By Libby Hopkins
Have you ever traveled to 27 countries in one week? Would you like to travel to 27 countries in one week? If so, you’re in luck because The Village Early Learning Center in Brandon will be hosting a free Multi-Culture Fair on Saturday, March 2 from 11 a.m.–3 p.m. Susan Miller is the owner of the preschool and she is thrilled that her students will be celebrating “International Week” beginning Monday, Feb. 25 and ending with the fair on March 2. “Putting on a multicultural fair just made sense to us,” Miller said, “Between our staff and families, we have more than 27 different countries represented at the school.”
The event is sponsored by The Village Family Foundation, a non-profit organization, and the Parent Advisory Committee of the preschool. “Raising awareness of the world around us and its different cultures is the goal of the school’s international week,” Miller said, “We celebrate our diversity here, and I want to start these preschoolers off on the right foot.” The students will be exploring the customs, stories, foods, flags and geography of various countries in preparation for the Multi-Culture Fair. Some of the countries being spotlighted are Egypt, Mexico, Brazil and Cuba.
The students picked these countries because they have family members that live in these regions. “Each of the classes has created an information board containing facts and photos about their chosen country,” Miller said, “The information boards will be on display at the multi-cultural fair.” Children from the community who attend the fair will be given a “passport” that will enable them to “travel” from country to country within the preschool and hear stories and make crafts, as well as see items from countries the preschool has studied during the previous week.
There will be dancing, music, and ethnic foods from a variety of Brandon area vendors and a display of native costumes from all over the world during the fair. Miller said any international community members, organizations or groups that wish to participate in the fair can contact the school 651-0779 for more information or visit them on the web at www.villageelc.com. The Village Early Learning Center is located at 3741 Canoga Park Drive.
