter of thank you.

I wrote a poem for this project. I hope this will help you to better understand my intention and hopes for this project. I think of you

I know I have never met you, talked with you, or touched you
But I imagine what you are thinking and what your hopes are, so I think of you
I try to picture the place where you live, if it is hot, if it is cold
What you see everyday, what you pursue everyday
I try to picture
As proof that I thought of you, I will make a costume for you, I will make a costume from the clothes I wore
Imagining that you would like it, the costume I created for you
I want you to try it on, the costume I created for my friend who I will never meet
So spare me a smile
Now, please share your feelings
Because we are now connected on the same planet sharing the time together despite the distance
If we can understand each others feelings
There is nothing more I can ask for

*I am recruiting corporations, individuals, and groups who wish to participate in this costume relay project. If you are interested, please contact me, Kumi Ecchuya. Also, the previous project is currently being exhibited at the Japan Information and Culture Center in Washington D.C. http://www.us.emb-japan.go.jp/jicc/index.htm and I have been receiving many positive remarks. Since I am also looking for a sponsor for this next project, I would like to have as many applicants as soon as possible. I can start materializing the project only if there are a sufficient number of participants. I am planning for the project period to be from September to December 2003.
Thank you for your interest and kind consideration. I hope to see you all in the near

future.Kumi Ecchuya