"Fostering cultural diversity: Embracing unity"

Written by: Arhiane Grace M. Benatiro

Section: 11-Bl. Peter of Gubbio

"Fostering cultural diversity: Embracing unity"

As a kid, I've always been fond of cultural diversity. Seeing different traditions, cultures, languages, and behaviors of people in general never fails to make me in awe of how unique everyone is. I remember an experience I had way back as a kid, It was four in the morning, me and my family were in the airport preparing for our flight. It was as if I was opened to a new world seeing different foreigners all around me, they all spoke in different languages, they looked completely different and of course, the way they acted was far different from the regular people I see in my day-to-day life or back then- when a group of Christians from Canada came to our church late in the evening to perform a play, it was the first time I'd interacted with foreigners before and they were very friendly and enjoyable to engage conversations with.

 I used to be a little shy around these people, thinking I'd be a fool to try and talk to them because my English wasn't as good as theirs, but now when I look back at those encounters I feel as if I should have taken the chance to be more open to them, ask about how their life usually is outside the Philippines or ask about their traditions, etc. Those simple scenarios alone altered my thoughts and perspective about other cultures, it has made me more open to the idea of ​​learning other people's traditions and etiquette and being more accepting of new or unique cultures I have heard or not heard of.

We all know that our cultures are a way of connecting with our people, It gives us diversity that enriches our societies by introducing new traditions, languages, art forms, cuisines or just enhancing life's overall quality. It also helps us promote and understand the differences among communities and fight against prejudice and conflict. But despite these benefits, there will always be challenges that will follow along with it, while it might improve our overall innovation to be more diverse in terms of perspective solutions and ideas. there will always be some individuals who will be against or resist change, leading to conflict or discomfort within the environment and of course, communication barriers, we all have different languages ​​and cultural norms that might lead to misunderstandings and hinder positive communication with others.

Our education system can better foster cultural diversity by having an inclusive curriculum, hosting cultural fairs, creating safe spaces for students, and implementing policies that will accommodate cultural and religious practices. With these strategies, educational institutions can create a more flexible and inclusive environment for their students that not only values ​​cultural diversity but also helps with the educational experience of all students, we can also implement create student organizations to support and encourage student-led cultural clubs to promote the engagement and the celebration of diverse backgrounds. These organizations can provide guidance, support, and encouragement while also fostering a sense of belonging with the students.

How might these exchange programs or interactions promote a more better and understanding environment you ask? These programs often involve language immersion and allow people to communicate more effectively and appreciate each other's cultural expression. Cultural exchanges encourage foreign students to participate in sharing their own traditions stories, and customs while providing a learning process that enriches everyone else involved. Not only just that but these participants will be able to encounter and be open-minded to various viewpoints and lifestyles, allowing them to understand the value of cultural diversity and inclusivity. Being exposed to other cultures will help with the building of understanding and mutual respect among other people while helping us avoid being ignorant of the unique traditions around us. 

It is really most important that I emphasize that we avoid being ignorant towards others, as an experience I had in my elementary days where we had a Chinese student in our class, she was fluent in speaking Bisaya since she was born and raised in the Philippines but she could also speak fluent Chinese since it was her second language. I deeply felt bad for her due to the fact that she was made fun of by other classmates since her eyes were 'different' and because of her cultural background. They stereotyped her as a person who would eat animals or mockingly/inappropriately expressed the Chinese language in front of her to get a reaction. It's heartbreaking to see that a lot of people who often have unique cultures are the ones who often get mocked or racially stereotyped. Often times the root causes of such prejudices come from the environment children are exposed to or influenced by. 

One effective but simple strategy is simply to avoid exposing your children to stereotypical media or avoid exposing them to such discriminating content when it comes to cultures or races of other people. Encourage them to challenge stereotypes when they encounter them whether in conversations or media.

Aside from that, we should also expose ourselves to more promotional and diverse voices in media, art, and literature to be more open-minded in various perspectives and create safe spaces in conversations. To receive respect, we must earn it. To summarize everything I've just mentioned, In developing a more inclusive society we need to have commitment and collective effort, a more harmonious community is better where everyone feels valued and respected despite our cultural differences. We as a community should confront such biases' against one another and start to create more supportive networks where we individuals can further discuss and educate people about such prejudices while also being able to find a sense of solidarity while discussing these experiences.