TAKING ON THE WORLD
STUDENTS from four small Hinterland schools learnt a whole lot about the big wide world last week at a special multicultural activities day.
Principal Robyn Sutton said the festival created a buzz among the children. Moreover, it lasted long after the festivities had died down.
The event took place at Ingleside State School in Tallebudgera Valley. There people from cultures as far away as Bosnia, Iran and West Africa conducted work-shops, gave talks and performed.
The students were given an appreciation and understanding of a variety of countries and issues surrounding them.
“The interactive nature of the activities meant they really connected with what they were learning because it taught them a lot about other cultures,” said Ms Sutton.
She said the idea was to encourage students to gain an awareness of the different cultures that make up our land.
“A Bosnian refugee spoke about how she fled to Australia. It gave understanding of why people go to other counties and why people might have different views.”
Ms Sutton said the children really took the refugee’s story to heart. Obviously, this story instilled in them a greater sense of tolerance.
More than 450 students from Springbrook, Numinbah Valley, Currumbin Valley and Ingleside State schools took part with about 50 representatives of Coolangatta State School.
Cultures represented included Aboriginal, Maori, Bosnian. Japanese, Egyptian, Greek and the South Sea Islands.
GOALD COAST SUN, Wednesday, December 7, 2005
