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Cultural differences should not separate us from each other, but rather cultural diversity brings a collective strength that can benefit all of humanity. American writer, Robert Alan

For the better part of the second term this academic year, grade 3, 4 and 5 pupils across the nation were engaged in different activities to portray their culture. With a theme, ‘Cultural Activities for Environmental and Social Well-being,’ students were expected to observe, photograph or watch selected video clips of cultural activities that promote environmental and social well-being in their communities. Students were also expected to make at least two ornaments from locally available materials that they were expected to use or sell during the cultural day in their school.

We were not left behind at St. Jude Catholic Primary school. Students put their best feet forward under the guidance of their parents and teachers to come up with one of the best Cultural Events in the region. Under the stewardship of the Cultural Committee led by Tr Nancy L’lembe and Tr Otieno Mjomba, the team collected the best of the best ornaments and artefacts from students and well-wishers that were displayed at our showroom.

The chief quest who doubles up as our resident Priest, Fr Patrick Kanja, talked to the students on the importance of living a legacy in all they do in addition to embracing our cultural activities. Kenya is made up of over forty-five nations commonly known as communities with the latest community to be recognized being the Wamakonde from the coastal region of Kenya. So. why should we embrace cultural diversity in classes and the school environment to create a legacy?

Well, as seen from different artefacts displayed during the just concluded Cultural Event, diversity improves creativity and innovation in a child. The more experiences and ideas that they gather from their friends in different communities in the school, the more creative they can be.  This equips students with a broader understanding and opens their minds to deeper insights hence improving their performances. Research shows that schools with cultural diversity significantly outperform those without diversity in problem-solving scenarios. A major reason why most top-performing schools are in the towns and cities across the nation.

Allowing your child to mingle with friends from other tribes and communities or by permitting them to interact with their classmates from other religions enables them to consider opinions and perspectives beyond those they have already formed or were shaped in early life by family and friends. By presenting pupils with viewpoints far different from their own allows them to think critically about their own beliefs and examine the world in fresh ways. This, therefore, improves your child’s critical thinking, problem-solving and cognitive skills- soft skills that will shape up his/ her future as they get to their professional world.

It is also important to note that raising a child in a culturally diverse environment helps a child to develop tolerance and a greater sense of security when in an environment with other students from other cultures. It helps students to learn about other languages and cultures, encouraging them to be interculturally sensitive.  Tribal and racist attitudes develop at a very young age and often starts at home. Through educating children to see others as equals with a difference, valuable lessons are learnt and this acts as a preventive measure to dispel tribal stereotyping.

Therefore, going forward, we must keep the spirit of inculcating cultural diversity in our classrooms, at schools and in our neighbourhoods as this will be one of the ways of controlling the negative ethnicity that has ravaged Kenya since independence. Kudos to the Ministry of Education for making us understand that our strengths lie in our diversity. As the saying goes, “intercultural dialogue is the best guarantee of a more peaceful, just and sustainable world.”