Culture Kit Program
Culture Kits featuring individual countries help groups throughout the state
learn about other cultures and countries. Our collection of kits from 26
countries, is composed of cultural items such as clothing, music, arts,
currency, stamps, and slides or videos. Local schools and youth groups can
enhance these kits by requesting a student from our Speakers’ Bureau.
Several of our international students generously volunteer their time to
represent their countries, broadening area students’ understanding of
countries and cultures.
What is a Culture Kit?
A box or kit contains a
collection of cultural articles of particular country or culture, which is
accompanied with written descriptions and printed material, explaining the
kit’s contents. Both traditional and modern aspects of a culture are
presented.
What
do Culture Kits Contain?
Items such as clothing, maps, postage stamps, coins, small
flags, art objects, crafts, games, dolls and toys, videos and DVDs, posters, photos, slides, music tapes
and CDs, recipes,
written material about special ceremonies and lifestyles make up the contents of the
culture kit.
What
Countries are represented in the UI Culture Kit Loan Program?
Culture kits are available
for Chile, the People's Republic of China, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador,
France, Germany, Ghana, Guatemala, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Isle of Man,
Israel, Japan, Kenya, Korea, Malawi, Malaysia, Mexico, Nepal, Netherlands,
New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Saudi Arabia,
Spain, Sweden, Thailand, Turkey, Venezuela, and Vietnam. We also have new
specialized kits: Hats of the World, Shoes of the World, & Culture
kits are available for Chile, the People's Republic of China, Denmark, Ecuador,
Egypt, El Salvador, France, Germany, Ghana, Guatemala, Hungary, India,
Indonesia, Iran, Isle of Man, Israel, Japan, Kenya, Korea, Malawi,
Malaysia, Mexico, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, Peru,
Philippines, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, Turkey,
Venezuela, and Vietnam. We also have new specialized kits: Hats of the
World, Shoes of the World, & Flags of the World.
Who
can Borrow the Kits?
The culture kits are loaned to 4-H Clubs,
FFA Chapters, school classes and civic groups around the state to help young
people better understand other countries and cultures. Through their use,
state-wide international education from the University of Idaho’s
International Programs Office is made available. You can print out a form to
request a kit
here. There is a $10.00 fee
to borrow a kit, and a deposit check for $50.00, which is required for each kit
loaned. This check will not be cashed or deposited unless something is missing
or damaged in the Culture Kit.
Who
Provides the Contents for the Kits?
Students and other foreign nationals may wish to prepare a
kit or contribute to an existing one. People who have lived and worked abroad may no
longer use cultural artifacts collected. Retirees who move to smaller quarters may have a
collection they would like to leave with the University of Idaho. Donations are also
accepted to defray costs for buying shipping boxes, laminating pages, purchasing
notebooks, slide carousels and duplicating slides. Kit contents avoid politics and focus
primarily on arts and crafts, clothing, festivals and religion, food, games, music, home
and work-related activities.
Moscow, ID
83844