How Hong Kong schools are promoting cultural diversity and understanding – through shared celebrations and festivals
Initiatives like international weeks and overseas exchanges instil values of respect and empathy that prepare students for a global future
Hong Kong’s leading schools have long been a great example of cultural diversity, celebrating different traditions and beliefs with a constant whirl of activities throughout the year.
For many of these events, the focus is understandably on fun, with costumes and performances, perhaps an exchange of gifts, and the chance to cook and taste special foods associated with each festival.
However, beyond that there is also a more serious purpose: the importance of learning about other countries and communities, and respecting them and their place in the world.
That knowledge and open attitude are marks of a global citizen, befitting of an international society like Hong Kong’s. And to ensure students are on the right path, many schools now support all kinds of initiatives, from exchanges and overseas field trips, to partnering with NGOs, creating opportunities to appreciate other cultures and find new ways to engage with them.
“I believe that learning in school should mirror the world we live in, and learning about diversity helps our young people interact with those from different cultural and social backgrounds,” says Anne Drouet, director of visual and performing arts at the Canadian International School of Hong Kong (CDNIS). “The arts, though, have a special power in helping us imagine what it feels like to step into someone else’s shoes, which not only builds compassion, but can also be especially [eye-opening].”
