Celebrate diversity on Harmony Day

16 March 2011

Harmony Day 2011 is on Monday March 21, with schools and TAFE institutes around the state again gearing up to celebrate cultural diversity in Queensland.

Department of Education and Training central office staff are invited to a Latin Fiesta from 12.30-1.30pm at 111 George Street featuring a free light lunch and refreshments.

Red Cross is encouraging schools, youth groups and communities all over Australia to take up the Red Cross Y Challenge - Celebrating Diversity program, putting them in the running to win a media pack containing an Apple iPad or a pocket video camera. The three Harmony Day Award categories are:

Everyone Belongs - the project that best captures the spirit of Harmony Day
Our community - the project that goes all-out to include all community members
Inspired - the project that really turns heads

Simon Rickard, Red Cross national coordinator for youth engagement, said: 'This year, the message of Harmony Day continues to be “Everyone Belongs”.

'We are pleased to once again support the Department of Immigration and Citizenship to help promote this important message. Young people are an important part of Red Cross and we believe our differences are what make us interesting.

'The Red Cross Y Challenge - Celebrating Diversity resources provide teachers and parents with ideas and activities that they can do on Harmony Day. We encourage all schools and as many young people as possible to get on board, take up the Y Challenge and enter the competition.'

The Y Challenge program is aimed at young people between the ages of 9 and 17. To download the Y Challenge - Celebrating Diversity manual, register a project or enter for an award, visit the Harmony Day page on the Red Cross website.

Award entries close on April 1 and the winners in the three categories will be announced on April 15.