In Their Eyes: A Look into UN Day

“They teach students about unity, seeing them not just as refugees but as humans.” Touching words from our beloved religion teacher and Student Council advisor when asked about how the presence of refugee students elevated the meaning of this day for our school. 

On October 25th, Sampoerna Academy L’Avenue held a splendid celebration of United Nations Day. Young students engaged in several activities that enlightened them about different cultures and practices around the world, feeding their curiosity! Along with that, our school made it paramount to focus on service for this UN Day. Moreover, Grade 7 students welcomed our UN refugee friends with open arms, organising a variety of activities, including an electrifying football match.

The celebration opened with a dazzling parade of students from ELC to Grades 1-2, each representing a different country and wearing unique costumes. Students then had the chance to gain insights and learn new things about distinct regions, and the class presentations highlighted the importance of diversity. Through each presentation, students took an immersive trip across the world, discovering new customs, histories, and cultures.

Ryan from Grade 2C shared that the highlight of UN Day was “Being the MC!”, as he got a front-row seat to witness all the creativity his classmates had to offer. He also described how much he loved visiting the themed classrooms, saying, “So each class was decorated as a country, and you could go in, and they’d tell you everything about it!” Truly taking in the fun he had while overseeing the day’s events.

Although the classrooms were decked out with ornate decorations, the room’s true color came from the vivacious spirit of the students. Other than dressing up in native costumes and sprucing up classrooms according to their representative countries, our learners got to make traditional foods. Primary students feasted their eyes on delectable cuisines, fascinated by the activities and creations they had the opportunity to do. 

Drawing the event to a close, the Grade 7 Students had purposeful, service-centred recreation with the refugee students, including outdoor activities, storytelling, English class, and even arts and crafts! When asked about her satisfaction and the challenges that came with coordinating this event, the PIC Ms Maryam gratefully expressed that, “It was good, I really enjoyed it. Initially, I was so anxious about it…but the good thing is all teachers took their part, and it went well!” That is the key takeaway from this event - that together, we are stronger and able to make a difference as we continue to learn about diversity and instil accepting values in our students.