Park West School Division

Published purpose

This project twins Rossburn Elementary School in Rossburn, Manitoba, Canada, with Eltham School in St. Catherine, Jamaica. Using video conferencing, students in Canada and Jamaica explore issues and ideas about increasing food security. The students’ activities include preparing for and engaging in informed discussions with one another on their respective cultures, visiting markets to explore the food of the other country, and creating poetry and stories on food security. Students have the ability, through their school projects and presentations, to engage their parents and the wider community in discussions about international development. This project is part of a two-year pilot initiative designed to engage Canadian and developing-country teachers and students in joint learning projects. The International School Twinning Initiative (ISTI) aims to provide an enriched interactive learning environment to benefit both Canadian and developing-country classrooms. Through the ISTI, Canadian students and teachers gain greater insight into international development, a greater appreciation of their role as global citizens, and an enhanced ability to communicate international development issues. The ISTI is part of the Global Citizens Program, which seeks to raise awareness and increase knowledge of international development and provide opportunities for youth to participate in international development.