The "Momotaro Project" was held from Tuesday, November 8 to Friday, November 11, between 12:40 and 13:20 each day. Students, faculty and staff took time during their lunch break to pull weeds and clean the area around the pergola on the Tsushima campus.

The project title was "Let's pull weeds & get kibi sweets!" (SDG 17: Partnerships for the goals). A total of 113 people (73 students and 40 faculty and staff) gathered over the four days under clear autumn skies to take out the weeds that had grown over the summer between the white bricks in front of the Peach Union.

The event was organized with the cooperation of the Okayama University Co-op, who graciously provided an Okayama Kibi sweet from the Momotaro folktale to each participant. With the cooperation and dedication of the Co-op and the hardworking participants, the pergola was restored to a more beautiful appearance beyond expectation.

Chen Yimeng, an international student from China who participated with a friend, said, "I usually don't pay attention to the grass, but now that it's clean, it feels great! I am also happy to support the SDGs!"

This event was organized by the Office of Extracurricular Education, along with the University Co-op, in response to some students' comments that it has been difficult for them to feel connected to other students, faculty members, and the university campus due to COVID-19. The goal was to provide as many students as possible the opportunity to experience the joy of accomplishing something with others as "a member of the Okayama University community" and of "making the university a better place by ourselves."

We hope that those who, unfortunately, could not participate in the project this time, will be able to join us to work together next time!

*The Office of Extracurricular Education is a section of the Institute for Promotion of Education and Campus Life and promote students' active learning through various kinds of extracurricular learning opportunities and environments.