The aim of the Schools of the World initiative is to develop the cultural and global awareness of all Lift Kingswood students, providing opportunities for students to engage with a wide range of cultural events and topical issues. The partnerships that we have developed with other schools around the world are integral to this. Currently, we have 4 partner schools, in India, Bangladesh, Germany and France. We have established a Pen Pal project to create long lasting connections with students from our partner schools. Communication between students is a fantastic opportunity to develop empathy and understanding of other cultures.
The Schools of the World Ambassadors have a crucial role to play in promoting global and cultural awareness around the school. They attend regular meetings to discuss their ideas and ways to enhance global awareness. All of our Ambassadors are identifiable through the globe badge on the lapel of their blazer.
We recruited new Student Ambassadors. The interviews were conducted by current Ambassadors. They asked each candidate questions and made notes on their answers, as well as making a judgement on their answer for each question. They then discussed the interview process with their peers and recommended candidates for the new Ambassador roles. This was a great leadership experience for the Ambassadors, allowing them to develop their decision making and communication skills.
The Ambassadors have delivered an assembly to students on the significance of International Partnerships and the partner schools that we currently have. They were responsible for the planning and delivery of the assembly, as well as fielding questions about our partner schools and enrichment opportunities.
More recently, the Ambassadors have been responsible for the introduction of the Cultural Events slides that are delivered through AM notices. The purpose of the slides is to highlight the importance of culturally significant days. Recent additions to the AM notices have included slides on the significance of International Women’s Day and the Hindu Festival of Holi.
Some of our Ambassadors have led the planning of an AM lesson about Ramadan. They have created a video to explain Ramadan and its significance. They have also shared information about their own experiences of celebrating Ramadan to enhance the understanding and awareness of other students.
Eid Celebrations
Each year we celebrated Eid which is a fantastic experience and builds on students’ prior knowledge of Ramadan and Eid from their Academic Mentoring lessons.
Imam Mizan Choudhury from Pearson Park Mosque visits the school to deliver presentations on Eid. The presentations are extremely informative and engaging as students learn about the significance of Ramadan and Eid and how and why they are celebrated by Muslims around the world. They are given advice on how to support others in the local community when they are fasting during Ramadan. Students engage really well with the presentations and show an interest by asking follow up questions.
Students also take part in a celebration in the Atrium, involving food, music and decorations. They sample different snacks eaten during the period of Ramadan and Eid.
The day is a fantastic introduction to religious celebration.
Student Testimonials
"The meeting are very productive, and we can bring a lot to the table to improve our Academy and the environment." Jayden
"Being a Schools of the World Ambassador allows me to learn about different cultures and spread awareness about the world and the environment." Julia
"I enjoy being a Schools of the World Ambassador because it allows me to work as part of a team to spread awareness about different communities. I can also develop my leadership and presenting skills, for example, by delivering assemblies". Harry
"I enjoy being an Ambassador because it allows me to experience different cultures and embrace and learn more about other people's beliefs." Claire
"I enjoy being an Ambassador as it allows me to share the opinions of other students. It helps me learn about other cultures." Faye
"I enjoy being an Ambassador as it helps me to build my confidence and communication skills. I can understand other people's religions and nationalities better." Abrar
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