BENEFITS OF CULTURAL EXCHANGE

By -
Talking about multicultural education may seem repetitive and
redundant if we refer the discourse to a privileged school context,
attended by students belonging to wealthy families. The discourse
may change if we consider a different type of schools, particularly
schools with a huge lack of benefits, facilities and materials. Children belonging to the poorest quarters or villages often attend this kind of schools; their chance to learn is limited to school possibilities. Any other kind of knowledge is not affordable or very difficult to obtain. Associations like HEEALS, not only give them a general knowledge
about basic habits that helps to maintain them healthy, but also give them the chance to be in contact with interns coming from all over the world. This contact is the bridge that introduces them to all worlds’
cultures, without travel. One of the first results of this positive cultural contamination is the
increase of curiosity. As everybody knows, children’s mind is
particularly absorbent; that means that they can easily learn a lot of
information in different environments and situations. This is why a
contact with people coming from different culture may represent a
positive way to classify new information. This process will be
absolutely helpful to break prejudices against other culture. In fact,
often, these prejudices are caused by ignorance or lack of information
about people that come from distant countries.
During HEEALS intern's experience, children can talk with them
before and after workshops, asking them a lot of questions about
family, habits and lifestyle. This kind of conversation brings children
in contact with intern's country, breaking boundaries and prejudices.
Another point in favour of this working method is that kids may be
more likely to listen to someone that can catch them through curiosity
and different aspect ore behaviour. Sometimes, in fact, happens that
intern have new ideas or tricks to catch child’s attention such as
games, songs or dances that comes from intern's country.
The result of this working method is already showing good effects. In
fact, meeting a new intern children start to ask questions and to
compare different country characteristics and peculiarity. In this way
they not only are able to compare their own experience with other
countries reality, but also they can make a comparison between two
different countries on the base of intern's stories and habits.
In the end, it is important to mention the importance of the mutual
personal growth. Indeed, children are not the only beneficiaries of
this method; interns have also the big chance to actually experience
children's reality. These benefits not only have a positive influence on
intern's studies and research, but also on his personal and emotional
sphere.

-Laura

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Safe Drinking Water Should Be Our Primary Priority

By -
Image
It is lunchtime here in Uttar Pradesh, and the students are thrilled about it.   Founder of NGO HEEALS, Gaurav Kashyap, reminds us all of the importance of washing our hands before we eat. So we walk to the hand pump. Students lather their hands with soap, and rinse, and all seems well, until I see them starting to drink from it. My instincts tell me to stop them- I know the water isn’t clean. And then I remember that I am not at home anymore, and that sadly enough, this is the case in many rural communities in India. My name is Jayde Lavoie. I am a twenty-year old Canadian intern, working at HEEALS for my summer CO-OP term with the University of Ottawa. I come from a country which is home to 7% of the global supply of renewable fresh water; [1] What juxtaposition now, for me, to be surrounded by communities where access to clean drinking water is a real, serious concern. A lack of clean drinking water can lead to a plethora of diseases, including (but not limited to): ch...
Read more

Understanding Menstrual Hygiene: A Key to Health and Dignity

By -
Image
Understanding Menstrual Hygiene: A Key to Health and Dignity By : Irmak  Menstrual hygiene is a vital aspect of health and well-being for millions of women and girls worldwide. However, despite being a natural and essential part of life, menstruation is often shrouded in stigma, myths, and misinformation, leading to significant health challenges and social barriers. This article explores the importance of menstrual hygiene, the challenges faced, and the steps that can be taken to promote better practices and understanding.  What Is Menstrual Hygiene? Menstrual hygiene refers to the practices associated with the management of menstruation, including the use of clean menstrual products, access to adequate sanitation facilities, and proper disposal of used products. It also encompasses the broader need for education and awareness about menstruation and menstrual health. Maintaining good menstrual hygiene is crucial for preventing infections, managing discomfort, and ensuring that...
Read more

LOVE AND FEAR ?

By -
Image
  LOVE AND FEAR ? When fear disappear you become fearless and fearless person is one who never create fear in anybody and who never allows anybody to create fear in him . You will not find fear, if you love deeply . Fear is darkness, it is absence of love. Don't fight with fear ,otherwise you will become more and more afraid and a new fear will enter into your being and that is fear of fear ,which is very dangerous.  In the first place fear is an absence and in the second place the fear of fear is the fear of the absence of absence.  Fear is nothing but absence of Love . Do something with Love  Forget about fear. If you love well ,fear disappear.  If you love deeply ,fear is not found . LOVE ? Whenever you have been in love with someone ,even for a single moment, was there any fear.  Fear has never found in any relationship where, if even for a single moment ,two person are in deep love. Secret key to fear is Love: if you feel there is fear in your being ,l...
Read more