Siva and 'ava ceremony offer tropical welcome for Indonesian education researchers
A welcoming tropical blast of culture greeted international academics visiting a bilingual Samoan early childhood centre.
The small group of Indonesian academics travelled to Massey University in Palmerston North to learn more about how education is taught in New Zealand and called in at Malamalama Moni Aoga Amata on Wednesday.
Last year, the early childhood education centre was a finalist in the leadership category of the Prime Minister's Education Excellence Awards.
The visit was a chance to celebrate, and sharing with the delegation provided special opportunities for the children's learning, teacher Eseta Samuelu said.
During school holidays, the Sei Aute holiday programme is also run from the centre, and older children performed key roles in a traditional 'ava ceremony for the visitors.
"When we have chiefs come together to have a connection and whenever when we have visitors, we have an 'ava ceremony," she said.
The older children helped the adults mix the 'ava drink, offer customary calls and prayers and serve it. The Sei Aute children also joined the centre children to perform Samoan siva (dances) and songs.
"It's good to be able to show them the culture and how we come together to share the language. It's valuable because it [strengthens] our culture and adds identity, we grow here," Samuela said.
The Indonesian visitors joined in the dancing, responding with their own Samoan-style dance, led by Auckland academic Sala Faasaulala Tagoilelagi-Leota, who was accompanying them.
Children performed traditional Samoan songs and dances for visiting Indonesian education academics, at the Malamalama Moni Aoga Amata.
The group are representatives from an childhood education development project in the province of Nusa Tenggara Timur, backed by UNICEF and New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Massey staff are contributing early childhood education expert advice, and the group has also visited the Massey Childcare centre.
Malamalama Moni Aoga Amata was founded in 1993 by a group of parents who wanted to ensure their children and grandchildren did not lose their Samoan language or heritage. Most of the pupils are Kiwi-born, with Samoan heritage, Samuela said.
The centre's roll also includes children from other Pacific Islands and palangi children.
A welcoming tropical blast of culture greeted international academics visiting a bilingual Samoan early childhood centre.
The small group of Indonesian academics travelled to Massey University in Palmerston North to learn more about how education is taught in New Zealand and called in at Malamalama Moni Aoga Amata on Wednesday.
Last year, the early childhood education centre was a finalist in the leadership category of the Prime Minister's Education Excellence Awards.
The visit was a chance to celebrate, and sharing with the delegation provided special opportunities for the children's learning, teacher Eseta Samuelu said.
During school holidays, the Sei Aute holiday programme is also run from the centre, and older children performed key roles in a traditional 'ava ceremony for the visitors.
"When we have chiefs come together to have a connection and whenever when we have visitors, we have an 'ava ceremony," she said.
The older children helped the adults mix the 'ava drink, offer customary calls and prayers and serve it. The Sei Aute children also joined the centre children to perform Samoan siva (dances) and songs.
"It's good to be able to show them the culture and how we come together to share the language. It's valuable because it [strengthens] our culture and adds identity, we grow here," Samuela said.
The Indonesian visitors joined in the dancing, responding with their own Samoan-style dance, led by Auckland academic Sala Faasaulala Tagoilelagi-Leota, who was accompanying them.
Children performed traditional Samoan songs and dances for visiting Indonesian education academics, at the Malamalama Moni Aoga Amata.
The group are representatives from an childhood education development project in the province of Nusa Tenggara Timur, backed by UNICEF and New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Massey staff are contributing early childhood education expert advice, and the group has also visited the Massey Childcare centre.
Malamalama Moni Aoga Amata was founded in 1993 by a group of parents who wanted to ensure their children and grandchildren did not lose their Samoan language or heritage. Most of the pupils are Kiwi-born, with Samoan heritage, Samuela said.
The centre's roll also includes children from other Pacific Islands and palangi children.
