A plethora of bright flags adorn the walls of UNIS, capturing the international spirit of UN Day and displaying the significance of embracing diversity in our community. United Nations Day marks the anniversary of the establishment of the UN in 1945, and the holiday not only allows us to commemorate its ratification, but also to cherish the mélange of cultures represented at UNIS. While the UN’s birthday is celebrated every year on October 24, UNIS held a school-wide celebration on Friday, October 18. From a flurry of cultural performances to insightful workshops, students, parents, and faculty were able to experience various UN Day festivities.

In the founding of the United Nations, members emphasized the importance of “maintaining international peace and security, developing friendly relations among nations, achieving international cooperation in solving international problems, and being a center for harmonizing the actions of nations in the attainment of these common ends,” as stated in the Charter of the United Nations. The charter was ratified by the United States, China, France, the Soviet Union, and the United Kingdom on October 24, 1945, founding the organization that still, to this day, strives towards achieving a more peaceful environment.

Inspired by the principles of the UN and the unity it symbolizes, UN Day at UNIS includes several cultural activities that bring our community together. For the Tut House students, the Cultural Showcase is an eccentric start to UN Day: from flute playing to singing to an orchestral performance, the audience was able to enjoy performances by talented students and experience music from different parts of the world. The students were then able to enjoy cupcakes from the Parents’ Association, adorned with various international flag toppers.
Following the showcase were a myriad of student-led workshop sessions, in which students were able to learn about an important topic relating to the ideals of the UN. For example, students learned about the severe conditions homeless women in New York face, designed collage campaigns raising awareness about climate change, studied the impact of segregation within the city, and role-played international crises, to name a few.

As UN Day instills a sense of community at UNIS, high school students had the opportunity to read storybooks to the Junior School. Since the older grades do not usually have the chance to volunteer with the younger ones, it was a special experience for them to work together. By reading to the Junior School, the Tut House students strengthened the peace and community aspects the United Nations displays.

As a student who attends UNIS, I believe that it is extremely special to come together as a community and embrace our differences. It is always exciting to see students and teachers together in international dress, sharing their cultures and stories. Every UN Day, we are reminded of not only the diverse cultures we should celebrate, but also of the tasks we still need to work towards achieving peace and safety in our world. As former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan once said on UN Day in 1999, “More than ever before in human history, we share a common destiny. We can master it only if we face it together.”