Plan cross-cultural events with learning and belonging
Build participation around exchange and relationships rather than a single display day.
Choose a clear purpose
Decide whether the event helps people meet, explore a shared question, encounter literature or learn about community experiences. Ask students and families what they want to contribute and what would make participation easier.
Co-design participation
Offer ways to contribute through stories, music, art, games, language, science or everyday experience. Allow individuals to choose their own interests and identities. Avoid allocating a culture or country to a student based on appearance, name or passport.
Plan access and logistics
Check cost, timing, venue access, dietary needs, language support and alternatives to public performance. Give families clear information and a named contact. Provide roles for learners who prefer making, organising or recording over presenting.
Connect and review
Prepare questions and shared tasks before the event; afterwards, use a class discussion, gallery response or collaborative product to revisit what was learnt. Ask whose voices were present, who could participate and what should change next time.
What this can look like
A “Stories that travelled” week pairs library texts, optional family recordings and student artwork. Classes explore how a story changes across versions. Students can contribute a recording, illustration or question; nobody is required to perform or disclose a personal migration story.
Responsibilities and review
An event lead coordinates student representatives, the EAL team, families and relevant departments. Use a short participation review and participant feedback. Plan follow-up learning before booking the event.
Plan one action
Choose a manageable action, give it an owner and decide how you will hear from learners before reviewing it.