'Dissecting Cultures’

On the 12th of March 2025, six DAIS students from IGCSE Grade 8CD attended the Round Square Postcard - 'Dissecting Cultures’, hosted by St. George's Grammar School, Namibia. Around 50 delegates from many schools across countries including India, South Africa, Sri Lanka and Zambia engaged on the call, actively contributing to the importance of being open minded, creating bonds between cultures, and cultivating positive mindsets.

As the DAIS delegates brainstormed to create their Pre-task, they started thinking about one main question – ‘What does Indian culture mean to us’? Each delegate had different connections to their culture, through family traditions, festivals, music, or food. Everyone shared their amazing ideas, reflecting on what made the Indian culture unique and special, realizing the significance of sharing this rich culture with the world and their Pre-task was a poster encompassing all their ideas on Indian culture. It was a proud moment to take note of the rich Indian culture that shaped their identity.

Delegates interacted in smaller groups in breakout rooms with interesting icebreakers, culture related quizzes and prompts that initiated interesting conversations in the breakout rooms. Every group learnt about different cultures and one of the highlights of the session was the exciting debate where delegates discussed different cultures and how it affects people in their everyday lives. They explored topics like how culture shaped identity and how it influenced daily life. They also pondered about an interesting scenario: “What would happen if all cultures were the same?” It was a great conversation that made everyone appreciate the diversity in the world and think more deeply about their own cultures. All the delegates enjoyed the experience of the postcard it made them realize how important it is to appreciate other cultures while they shared their own culture with others!

These discussions also sparked some deep insights on how cultures are being lost with customs and traditions fading away, raising a key responsibility on the need for cultures to be preserved. Reinforcing the idea that, despite evolution, one must stay grounded to their roots to keep every culture of the world alive; was a key learning from this postcard.

Delegates returned with a deeper understanding of Indian and other cultures, rethinking on their views and embracing a fresh perspective to become more open-minded and appreciative of cultural diversity. Every Pre-task poster showcased the vibrant cultures, broadening creativity, building global connections, and garnering new perspectives. All in all, this postcard provided valuable insights into respecting and celebrating cultural differences in a positive manner.

The idea that exploring different cultures can help today’s youngsters connect with people from all over the world, express their creativity, and learn from each other, encouraged delegates to think of creative ways to share and appreciate cultures. The delegates returned with a new outlook on how to engage with and celebrate cultural diversity, using it to build meaningful connections, expand their knowledge, and grow in confidence.

Dais Delegates: Naira Negandhi, Vioona Shroff, Sidh Bothra, Arnav Jain, Miraya Veer