Volunteers and children dance in a circle. [Photo/chinadaily.com]

A cross-cultural exchange event was held on March 5 at Nanling Kindergarten in Nantong.

Volunteers from diverse countries and regions, including Pakistan, Nepal, Russia and Namibia took turns introducing themselves to the children. Using photos and a colorful globe, they pointed out the locations of their hometowns and shared stories about local food, landscapes and cultural traditions, granting the young students a window into the wider world.

During the interactive session, a volunteer from Namibia led the children in singing and dancing to Try Everything, a song from the animated film Zootopia. Following this, the volunteers and children joined hands in a large circle and danced to the lively tune of Hokey Pokey. The cheerful atmosphere quickly encouraged even the shyest children to move along with the rhythm.

The event also included a hands-on craft activity in which international students and children worked together to thread needles, sew and decorate traditional "top scholar hats".

At the end of the event, the children presented their handmade drawings as small gifts to the volunteers.

Volunteers and children work together to make hats. [Photo/chinadaily.com]

The volunteers are members of the volunteer service team from the School of International Education at Nantong University. Founded in 2012, the team has welcomed hundreds of international students from 65 countries and regions, who have taken part in public service activities such as free medical consultations, cultural exchange programs and community outreach.