Oundle School
First International Fair
The International Fair was held on Sunday 1st May in the Great Hall, and was conceived by student-run Oundle Horizons to increase awareness of the enormous range of cultural backgrounds within the school and to celebrate the diversity within Oundle. It was also an excuse to dress up in silly costumes and do your bit for charity!
After the Headmaster opened events, student and teacher volunteers represented their countries with posters, stands, food, drink, games and other activities in order to entertain and dispel some of those myths about their country or religion. Well over fifteen countries were represented (including Scotland, Wales, France, Germany, Spain, the USA, Turkey, South America, Bahrain, Thailand, Japan, China, India, Malaysia and Russia), each with their own stands, cultural goods, food, clothing, drinks, games and quizzes.
The Religious Studies Department also had a large stall to showcase the Make Poverty History campaign, and a hands-on quiz about religious artefacts from around the world. Other projects and trips were represented, including Mozambique, Walk to Rome, German Work Experience and the Cloisters Paving Scheme. OSCAR Radio also took part in the day, playing classical and modern music from around the world, particularly those represented in the school.
Whilst the primary aim of the day was to display the enormous range of cultures coexisting within the School, the day was also used to raise money for the International Aid Trust, an organisation that collects and delivers humanitarian aid to countries most in need across the world. Representatives from this organisation turned up to describe what their charity is doing all around the world. They are currently helping to rebuild homes and schools in Sri Lanka. To raise funds, wristbands with the day's slogan "Live with Diversity" were sold after having been kindly donated by wristbands.co.uk, and a 'World Map of Coins' grew throughout the day using a range of different currencies. By the end of the day, we had raised £571 for the Trust.
Ahmed Al-Khaja (C), Mark Lewis (L), Whai Tak Tang (C)