INNISFAIL – Local children were given the unique opportunity to learn first- hand about the cultures of half a dozen other countries at once – a Canada 150 initiative held at the Innisfail Public Library.
The library's recent first-ever Cultural Diversity Day on Aug. 23 was inspired and facilitated by the year-round Central Alberta Refugee Effort (CARE) outreach program to bring the “human touch” of the many cultures that make up the citizenry of the region.
“We will visit the classes with our volunteers who share their stories with students,” said Sadia Khan, CARE's settlement practitioner public awareness, whose agency has previously brought its cultural public awareness program to students of all grades at Innisfail's schools. “That puts on the human touch as they may have heard about what is happening in the world through social media, television and through relatives. But once you are in front of them and they (students) see someone who has gone through that experience, and speak to them, it is just a connection the students can really understand and grasp.”
The Aug. 23 event was also an opportunity for the library to host a culturally diverse event to mark and celebrate Canada's 150th birthday. With that milestone in mind, the library's summer reading program has been focusing on Canada, said Sherry Driezen, the library children's programmer.
“They (CARE) offered to do a diversity event. The children can learn about different cultures,” she said.
Khan said six countries – Peru, Philippines, China, Tanzania, Mexico and Colombia – were represented by recent Canadian volunteers who facilitated culturally diverse components of the program at separate stations for the Aug. 23 afternoon event. She said each volunteer worked with local Canadian children on crafts and offered their first-hand knowledge and insight on their native countries.
“That is the best way to connect with children, through crafts, through storytelling,” said Khan. “We have a volunteer from Colombia who is going to read a book in Spanish and English to the kids, and then she is going to play some Spanish music and teach them the traditions of the culture of Colombia.”
She said the children also had the opportunity to ask volunteers questions about each country, an important part of the primary goal of the CARE program that connects kids and adults to a greater understanding of other cultures. “And that is what we are doing, bringing the cultural awareness to Innisfail today,” said Khan.
Gloricel Cayago, translation and interpretation coordinator for CARE, came to Canada from the Philippines in 2009. A former Innisfailian and now a resident of Blackfalds, she is still going through the process of earning full Canadian citizenship. In the meantime, she delights in expressing her gratitude for her new country by giving back to the communities the best of what her native country offers.
“I am so happy. This is my passion. I am excited to share this, especially with young kids, the Filipino crafts and culture, and community awareness to the community, to share something about my country, and not just the Filipino community, but every culture,” said Cayago, who had her own station set up at the Aug. 23 event. She was also delighted to hear Innisfail's Filipino community is thriving and is an important and respected cultural component of the town.
“I heard about the growing Filipino community here in Innisfail and I am so happy,” she said.
Gloricel Cayago, translation and interpretation coordinator for Central Alberta Refugee Effort
"This is my passion. I am excited to share this, especially with young kids, the Filipino crafts and culture, and community awareness to the community, to share something about my country, and not just the Filipino community, but every culture."
