International Children's Festival

The International Children’s Festival, presented by the [http://www.meridian.org/ Meridian International Center's] Educational Outreach Programs, is an interactive and educational fun-fair each May that brings the community together with the diplomatic corps of Washington, D.C., as embassies host booths about their country and culture. These booths introduce children and their families to world geography, dress, and traditions through exciting displays and unique hands-on activities. Families together learn about world geography and the importance of global citizenship. , supported the festival by serving as Honorary Patron of the event.

Location and Date

When

The next festival will be held on "Saturday, May 9, 2009".

Where- Meridian International Center

For almost 50 years, [http://www.meridian.org/ Meridian International Center] has been the nation’s premier non-profit institution dedicated to advancing international understanding through public diplomacy and global engagement. The International Children’s Festival is located in Meridian’s historic mansions- examples of residential jewels of renowned architect John Russell Pope, who designed the Jefferson Memorial, the National Gallery of Art (West Building), and the National Archives. The houses are adjacent to each other and surrounded by beautiful gardens, forming a city block of supreme historic and architectural interest. For directions, please see [http://www.meridian.org/ Meridian's website] .

Description

Eighteen embassies host booths at the festival, and embassy partners put their full energy and resources behind this project, as the festival is seen as a valuable opportunity to encourage knowledge and understanding of their country. Each booth focuses on stimulating the five senses and allowing children to experience another culture. To accomplish this, embassies bring artifacts that participants can touch and feel. Through these hands-on items, embassies showcase many marvels of their countries. children’s toys and many more. Cultural representatives from each country are present to answer questions and interact with attendees.

Participating Embassies

Australia, Argentina, Brazil, Egypt, El Salvador, France, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Japan, Lebanon, Liechtenstein, Mexico, Poland, Senegal, South Africa, Turkey, and Uzbekistan

Performances

In addition to the interactive booths sponsored by embassies, the festival exhibits stunning dance performances from around the world. These performances showcase unique and vibrant cultural styles, while demonstrating the common factor all peoples share in music and celebration.

Performances from 2008

*Al Sharq Veil Dance & Wala Waled Egyptian Cane Dance, Middle East- Joys of Motion Dance Center
*Maculele & Capoeira, Martial Arts Dance, Brazil- ABADA-CAPOEIRA
*Bhangra Dance, India- The George Washington University Bhangra Club
*Pendet Traditional Dance, Indonesia
*Irish Dance, Ireland- The Maple School of Irish Dance
*Guhamiriza, Jumping Dance, Rwanda
*Tango Dance, Argentina- Escuela Argentina

Other Educational Outreach Programs

International Classroom

International Resource Library

International Classroom also offers teachers other resources to help them include more international education in their curricula. Available free of charge to public school educators, Meridian’s International Resource Library contains books, lesson plans, DVD’s, games and music as well as the library’s signature offering, Culture Boxes. Meridian’s 49 Culture Boxes contain items from a specific country or region that teachers can use as hands-on learning tools to help students make a tangible connection to other parts of the world.

Teacher Workshops

International Classroom also offers a professional development workshop, "Passports to the World", for DC teachers each Fall on how to internationalize their curricula while meeting current Standards of Learning. These workshops help teachers discover new methods of incorporating international education across the curricula. Over the course of six afternoons, teachers will travel to five different continents, exploring themes, ideas, and techniques to use in the classroom. Working in cooperation with Peace Corps: World Wise Schools and the National Geographic Society Education Foundation, teachers also earn credits toward recertification.

References

(1) [http://www.meridian.org Meridian International Center] (2) [http://www.meridian.org/index.php?option=com_rsgallery2&Itemid=162&catid=12 Meridian International Center Photo Gallery] (3) [http://dc.about.com/od/specialevents/ss/IntlChildFest.htm DC About.com] (4) [http://www.embassyofindonesia.org/gallery/2008/EmbassyatInternationalChil/index.html Embassy of Indonesia] (5) [http://www.dcurbanmom.com/submission/international-childrens-festival/ DC Urban Mom] (6) [http://www.culturaltourismdc.org/calendar2532/calendar_show.htm?doc_id=254378 Cultural Tourism DC]