[Activity Report] Volunteering as Staff at “Kids Global Festival 2026”

On Sunday, April 26, 2026, three members of the Mrs. Universe Japan Charity Team, finalists Junko Nakao and Chiaki Enomoto and alumna Keiko Kawasaki, volunteered as staff at “Kids Global Festival 2026,” held at JICA Global Plaza (Ichigaya).

Here is our report on how, as part of the Mrs. Universe Japan “Charity Team” activities, they gave their all to support a special day on which children encountered the world and experienced diverse cultures.

What is Kids Global Festival 2026?

Produced by the NPO KIV Children’s International Village and supported by JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency), it is a major international exchange event for children, aimed at cross-cultural understanding and multilingual experiences. This year, its second edition, was a huge success, with advance tickets selling out. Around 1,400 parents and children attended, and the venue was full of energy, packed with programs for learning about the diversity of the world with all five senses, including interaction with volunteer staff from around the world, traditional costume experiences and a kids’ speech contest.

Support from our finalists

At the venue, Ms. Nakao, Ms. Enomoto and Ms. Kawasaki each welcomed visitors at their own posts and helped the event run smoothly.

• General reception and support for group booths
  They guided the large crowds of visitors with a smile, stamping commemorative stamps on the children’s stamp rally cards and sharing warm moments with them.
• Supporting the “Write Your Name in World Languages Challenge (Handwriting Plaza)”
  At this booth, volunteers from various countries wrote each child’s name one-on-one in the script of their own country (Thai, Indian, Burmese, Mongolian, Vietnamese, Filipino and more). Amid the many languages flying around, our members helped create a lively space and served as a bridge between families and volunteers.

To draw out the children’s eagerness to “try it!” and help them dive into other cultures with confidence, they stayed close to each child and connected with them with a smile.

Comments from participants

Junko Nakao (@ocean_junko)

“It was so moving to see the children happily communicating in English with people from other countries; just watching warmed my heart. It was a fresh discovery for me to learn that such a wonderful international exchange event exists, and it was lovely to see parents joining in the fun too. The event was even busier than I imagined, and the reception desk I was in charge of was extremely hectic, but it was a wonderful experience that was even more rewarding than it was busy. I’m truly glad I took part. Thank you all for your hard work!”

Chiaki Enomoto (@akky.diary)

“Following my previous volunteer activity, I’m honored to have been involved in such a wonderful event again. I have long had a strong desire to stay deeply involved in international exchange volunteering and to support activities that connect people with the world, so being able to support, up close, the moments when so many children connected across borders with smiles has become a great source of motivation for me. I want to treasure opportunities like this and continue contributing to a future in which children’s horizons are broadened.”

Keiko Kawasaki (@kawasakian0503)

“This was my second time taking part, following last year. This year the number of participants reached 1,400, double the previous year, and with even more content, it was a grand event! At the Handwriting Plaza, volunteers from many countries wrote names while exchanging greetings in their own languages, and the whole venue was full of energy. It was also a warm place where not only children and parents but also volunteers living in Japan caught up with one another, and it was a wonderful opportunity that made me realize anew that ‘I, too, am Japanese.’ I would love to take part again next year.”

• Kids Global Festival 2026 official website
• NPO KIV Children’s International Village on Instagram

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