Xavier Nuvali students join international dialogue

MANILA, Philippines - Xavier School Nuvali (XSN) joined the international Face to Faith community on Sept. 10, three years after its introduction in the Philippines in 2011.

A 9th Grade class was selected and held its first video conference in the second quarter of schoolyear 2014-2015 as part of the worldwide activities to celebrate International Peace Day on Sept. 21.

The students exchanged questions and answers via video conference about culture and faith with their counterparts from the Science and Technology Education Center Cebu and Ateneo de Zamboanga. Students from each side exchanged questions and answers about culture and faith. Following the success of this activity, they will hold their first international video conference with Universal Civilizations Academy in Jordan.

International exchange

The Face to Faith project is a program of the Tony Blair Faith Foundation that facilitates interaction among school children aged 12 to 17 years across the globe. These are done via video conferences wherein interfaith discussions may take place. It aims to break down religious and cultural differences and thereby reduce conflict.

The first school in the Philippines to participate in the project is Xavier School San Juan (XSSJ). The program was first introduced to Xavier International Baccalaureate students in SY 2011-2012.

The program is offered through Christian Life Education (CLE) classes.  XSSJ students have dialogued with students from India, Italy, Australia, Lebanon, the United Arab Emirates, Palestine, the UK and the USA, as well as public and private school students from other schools throughout the Philippines. Xavier School has organized and conducted around 30 international video conferences for students since the program started. Xavier School Nuvali is the most recent addition to the 102 schools worldwide hosting International Peace Day Events from 13 countries, including Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Mexico, Pakistan, and Ukraine. 

Team blogging

Following the success of XSN’s international video conferences, XSN selected a 9th grade class to participate in team blogging sessions for a month as part of the program and the International Peace Day activities, from mid-September to mid-October. Participating are students from Hollins Technology College (HTC) in the UK and students from SMPN 2 Solok in Indonesia. The students took turns blogging and commenting in a private blog for their exclusive use, with a different school every week in charge of blogging and the others commenting.

The team blogging effort is part of a wider global movement spearheaded by Peace One Day, a charity group working in close partnership with Face to Faith. These activities are meant to increase awareness for International Peace Day and its mission: to encourage peace between people from all walks of life, whatever their religion, race, or country, by letting these students share their experiences of conflict, peace, peace-making, and how their faiths and beliefs inspire them.

Xavier in the south

With XSN bringing intercultural activities to students south of Manila, it has brought XSSJ’s hallmark Jesuit formation and core Chinese language with it as well. XSN offers a flexible coeducational system and welcomes both boys and girls for enrolment, a new departure from XSSJ’s all-boys’ school.

XSN is situated in a 15-hectare property in the heart of Nuvali, a new eco-community development of Ayala Land in Calamba, Laguna. Its school buildings use eco-friendly materials and fixtures, natural and energy-efficient lighting, and a rainwater collection and recycling system. Classrooms and activity areas are well-equipped in terms of IT infrastructure, allowing students access to more learning resources.

The new school offers financial assistance to its target 25% of the school population. For school year 2012 – 2013, 21% of its students were accepted on scholarship.) XSN is currently accepting applications for school year 2015 – 2016.