International mindedness Part 1 – Respect and understanding for other perspectives, cultures and languages

Respect and understanding for other perspectives, cultures and languages

By looking inward and finding their place locally, students are better able to look outward and find their role and influence within a broader, global community.

Hout Bay International School places value in the importance of understanding international mindedness – a cornerstone of the International Baccalaureate curriculum.

“More than ever, young people are becoming aware of the enormous stake they have in defining and addressing global challenges—income inequality, climate change, conflict and poverty.” – IBO.org

But how can they possibly hope to solve these challenges on a global scale, taking into consideration perspectives, cultures and languages so different from their own without first appreciating their own biases and perspectives? And as a starting point – first, their place within a local community.

Foreign and South African students attend HBIS, and students begin each day within a melting pot of traditions and world views. Through Service activities embedded in their curriculum students are confronted with even more people very different to themselves.

Through this exposure, and with the ethos of the IBO mission statement which aims to develop “caring young people”, students are able to respect and have an understanding of perspectives and cultures very different from themselves.