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Multi-cultural camp in Rugonfalva – 2024 Short Term Summer Fun

The Erasmus project camps in the area of Cristuru Secuiesc aim at developing children’s cultural sensitivity and social skills through numerous activities performed. Every week have the proposal of a different cultural theme so that children would be able to learn some traditions and customs practiced in other countries. In the first week, we had intercultural interaction whereby every day was themed on a different country. This is an overview of what we did and experienced in the camp daily:




The first day thematized “Intercultural Interaction.” It opened with a program from our Belgian friend, Ranco, who introduced us to games and activities from his culture. The first game they played was “Ball Names,” in which a ball would be passed across while the children all called out their names to help others remember. After getting them in the mood with an icebreaker, each child was allowed to paint and decorate their own cardboard sword, letting them express themselves. At the end of each day, we had an evaluation with emoji faces that best represented how they were feeling about the day.

English culture was taken on the second day. The day started with songs and dances to help get everybody up and going. The children made and painted crowns with the help of Olivia, our volunteer, and this creative aspect was drawn out in them. Team games and interactive play further enhanced social skills as they bonded while having loads of fun throughout the day.



Day 3 was the day to familiarize ourselves with Spanish culture. There were songs for kids’ entertainment in the morning, along with some light games for them. These kids, with the help of a few painted pasta pieces, also made necklaces under the very much welcome and energetic Spanish volunteers of Irene and Lulu. In the afternoon, there was an event under the name of Paella Gymkana where kids played games to acquire ingredients for the preparation of paella and hence learned about some Spanish culinary traditions.



On day 4, we attended the cultural day of Portugal and Brazil. The day began with a beautiful warm-up song. Play dough crafting was scheduled for children, and involvement was worth seeing them trying many sculptures with their hands. Afterwards, preparation of Carnival masks with the study of Brazilian Carnival with volunteers Fernanda and Anabelle ensued. Some traditional games and a treasure hunt spiced up the day with fun and knowledge.

On the 5th day, we got familiar with the cultures of both Turkey and Azerbaijan. Warm-up songs opened the day. Volunteers Mehmet, Yiğit and Islam introduced their cultures to the kids. Then children created flags of Turkey and Azerbaijan. Moreover, they learned a traditional Turkish dance called Damat Halayı. Further, they played some traditional Turkish games, for instance, Plan İstop, Birdirbir.




It was a really successful week, we achieved all the goals we set for this camp. The children enjoyed themselves both educationally and in an entertaining way during the whole week.

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