With over sixty student nationalities at ISA, our Global Village Day event has become firmly fixed as the highlight of our community’s calendar. Taking place each February, it brings together our whole community in celebration of the values we share: international-mindedness, diversity, representation and belonging.
What makes this day special is not only the pride our students feel at representing their own individual cultures, languages and traditions, but the way in which they engage with the cultures of their peers. Students approach these differences with curiosity and as an opportunity to learn more, modelling the openness and respect that lie at the heart of global leadership. Through celebrating our diversity, students are ultimately reminded of our togetherness, but also the pride they feel in being part of a larger global community.
Our whole community is encouraged to wear clothing that represents their chosen national, linguistic and cultural identities. All 1300 ISA students gather in the Gym for an assembly led by Student Council representatives from across the school, including cultural performances by a range of communities, giving students opportunities to step into leadership roles as they represent both their heritage and the wider ISA community.
Global Village Day gives students a chance to represent their cultures, languages and traditions with pride by wearing traditional clothing, whether they take part in the parade, performances or by simply representing their home country. In doing so, students learn the responsibility that comes with representing both themselves and their communities with confidence and respect.
From the Brazilian community’s colourful dance to the Korean community’s references to modern K-pop culture, this year’s cultural performances showcased the incredible diversity of ISA.
What these performances represent is students taking pride in sharing their culture with the rest of the school community. Not only that, but students use their courage to perform publicly in front of the whole student body, modelling confidence and leadership for younger students. The performances also provide students with the opportunity to learn more about different cultures, reinforcing the importance of listening to and learning from others. Finally, the performances give our younger students the opportunity to see their older peers step forward with confidence and responsibility.
The assembly culminates in a parade which gives students the opportunity to represent a national identity of their choosing. Whether a largely represented group like the Netherlands, US and UK, or in smaller represented groups with one or two students, what makes this community special is the heartwarming roar of applause that takes place to encourage every student to feel pride when they step up to the stage to wave their culture’s flag — a powerful reminder that leadership begins with belonging and confidence in who you are.
One of the this year’s most memorable moments came from the Lower School Student Council. The fourteen representatives from Grades 2-5 gave a heartwarming speech with a strong message at its core: our differences are what make us special, giving us more to learn about each other and most importantly, the ability to have more fun. “We’re better together,” the students reminded us, demonstrating that leadership and inclusion begin at every age. Closing out their speech, each member repeated the phrase “you are welcome” in their home language, representing fourteen languages and cultural identities.
Closing the celebration, High School Student Council president Defne reflected on how her own understanding of Global Village Day has evolved over the ten years that she has been at ISA. As a younger student, she was excited by the food, flags and performances. Now, she explained, she sees the deeper meaning: the day is not only about where we come from, but what becomes possible when we come together. By choosing curiosity over judgement and kindness over division, students create real connection. She shared a powerful message: “this opportunity for connection doesn’t happen by accident: it is created.”
