Bringing the paralympic spirit into the classroom
27 June 2024
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Blending real-life stories with robust educational resources, Paralympics New Zealand’s new educational programme is aiming to make a lasting impact
An initiative conceived by two Papamoa students aims to promote acceptance and diversity in the wake of the Christchurch mosque attacks.
Schools around the country are joining in ‘The Paper Doll Project’, with dolls being created in classrooms all over New Zealand. The movement has stretched overseas with reports of schools in England, the United States, Chile and Australia preparing paper dolls to send to New Zealand.
The project began with the question many New Zealanders have grappled with following news of the mosque shootings in Christchurch: Why?
Tahatai Coast School Students Daniel and Emily Barback struggled to understand why someone would attack a group of people because of their race and religious beliefs.
They wanted to find a way for Kiwi students to show the world that the attacks don’t define New Zealand.
“We want to create a long, long line of paper dolls that show students of all different cultures together, holding hands,” says Emily.
The siblings got to work immediately on a paper doll chain, creating colourful dolls symbolising the rich diversity of New Zealanders.
On the reverse side are messages of hope and support for those affected by the shootings, such as ‘Kia kaha Christchurch’.
Daniel hopes schools and early learning centres around New Zealand (and those around the world) will join in The Paper Doll Project as a way of demonstrating inclusion and acceptance of all cultures.
“It would be cool if we could make the longest paper doll chain ever,” he says.
For more information on the The Paper Doll Project and to print a paper doll template, visit Education Central(external link).
Completed paper dolls can be sent to: The Paper Doll Project, N Barback,
PO Box 210, Te Puke 3119, New Zealand.
BY Education Gazette editors
Education Gazette | Tukutuku Kōrero, reporter@edgazette.govt.nz
Posted: 12:38 pm, 8 April 2019
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