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Cultural Playground Virtual Meet at Doon Public School, Hathras: 5 Powerful Moments That Sparked Global Bonding
Hathras | Cultural Playground Virtual Meet opened new horizons for students at Doon Public School, Hathras, as the institution hosted a spectacular international exchange under the British Council’s RIDS program. From traditional games to cultural insights, the event fostered global connections, playful learning, and spirited exchange between India and Singapore.
What Was the Cultural Playground Virtual Meet?
As part of the RIDS (Reviving Indian and Diaspora Sports) initiative by the British Council, Doon Public School, Hathras, led a year-long series of international collaborations. In September, the school brought students face-to-face (virtually) with their counterparts in Singapore to celebrate the activity titled “Cultural Games Ground” — or Cultural Playground Virtual Meet.
Earlier in the year, Doon Public School had begun this strand of global engagement by launching the Cultural Playground project on September 20, 2025.
During this virtual meet, the fifth and sixth grade students of Doon and Singapore collaborated: Indian students showcased traditional games, Singaporean students presented their cultural games, and both groups exchanged understanding through dialogue, performances, and quizzes.
How the Exchange Worked — Games, Culture, Connection
Indian Side: Traditional Games Take the Stage
Students from Doon Public School, Hathras, organized themselves into four groups, each selecting one traditional game to present:
- Kho-Kho (India)
- Gala Panjang (from Malaysia/Singapore region)
- Fire on the Mountain (from Nigeria)
- Shisima (from Kenya)
These games were not only exhibited but also explained in detail, with rules, strategies, and cultural context woven into the presentations.
Singapore Side: Cultural Games Unveiled
Singaporean students reciprocated with four culturally significant games:
- Chapte (Singapore)
- Dayakattai (India heritage game)
- Masai Jump (Kenya)
- Dambe (Nigeria)
In particular, the Singapore team presented Chapte during the live virtual session, explaining rules, tactics, and sharing colorful scrapbooks.
Dialogue, Quiz & Engagement
After the games, both sets of students took part in an interactive quiz session, exchanging questions, clarifying rules, and satisfying their curiosity about unfamiliar games. The event buzzed with energy as everyone participated enthusiastically.
Voices from Participants & School Leadership
Student Reflections
Several Doon students shared excitement about learning foreign games and making cross-cultural connections. They said that discovering different gameplay styles and traditions expanded their horizons beyond geography and language.
Principal’s Message
Principal J. K. Agrawal applauded the students’ dedication and creative spirit. He emphasized that the initiative was more than just play — it was an exercise in cultural empathy, cooperation, and global citizenship. He remarked:
“Through this experience, they are learning that sports and games are not mere recreation, but tools to foster respect, collaboration, and a broader worldview.”
He also praised the British Council’s RIDS program for enabling such enriching international ties and expressed hope that similar collaborations would further strengthen students’ global awareness.
Top 5 Powerful Moments from the Cultural Playground Virtual Meet
- Authentic Game Demonstrations
Each group presented deeply rooted traditional games, dissecting rules, cultural lineage, and play strategies. - Cross-Cultural Reciprocity
Language barriers faded as Indian and Singaporean students exchanged ideas, asked questions, and built bridges of understanding. - Quiz & Q&A Energy
The quiz segment brought curiosity to life — students eagerly challenged and corrected each other, deepening comprehension with enthusiasm. - Scrapbook Integration
Visual tools like scrapbooks added vibrant layers to presentations, helping explain game mechanics, history, and cultural significance. - Empathy and Worldview Shift
By engaging intimately with foreign traditions, students felt a tangible sense of global unity — discovering that differences can become sources of fascination rather than distance.
Why the Cultural Playground Virtual Meet Matters
Promoting Intercultural Respect
At its core, Cultural Playground Virtual Meet cultivated cross-cultural respect by immersing students in each other’s heritage — showing that every game carries stories, values, and histories.
Enriching Educational Experience
This initiative steered learning beyond textbooks. It fostered inquiry, performance, critical thinking, and interpersonal exchange.
Nurturing Global Citizens
In an age of connectivity, early exposure to international dialogue helps students grow into empathetic, world-aware individuals.
Reviving Heritage Through Play
The project aligns with RIDS’ mission to revive heritage games and fuse them with modern platforms — a bridge between past and present.
Behind the Scenes — Organization & Collaboration
- Coordinators & Teachers
The project was led by Rita Sharma, Namrata Agrawal, and technical lead Ritik Agrawal, with support from teachers like Naitik Rathore, Harshita Rawat, and Kapil Kumar. - International Partners
From Singapore, Miss Saigita and Miss Devsoma attended the event, guiding the exchanges and overseeing digital facilitation. - Student Names
Key contributing students included: Mahi Choudhary, Rajat Kumar, Ananya Gupta, Shivansh Rana, Goujal Agrawal, Harshvardhan, Ananya Sharma, Anushka Upadhyay, Nitya Dubey, Yash Thenua, Nishtha Pathak, Vani Kaur, Mahi Goyal, Anushri Tiwari, Daksh Singh, Manvi, Vedant Mahour, Mukta, Akarsh, Praveen Thenua, Vanya Kulshrestha, Gargi Kaushal.
Context & Broader Relevance
The RIDS Program & Cultural Revival
The Reviving Indian and Diaspora Sports (RIDS) initiative by the British Council encourages schools internationally to preserve and exchange traditional sports heritage. Doon’s project is a vibrant example of this mission in action.
Global Role of Virtual Exchanges
During times when travel may be limited, virtual meets like these have become powerful platforms for international collaboration and cultural learning.
Similar Efforts in India & Abroad
Efforts in other institutions also echo this model — educational institutes globally are weaving heritage sports into curricula to build cultural identity and global linkages.
The Cultural Playground Virtual Meet at Doon Public School, Hathras, was a poignant celebration of games, culture, and connection. It showed how simple play can become a profound bridge—melding curiosity with compassion, competition with communion.