ELFA Preschool hosted an e-Ambassador Programme on 26 September 2024, themed “Racial Harmony Day.” Pre-Nursery Two to Kindergarten Two children from ELFA Chinese Preschool @ Pandan Valley, ELFA Preschool @ Hougang, and ELFA Preschool @ Jurong East joined in this online exchange with friends from ELFA Preschool @ Dongguan, China.

The virtual exchange programme aims to introduce intercultural learning to our preschoolers, expanding their understanding of global cultures. This year’s focus was on the importance of cultural appreciation and inclusion. Educators showcased different ethnic costumes by donning beautiful attires. Various age-appropriate activities were conducted during the exchange. First was the storytelling of The Wonderful Sarong (“奇妙的纱笼”), a tale of friendships between children of different races. Next, our children enjoyed engaging song and dance sessions.

The children and educators from ELFA Preschool @ Hougang exchanged songs and dances with their friends at ELFA Preschool @ Dongguan.

The programme also featured a craft session where Ms Sun Jin Ming, our ELFA educator, led children in crafting paper Diya lamps decorated with henna prints. This meaningful activity allowed children to explore creativity while appreciating cultural symbolism.

Rastogi-Lee Arjun Devashish and Loh Ying Xuan from ELFA Preschool @ Jurong East crafting diya lamps during their cultural exchange. The activity celebrates cross-cultural understanding and the richness of racial traditions.

Through the eAmbassador programme, our ELFA pre-schoolers learned more about various ethnic backgrounds, languages, and traditions. Gwee Ko Zen, a Kindergarten Two student from ELFA Preschool @ Hougang shared she learned that China has 56 ethnic groups through this session. Pre-Nursery Two student Arjun expressed his excitement at learning about different ethnic foods.

Such exchange programmes demonstrate how ELFA Preschool is set to thrive as a leader in bilingual and multicultural education. ELFA helps young learners develop confidence as bilingual speakers in English and Mandarin while fostering a global perspective.