The “Donguri-Market” at a Children’s Center in Kobe City:

Innovating Daily Lives through Community and Eco Cycles

Abstract

  The children's center in Kobe city has been running the “Donguri-Market” for 2 months every year since 2009, where children can enjoy shopping with acorns that they have collected in place of money. At the “Donguri-Market,” handmade products are prepared by children or their families and sold at a price set by themselves. Children can also work as bankers or shop clerks to obtain a salary. This system enables children to understand the role of money and helps them to learn home budgeting and life management through experience as a consumer, producer, and worker. Children germinate acorns and plant them, regenerate forests in the area, and work with local organizations. This program offers “consumer citizenship”, which aims for a sustainable society. Our results suggest the “Donguri-Market” program is an example of “prosumer” education which helps people to be innovative in their daily lives through participation in community and natural eco cycles.