Cultural awareness

Lily van Buskirk (13) and Madison Hughes (13), from Columba College, try out sumo wrestling and Balmacewen Intermediate pupil Shaniia Taita (13, below) has a go at lion dancing at the Asia Awareness Day at the Edgar Centre yesterday.

The awareness day was the initiative of Otago principals who wanted to raise awareness of Asia among pupils.

Co-ordinator Paddy Ford, of Balclutha Primary School, said about 200 children took part in the day which he hoped would become an annual event.

Each school learnt an Asian-inspired activity such as playing the wooden xylophone, origami, Korean haki sack and Chinese paper cutting and during the day showed pupils from other schools how to do it.

There was also the opportunity to learn lion dancing and sumo.

It was funded by Asia New Zealand, Otago Community Trust and a contribution from pupils.