TKSS marked International Friendship Day (IFD) on 12 April
2019 with a day of activities supported by the Parent Support Group (PSG). In
keeping with this year’s theme of Connected Communities, PSG put their heads
together to plan several meaningful traditional crafts and games for students
to immerse themselves in and experience the diverse cultures of our ASEAN
neighbours.
The school canteen was transformed into a colourful and carnival-like
arena where make-shift booths were set-up overnight by zealous parents. Music
filled the air and added to the vibrant atmosphere.
Parents arrived in full-force, all decked up in a riot of
colourful, traditional wear and ready to be part of the day’s celebration. One
could sense immediately the affinity of PSG’s multi-cultural community.
Students came by during their study break and joined in the
energetic game of Tin-Can walking;
our modified version of the popular traditional past-time of coconut-shell walking in Thailand.
Nearby, parents were seen engaged in various craft
activities. Some worked with students in a weaving
activity - creating crochet-style
baskets made out of colourful T-shirt yarn. Students had donated their old
T-shirts which were cut up into strips and the resulting yarn was woven and
made into useful items like bags, rugs, floor mats and seat pads. Students got
to experience first-hand what recycling and upcycling are about – transforming
unwanted items into new, practical and usable products. In two hours after much
collaborated effort and hard work, two baskets were lovingly created and
presented to the school.
Students also crowded around another booth to try their hand
at making personalized cloth buttons and badges and bringing home their
creations. Parents worked feverishly to help put together batik, silk and
brocade cloth for students to have a feel of the common materials used around
the region.
Other students were quick to learn from parents
demonstrating the art of weaving fish made out of old magazine paper. Weaving
fish into simple mobile structures is a common practice among our neighbouring Indonesian and Thai communities.
In the spirit of IFD, students went a step further by adding on their own
Friendship dedications to the fish. They filled up and decorated an IFD board
with brightly-coloured buttons, fish and dedications.
Lastly and not-to-be-missed, students and parents alike had
much fun and excitement coming together at the costumes-and-props booth where
they dressed up in a variety of traditional costumes and took many
Instagrammable-worthy photos!
It was a day to be remembered where both old and
new friendships were forged. And at PSG, also a renewed understanding and
appreciation of each other’s cultures.
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