In the framework of the project of international technical support “Integration of Refugees in Belarus, Moldova and the Ukraine (phase I)” within January 17—21, 2011 lessons on cross-cultural education were held in Belarus. The event was organized by the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Belarus, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and International Non-governmental Association for Scientific Research, Information and Educational Programmes “Evolutio”.
On January 19, 2011 Sholeh Safavi, the Representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Office in the Republic of Belarus, the representatives of the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Belarus and INA “Evolutio” visited a “lesson” on cross-cultural education in Minsk school № 215, which was held in the 3rd form. The lesson was entitled “Tolerance — is a life standard”.
Pupils were preliminary divided into four groups, each with its name (e. g. “Concord”). There were air balloons on each group’s table with the synonyms of the word “tolerance” inside, children prepared reports about people relations, explanation of the word “tolerance” in different languages, as well as reports about refugees in the world and in Belarus, played in games. Everyone liked a game “Orange”. The teacher took four oranges and a representative of each team chose one, carefully examined it and memorized. Then all oranges were put together and mixed, and children were to find their one, which was easy for them. Then the teacher put the oranges together once again and cut one of them into four parts (the pupils had no idea that only one orange was cut) and proposed them to find a cantle of their orange… but they didn’t manage to do it. Why? Because they were the same! The oranges are different from outside, but are the same inside! The same with people, everyone has its own color of skin, eyes, hair, but inside there is a man, who lives with a hope for the future, with his own dreams! The children were happy to share their ideas about their possible behavior if a foreigner or refugee became their classmate. One said that he would share his toys, another one — that he would invite him to his birthday party, another one — that he would help him with his homework. The pupils said that it is necessary to help other people, despite the fact they look different, because everyone can get in a difficult situation.
The “lesson” ended with a song, all together stood up and sang “Sunny circle, sky around…”.
On January 20 Sholeh Safavi, the Representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Office in the Republic of Belarus, the representatives of the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Belarus and INA “Evolutio” visited Minsk gymnasium № 33, where a grand festival on cross-cultural education took place. At first Oksana Yakubovskaya, the director of the gymnasium, Kartlos Kavtaradze, the leader of the Georgian Cultural and Educational Non-governmental Organization “Mamuli”, Valentina Mostovlyanskaya, the Deputy of the Head of Center for Children and Adolescents “Evrika” appeared before the pupils of the 10th form.
Then the pupils of the 10th and the 11th form held a lesson on cross-cultural education on the refugee issue. Everyone spoke refugees: who, to their mind, they are, how we can help them, and also how we should treat them. The pupils showed their knowledge of refugee issue and international humanitarian law. Sholeh Safavi thanked the pupils and their teachers for good preparation.
After this lesson, the participants and the guests of the event sampled the courses of the Ukrainian, Armenian, Georgian, Afghan, Russian and Belarusian cuisine. At the end of the event there was a child concert prepared by creative teams of the school and Center for Children and Adolescents “Evrika”.
Photos (Lesson on crosscultural education in the Secondary School N 215 of Minsk, 19 January 2011)
Photos (Lesson on crosscultural education in the Gimnasium N 33 of Minsk, 20 January 2011)
The event was held in the framework of the project of international technical support “Integration of Refugees in Belarus, Moldova and Ukraine (phase I)”
