Maris Stella High School and Madrasahs Jointly Organise Exchange Programme
24日
05月,
2007年
Knowing You, Knowing Me
Students from the Maris Stella High School and five madrasahs came together on 23 May at the Students' Engagement Programme held at the Maris Stella High School. About 800 students participated in the event.
During the day, the students played team-building games, learnt useful tips during the English and Mathematics workshops, and on the whole, interacted well among themselves.
As the student participants and teachers commented ...
"I learnt to interact with people from other religions. Just because you are not from the same religion, that does not mean that we cannot be friends with each other. If Singapore did not live in Racial Harmony, Singapore would be in a mess! I hope that Racial Harmony will stay in Singapore forever."
"My team didn’t win but however I felt that we took home something more important and meaningful from the whole experience. That was the greatest prize I had that day. We said our goodbyes and it was time for them to go home. We parted ways but however we didn’t part with our new-made friendship."
"One element of Malay culture I observed was that during meal times, they used their hands instead of the normal utensils we Chinese often use during our meal times. So this reminded me that in future when I ... (have a) Malay mealwith them, I could probably use my hand too. This would make us feel that regardless of races, we could still respect each other’s culture and beliefs "
"I felt that I have benefited a lot from this program. I now know more about the kinds of behavior acceptable and unacceptable in Islam."
"All of us were happy and hope to participate in this engagement programme again next year."
"The highlight of the day for me was the making of new friends from the other madrasahs as well as from Maris Stella High. I love it because it was fun!"
"I have learnt that interaction and bonding with students from the other schools, of other races and of other religions is very important for harmonious living. It was definitely fun!"
"The Students Engagement Programme was a good opportunity for Marists to interact with their Malay friends from the Madrasahs. It really brought the two races together and gelled them together... It was a good start tolife-long understanding and harmony."
"It was indeed a great experience! We do hope that this will turn into an annual event. Our students definitely enjoyed themselves!"
"Our students enjoyed themselves and our teachers are happy with the programme."
With thanks to MUIS for the information and MCYS for helping to obtain the information
Straits Times: Kids take time out to build interfaith ties
25 May 2007
BREAKING THE ICE: Secondary 3 student Eugene Teo (left), of Maris Stella High School, getting to know his young Muslim friends better through a shared activity – folding paper aeroplanes.
IN A show of interfaith understanding, students from Maris Stella High School and five Muslim madrasahs spent a day together, getting to know one another and their different faiths.
President of the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis), Haji Mohd Alami Musa, said this was a "milestone".
He said: "Madrasah students need to strengthen their relationship with students from national schools, so as to be able to be contributing members of a multi-religious society and secular state."
Some 300 Secondary3 students from Maris Stella – which is a Catholic school – hosted about 400 madrasah pupils, who were mainly in Primary 5 or 6.
Besides team-building games, the older students also took time to coach their Muslim friends in mathematics and English, to help them prepare for their Primary School Leaving Examination.
Madrasah teacher Surianah Rosli, 27, said she was initially concerned that the students would be too shy to open up to one another, but those The Straits Times interviewed said the day went very well indeed.
Maris Stella student Charles Tomas George, 15, said: "At first, we were scared of saying the wrong things. But soon, we found out we liked the same things! Like soccer!
"We had a great chat, because we support the same English clubs like Manchester United and Liverpool."
A Muis representative said there are plans for similar events soon to promote more interfaith interaction.
