Reflections from the International Food Festival

Celebrating culture, connection, and global citizenship at CCS Bali

If you walked through the CCS campus during last week’s International Food Festival, you likely experienced a vibrant fusion of flavors, colors, languages, music, and smiles. It wasn’t just an event — it was a living, joyful expression of the international spirit that defines us at Canggu Community School.

In this week’s blog, I want to reflect on what made the festival so meaningful — and why moments like this matter in our shared journey toward building global citizens.

For more on how we nurture international mindedness and community engagement year-round, visit ccsbali.com.

A Community of Many, United as One

CCS is home to families from more than 30 countries — and the International Food Festival brought that global tapestry to life. Parents generously shared traditional dishes, students proudly wore cultural attire, and staff joined in the celebration of diversity and unity.

What stood out wasn’t just the incredible food (though let’s be honest — it was spectacular), but the spirit of togetherness that filled every corner of our campus.

This is Gotong Royong in action — collective effort, shared celebration, and mutual appreciation.

Teaching Through Culture

While the festival may have felt like fun and food (and it was!), it also offered powerful learning opportunities for our students:

• Global awareness: Understanding the cultural significance behind each dish and tradition
   
• Empathy and curiosity: Asking questions, listening to stories, and honoring differences
   
• Pride in identity: Celebrating where they come from — and learning to respect where others come from too
   

These are the foundations of international mindedness — a key pillar of our curriculum and a core value at CCS Bali.

Takeaways for Students and Families

As we reflect on the festival, here are a few key messages we hope our students (and all of us!) will carry forward:

• 🌍 We are different, and that’s beautiful.
   
• 🤝 Respect begins with understanding.
   
• 💬 Asking questions is the first step to building bridges.
   
• 💡 You don’t have to travel far to think globally — it starts right here.
   

Events like this remind us that global citizenship isn’t a theory — it’s a mindset we practice in our community.

A Heartfelt Thank You

To every family who prepared food, shared stories, decorated booths, and offered your time — thank you. Your participation didn’t just make the event successful — it made it deeply meaningful.

To our students: you represented your cultures with pride, and welcomed others with warmth. This is the kind of leadership we hope to nurture — grounded in respect, engagement, and learning.

And to our staff and operations team: thank you for bringing it all together with grace and care.

Final Thoughts

The International Food Festival was more than a celebration — it was a reminder of what makes CCS so special. We are a school that doesn’t just teach about the world — we live it.

We’ll continue to find ways to embed global perspectives, cultural appreciation, and shared celebration throughout our learning experiences. Because the more our students learn about the world, the more they learn about themselves — and their power to make a difference.

Until next week — stay curious, stay connected, and never stop celebrating the world around you.

Warm regards,
Dr. Ben Voborsky
Head of School
Canggu Community School | www.ccsbali.com

#HeadofSchoolBlog