Burnaby Public Library is proud to announce the launch of Embracing Diversity: Sharing Our Songs and Rhymes, a web-based public education project that encourages learning about cultural diversity and promotes inclusiveness. The Embracing Diversity website ( www.embracingdiversity.bpl.bc.ca ) invites communities to explore their diversity and share across cultures through children's songs and rhymes. It was created to help build neighbourhoods where everyone, regardless of where they are from, is better understood and respected and has a greater sense of belonging. (http://www.bpl.bc.ca/kids/embracing-diversity)
Embracing Diversity resources are designed for use all who endeavour to create welcoming and inclusive communities. All project resources are presented online and include:
- Videos of two children's songs or rhymes in 15 languages (two per language),performed by native speakers and intercut with personal commentary
- Subtitled versions of these videos, with transcripts and translations of the lyrics or words
- Lists of books and other library materials with cultural stories or information about countries where these languages are spoken
- Thematic ideas for programs that feature the songs and rhymes
- Videos of five welcoming phrases in each of the 15 languages
- Lists of books and other library materials about cross-cultural understanding, raising bilingual children and the importance of maintaining first languages
- The project languages are Arabic, Cantonese, Dari, English, Farsi, Filipino, French, Hindi, Korean, Mandarin, Punjabi, Russian, Spanish, Vietnamese and Urdu.
