May Connected Voices

Here at SCIMHA, we usually focus on what is happening in the state of South Carolina. That is where our office is located, where our colleagues mostly live and work, and where we focus on helping families and children thrive. We are going to go global and look at our world from a wider geographic lens and more specifically from the lens of a young child. But first, let’s learn more about this Day.

Held every year on May 21st, the United Nations sanctions the celebration of World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development. Also known as the World Day for Cultural Diversity or Diversity Day, it highlights not only the richness of the world’s cultures, but also the essential role of intercultural dialogue for achieving peace and sustainable development.

In 2001, the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) adopted the Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity and in December 2002, the UN General Assembly, in a resolution, declared May 21 to be the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development. The day provides an opportunity to deepen understanding of the values of cultural diversity and to advance the four goals of the UNESCO Convention. 

These include: 

• Support sustainable systems of governance for culture
• Achieve a balanced flow of cultural goods and services and increase mobility of artists and cultural professionals
• Integrate culture in sustainable development frameworks
• Promote human rights and fundamental freedoms

This Diversity Day urges everyone to do their part to bridge the gap and deepen their understanding between cultures which is essential for peace, development, and stability. Embracing other cultures helps us to lead more fulfilling lives. This fulfillment happens intellectually, spiritually, and morally.

How exactly do we embrace other cultures?

It all begins by having a dialogue between those who are different than us. Other ways to embrace our differences are to develop respect and mutual understanding for different cultures and those of other faiths. 

When we focus on embracing other cultures, we help improve many sectors of our lives. These sectors include education, science, health, and the environment. Many also believe that bridging culture gaps can help to eradicate poverty.

This is where children come into the conversation. Early childhood is the time when children first become aware of differences among people and start to form opinions and attitudes about these differences. Young children are naturally curious about differences.

One of the ways they make sense of their world is to sort things into different categories and focus on one thing at a time – for example, whether another child has the same or different skin color to them. Children do this to organize their experiences. 

Awareness of differences also means young children are sensitive to experiences of racism and prejudice. This can have an impact on their social and emotional well-being, their learning, and their social relationships. Their ideas about and responses to diversity are influenced by what they see and hear around them. 

Helping all children understand differences encourages them to feel good about who they are, where they fit in the world and to appreciate diversity in others. It helps to build strong, inclusive communities where everyone enjoys a sense of being valued and belonging, which supports positive mental health.

So, how might we observe this Diversity Day?

• Spend time learning with a child in your life
• Take time for yourself to enjoy an art exhibition or a museum dedicated to other cultures.
• Listen to music from a different culture. 
• Go to a restaurant or cook a meal from a different culture.
• Learn how other cultures celebrate holidays.
• Learn a few words from a different language. 
• Put on your child lens and use these opportunities to see the richness of the world from right here in South Carolina.

Teresa Creech

Family & Community Outreach Coordinator

SCIMHA - Help Me Grow SC