This blog is written by Shaun Stockden, Headmaster, The Regent Primary School, Abuja, COBIS Accredited Member (BSO)

At The Regent School, our recent International Day was a vibrant celebration of diversity, global awareness, and shared humanity. With a focus on building cultural understanding and nurturing international mindedness, the event brought our students face-to-face with their peers from around the world—virtually.

This year, we were proud to connect with in St Julian's School Portugal, The British School of Tashkent Uzbekistan, The Little Tree House School Italy, Qatar, and Nexus International School Malaysia through a series of live video calls. These virtual exchanges gave our students a unique opportunity to engage in real-time conversations with children from different backgrounds, learning about life, traditions, and experiences in other parts of the world.

Across the school, classrooms were filled with excitement as students prepared to meet their global counterparts. In advance of the main event, children had already connected with their international counterparts and pupils explored aspects of each country’s culture, supported by cross-curricular learning that brought together geography, languages, and digital literacy. The live interactions helped bring these explorations to life, allowing children to ask questions, listen, and reflect on the similarities and differences between themselves and others.

On 29^th May, our students reconnected and used the video link as a platform to showcase what they had learnt from their partner schools. In some classes this was a whole class call and in others break out rooms were utilised and students were encouraged to develop their peer assessment skills by giving feedback in the presentations.

The atmosphere during the calls was one of curiosity and respect. Students on both sides shared what it means to grow up in their respective countries, gaining fresh perspectives and building empathy through genuine connection. These moments helped foster a deeper appreciation for the richness of global cultures and the importance of open-mindedness in today’s world.

International Day also featured in-school celebrations that highlighted the diversity within our own community. Pupils, parents, and staff came together to showcase national attire, offer cultural insights, and celebrate the unique contributions of different heritages.

I would like to offer my heartfelt thanks to the schools and staff who were willing to join us in this endavour, without your support this incredible event would not have been possible. Planning is already underway for next year’s event ,due to take place in mid May, where we hope to connect three classes per year group to schools in different countries. If you would like to be involved in next year’s collaboration

As we look ahead, The Regent School remains committed to creating enriching global experiences that prepare our learners for a connected and ever-evolving world. International Day was not just a celebration—it was a step toward a more inclusive and empathetic future.