February 27, 2019

Rose Martin, RSM, Executive Director, Hope Partnership for Education

Have you ever seen a mummy before? Hope Partnership’s 7th Grade students had the pleasure when they joined peers from across the Philadelphia region to participate in the World Affair Council / Junior Model United Nations Program. This year’s global competency course was co-sponsored by PENN Museum’s Middle Eastern Center. Students arrived at the museum for an introductory lecture on “culture” by Dr. Phillip Stephens, Curatorial Research Coordinator of the Egyptian Section. According to Dr. Stephens, culture reflects a person’s values and beliefs and how they influence and shape one’s attitude.

On a tour of the Egyptian Gallery, students saw the mummy remains of both adults and children and learned about ancient Egyptian beliefs. Did you know that cats are considered sacred in Egypt because they kept mice away from grains, a major source of nourishment? Today, very strict laws still exist in the treatment of cats. Be forewarned!

During the program, students exchanged information about their cultures. Hope’s 7th Graders shared that saying hello when walking into a room, even if you didn’t know anyone, was a cultural value to them. They also discovered that one of Hope’s teachers and three students speak Patois, a Jamaican English dialect, and another teacher’s family heritage is Cuban.

Students realized that understanding global issues often begins “in your backyard!” For students at Hope Partnership, the classroom is our “backyard.”

The students had an enriching day, and more is to come. The Program concludes with an international lunch prepared by parents and teachers and a trip to the United Nations in New York City. Stay tuned!