UN Day celebrated with gusto
UN Day celebrated with gusto
Tantri Yuliandini, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta
It is not a regular day at school when you see a girl in a Korean
hanbok giggling with another in a Chinese cheongsam, watching a
boy in a cowboy outfit eating some German sandwiches, while a
teacher in American Indian costume looks on.
United Nations Day at the Singapore International School (SIS)
in Lebak Bulus, South Jakarta, was celebrated with gusto on
Friday, with stands opened to represent 17 different countries
and many of the younger students donning their national costumes.
The opportunity allowed the school to "give exposure to
children to learn about international cultures", SIS headmaster
Jyoti Mayall told The Jakarta Post.
The school celebrated United Nations Day early this year
because on Oct. 24 -- when UN Day actually falls-- SIS students
will take the first exam of their end of year exams, SIS PTA
chairwoman Jui Jui S. Lekatompessy said.
Students were previously introduced to the United Nations in
class then taken to the bazaar to sample traditional foods, see
and buy handicrafts from different countries, as well as get
their hands on traditional children's toys from around the world.
"With students coming from 35 different nationalities, we have
a good international setting here, and we want to teach them
about international cooperation and world peace," Mayall
explained.
She said that this year was the third and biggest United
Nations Day celebration that the school, together with its parent
teacher association (PTA), had organized.
"It's nice to learn about all the different cultures," SIS
Secondary 2 (equivalent to second year of junior high school)
student Isabelle Cameron from Australia said, adding quickly that
"the food is nice".
This year, too, SIS has invited the Gema Citra Nusantara arts
group to perform various traditional Indonesian dances such as
the Ratoh and Saman dances from Aceh, and the Merak (peacock)
dance from West Java.
Gema Citra Nusantara arts group was established by volunteer
dance teacher Mira Soerjanatamihardja for students of Pulo Public
Elementary School No. 7 in South Jakarta to learn dance for free.
"Despite the school being located in an elite area, these
children are from needy families whose parents work as becak
(pedicab) drivers and construction workers," PTA member and
organizer of the event, Alfa Winarno, said.
She explained that the proceeds from stand rentals and product
sales would go to support these children to become delegates at
next year's International Folklore Festival in Poland.
"Imagine, they've never ridden in a (private) car before, and
next year they will go on an airplane to Poland," Alfa said.