Filled with Wonder: Christmas Around the World 2022
Together with our partners and volunteers, Mano Amiga Academy was transformed into a map of cultures and experiences during last year’s Christmas Around the World. With toy cameras and mini passports in hand, students of Mano Amiga became tourists for a day as they traveled to different countries last December 14.
Christmas Around the World is an annual school-wide event where the entire school gets to be decorated into different countries and students get to experience different cultures and Christmas traditions. Each classroom features food and experiential activities to help the kids learn more about different places. What a way to learn beyond the classroom!
In Finland, the students were welcomed by Mr. and Ms. Santa Claus (H.E. Juha Pyykkö and wife Riitta Laakso) with fun and delicious activities which include making gingerbread houses and singing Christmas carols. They also got to experience another western Christmas tradition by touring the Christmas Markets in Germany with the Education Heroes. In the unique New Zealand wildlife, the students learned about different animals during storytelling and face-painting sessions.
Traveling back to Asia, students enjoyed Science and innovation in Japan as volunteers from 3M led the activities. In Korea, they entered the world of K-pop with our volunteer dancers and teachers where students learned new dance moves. The experience wouldn’t be complete without visiting the Philippines where they got to discover and work on different art forms from paper mache to mug marbling to wire sculpting
The day was filled with wonder, laughter, and excitement not only for the students but for everyone involved. It was a memorable experience that brought so much joy and happiness to the Mano Amiga community. We are very grateful for our incredible partners from the Education Heroes Committee, the Embassy of Finland, 3M, Rocha Art Gallery, and other individual volunteers.
Our partners and volunteers really went above and beyond to make Christmas Around the World extra magical for the Mano Amiga community. Various partners vowed to volunteer more for Mano Amiga and come back for Christmas Around the World 2023 to bring more smiles to each and every one.
