Celebrating Culture

‘Sometimes your mind plays tricks on you. It can tell you you’re no good, that it’s all hopeless. But remember you are loved, and important, and you bring to this world things that no one else can’ - ‘The boy, the mole, the fox and the horse’ by Charlie Mackesy

Last week we ran a cultural enrichment day at SJL school with the year 7s. This quote was how we started the day, in an assembly, noticing and recognising that we are all different and that we all matter.

The students then had the opportunity to explore rooms representing different countries - learning about the culture, games and enjoying some of their food! (The chocolate Brigadero was a big hit). They then went into 3 workshops, helping them think more about their own identity and injustice around the world.

For me, there were a few things that stood out from the joy on the young people’s faces as they were free to express themselves in dance and noise, to the quiet stillness of games and colouring.

But what I really loved about this day was how much the school appreciated it! It was a day where teachers didn’t have to lesson plan and were able to enjoy spending time with their students in a different way.

So although we didn’t hand out Bibles or tell the resurrection story to 230 students, I believe we showed the school the love of God through being present, through taking a load of their shoulders and through declaring that God loves justice, He loves all people and all nations, and each student is created with an identity that is important and is to be celebrated.

Mary