awana.org/go
Virtual Visit to Different Countries Ideas from Life Thread post by Ruth Hernandez – Central Bible Church, Aurora, IL
1. Map: Draw a large (about 15 feet by 15 feet) chalk outline map of country on the blacktop parking lot before club. During club, the kids fill in the mountains and rivers, put in stars for the capital city, dots for other major cities, and then color in the whole thing with sidewalk chalk. Variations: A smaller scale map as a handout for each student, map on the wall or even in a PowerPoint slide with visual interaction.
2. Flag: Using a 9 x 12” inch piece of felt as a base, and gluing on strips of pre-cut contrasting felt and the central design, have the kids craft the country flag. Staple or glue on a ¼” wide, 18” long dowel rod and then hang them in a visual place in your church for a few weeks to build interest with the congregational as a whole. Variations: Show flag in a PowerPoint slide, print outlines of the flag to be colored.
3. Sample the Food: A great way to experience the culture is to do a sampling of foods typical to the culture.
4. Learn about the Missionaries: Share about the missionaries serving in a specific country or in the region you are learning about.
5. Clothing: Do a search on the internet to identify some clothing that is specific to that country and culture.
6. Music: Find a familiar chorus, and teach the kids to sing it in a different language. (ie - “I Have Decided to Follow Jesus” or “Jesus Loves Me”)
7. Fast facts: Spend a few minutes teaching the kids about various aspects of the culture: geography, religion, the caste system, history, clothing, famous people, animals, music, sports and games, weather, language (include a few vocabulary words), foods, and holidays. Use pictures!
8. Activity sheets: On-line teacher resources or teacher stores provide great reproducible pages regarding countries and cultures. Send a coloring sheet or craft sheet home with the kids each week. If they do it and bring it back, they get points toward a final prize.
9. Special speaker: Invite a missionary to talk to the children or arrange a Skype session.
10. Early arrivals: On a huge piece of cardboard, outline an animal or something visually engaging from your focus region. Have the kids color in the outlined segments when they arrive. When the coloring is done, (after several weeks) they can add glue-on sequins and jewels or whatever is appropriate.
awana.org/go
Virtual Visit to Different Countries Ideas from Life Thread post by Ruth Hernandez – Central Bible Church, Aurora, IL
URLs to get you started:
Awana Around the World Sheet http://awana.org/aroundtheworld Awana Missionaries Around the World http://awana.org/where-we-serve/missionaries All around facts https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia Musical Instruments http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_national_instruments_%28music%29 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBs9UCetgog Sports http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_sport Foods http://www.epicurious.com/articlesguides/blogs/80dishes Flags https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/docs/flagsoftheworld.html B/W - http://etc.usf.edu/clipart/galleries/245-world-flags-black-and-white Games http://webpages.shepherd.edu/EMORRI01/KWCurriculum_Games.pdf http://www.gameskidsplay.net/GAMES/FOREIGN_INDEXES/INDEX.HTM http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/4h/4h05500.pdf Animals http://www.kidsplanet.org/factsheets/map.html http://www.bornfree.org.uk/wild-crew/animals-around-the-world/ Religions http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0855613.html http://www.worldfactsandfigures.com/religion.php
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Awana Club in Fiji Islands
Awana Club in Philippines
Awana Club in Myanmar
Awana Club in Vietnam Awana Club in
Papua New Guinea
Reaching kids in The Pacific Rim
with the gospel of Jesus Christ and providing them
long-term discipleship!
Australia’s flag is blue with the flag of the UK in the upper
left-side and a large seven-pointed star in the lower left-
side known as the Commonwealth or Federation Star. This
star represents the federation of the colonies of Australia
in 1901. Each point stands for one of the six original states
and one representing all of Australia's internal and
external territories. On the right is a representation of the
Southern Cross constellation in white with one small five-
pointed star and four larger, seven-pointed stars. The
flag's original design was chosen in 1901 from entries in a
worldwide competition held. In 1954 the flag became
recognized as the Australian National Flag.
WEATHER
The climate of Australia is significantly influenced by ocean
currents. There are periodic droughts and seasonal
tropical low pressure systems that produce cyclones in
northern Australia. Rainfall varies significantly from year
to year. The northern part of the country has a tropical
summer rainfall climate. Approximately 75% of Australia is
a desert or semi-arid zone, known as the outback.
LIFESPAN Life expectancy on average is 82 years old (males 79
years, females 84 years).
ECONOMY
Australia has a market economy with high GDP per capita
and low rate of poverty. Australia is the world's thirteenth
largest economy with the service sector accounting for
70% of GDP.
RELIGION Protestant 27.4%, Catholic 25.8%, Eastern Orthodox 2.7%,
other Christian 7.9%, Buddhist 2.1%, Muslim 1.7%, other
2.4%
SCHOOLING
The literacy rate in Australia is 99% and the average
school life expectancy is 21 years. School attendance is
required to all children from the age of 6 to 16. Australia is
among the most expensive nations to attend university.
CROPS Wheat, barley, sugarcane, fruits.
FLOWERS Australia's national floral emblem is Golden Wattle. Other
native flowers are the Fannel Flower, Wax Flower, Royal
bluebell, Waratah and Sturt's Desert Rose.
SPORTS
Football (soccer) is the most popular sport in the Australia.
Other popular activities include horse racing, rugby and
cricket.
with the gospel of Jesus
Christ and providing them long-term discipleship!
The current flag of Fiji was adopted on October 10, 1970. The blue
background symbolizes the Pacific Ocean. The Union Jack (British flag)
reflects that Fiji was a British colony from 1874 to 1970. The shield is
taken from Fiji’s coat of arms. The yellow lion stands above the Cross of
St. George. Three of the four quarters contain crops: sugarcane,
coconut palm tree and banana. The last quarter has a dove which
symbolizes peace.
WEATHER
Fiji has a tropical climate with hot wet summers with warm dry winters.
The rainy season is during the summer months from November to March
which also coincides with the cyclone season.
LIFESPAN Life expectancy on average is 71 years of age.
ECONOMY
Fiji is one of the most developed of the Pacific Island economies due its
forest, mineral and fish resources. Due to a high percentage of homeless
individuals, there is a strain on supplies, water, electricity, sewage and
road services.
RELIGION Christian 52%. Hindu 38%. Muslim 8%. Other 2%.
SCHOOLING
Fiji has a very good enrollment rate at the primary and secondary levels
of education. Scholarships are given to financially-challenged
households by the government and the higher learning institutions.
CROPS Sugar cane, coconuts, tapioca, rice and sweet potatoes.
FLOWERS Tagimaucia (Medinilla Waterhousei)
SPORTS The national sport of Fiji is Rugby. Cricket and football (soccer) are also
very popular.
Fiji Islands
with the gospel of Jesus
Christ and providing them long-term discipleship!
The national flag of Guam is the US flag. Guam is an organized,
unincorporated territory of the United States located in the
western Pacific Ocean. Guam’s territorial flag is dark blue with a
narrow red border on all four sides. In the center of the flag is a
red-bordered seal containing a beach scene with a proa (canoe
with a sail) and a bent palm tree. The word GUAM is in bold red
letters in the middle of the seal. The blue color represents the
sea and the red color signifies the blood shed in the struggle
against oppression.
WEATHER
Guam’s climate is characterized as tropical marine. The weather
is generally hot and very humid with little seasonal temperature
variation. The dry season runs from December through June.
The rest of the year is the rainy season. The months of January
and February are considered the coolest months of the year and
generally have lower humidity levels.
LIFESPAN Life expectancy on average is 78 years old (males 75 years,
females 82 years).
ECONOMY
The economy depends largely on US military spending and
tourism. The tourist industry has grown to become the largest
income source following national defense. The Guam economy
continues to expand in both its tourism and military sectors.
RELIGION Roman Catholic 85%, other 15%.
SCHOOLING
The literacy rate in Guam is 99%. Guam Public Schools have
struggled with problems such as high dropout rates and poor
test scores. Guam's educational system has always faced unique
challenges because it is a small community with a very diverse
student body.
CROPS Fruits, copra, vegetables, eggs, pork, poultry and beef.
FLOWERS Bougainvillea spectabilis, commonly known as paper flower, is
the state flower of Guam. Other popular plants include the lotus,
red plumeria and passion fruit
SPORTS The most popular sport in Guam is baseball. Other popular
sports are football, rugby and surfing.
Guam
The flag of Hong Kong features a white, stylized, five-petal Bauhinia
blakeana flower in the center of a red field. The design was adopted
on April 4, 1990. The red color signifies the link between Hong Kong
and China. The position of red and white on the flag symbolizes the
"one country two systems" political principle. The stylized rendering of
the Bauhinia blakeana flower, a flower discovered in Hong Kong, is
meant to serve as a harmonizing symbol.
WEATHER
Hong Kong has four different seasons. In the winter the temperature
is usually milder with monsoons carrying in cold fronts. The spring
brings wormer weather with an increase in rain fall. In the summer it is
hot and humid. Autumn is the most pleasant season and the sunniest
season.
LIFESPAN Life expectancy on average is 82 years old (males 79 years, females
85 years).
ECONOMY
Hong Kong's operates a free market economy. This economy is highly
dependent on international trade and finance. This economy left Hong
Kong exposed to the global economic slowdown, but its increasing
integration with China is helping Hong Kong recover. Hong Kong's
natural resources are limited, and food and raw materials must be
imported. Also, Hong Kong is establishing itself as the premier stock
market for Chinese firms seeking to list abroad.
RELIGION Diverse mixture of local religions 90%, Christian 10% (majority of the
residents of Hong Kong would claim no religious affiliation).
SCHOOLING
The education in Hong Kong is similar to the system used in the United
Kingdom. It is highly competitive by global standards. Hong Kong
requires everyone to go to school for 9 years. The average amount of
schooling in Hong Kong is 16 years.
CROPS Fresh vegetables, poultry, pork and fish.
FLOWERS Hong Kong's national flower is a Bauhinia Blakeana flower. It is the
stylized flower shown on the flag. The Bauhinia Blakeana is also called
the Hong Kong Orchid Tree.
SPORTS
Football (soccer) is the most popular sport in Hong Kong. Other
popular activities include jogging, badminton, basketball, swimming,
volleyball and table tennis.
G:\Awana GO\Regional Booklets\Pacific Rim\Indonesia\Indonesia_Country Sheet.doc Printed 8/5/2014
The flag of Indonesia was adopted on August 17, 1945. The design of the
flag of Indonesian flag is simple with two equal horizontal bands, red (top)
and white (bottom). Red represents courage while white means purity of
intent.
WEATHER
Indonesia has a fairly even climate year round. Rather than four seasons,
Indonesia has two – wet and dry. There are no extremes of winter and
summer. Rain tends to come in sudden tropical downpours, but it can
also rain nonstop for days.
LIFESPAN Life expectancy on average is 77 years of age.
ECONOMY Estimated 13.33% of the population remains below the poverty line.
RELIGION Muslim 88%. Protestant 5%. Catholic 3%. Hinduism 2%. Buddhism 1%.
Other 1%.
SCHOOLING School year divided into two semesters. July through December.
January through June. Schools are run by the government or privately.
CROPS Rice, Peanuts, Soybeans & Fruit
FLOWERS Moon Orchid. Lilies. Chrysanthemums.
SPORTS
The most popular sport in Indonesia is football (soccer). Other activities
include badminton, basketball, boxing, Pencak Silat (martial arts) and
Australian rules football.
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with the gospel of Jesus
Christ and providing them long-term discipleship!
The national flag of Japan is white with a red filled disc in the
middle of it. The red filled disc in the middle represents a sun
without rays. This flag was designated the national flag on
August 13, 1999. The flag originated in the Meiji Era and was
designed by Daijō-kan. The use of the flag has been a
controversial issue for Japan's public schools since the end of
World War II.
WEATHER
Japan's northernmost zone (Hokkaido) has long, cold winters
and cool summers. In the Sea of Japan zone, northwest winter
winds bring heavy snowfall. The Central Highland has an inland
climate, with large temperature differences between summer
and winter. The mountains of the Chūgoku and Shikoku regions
shelter mild weather year-round. The Pacific coast experiences
cold winters with little snowfall and hot, humid summers. The
Ryukyu Islands have a subtropical climate, with warm winters
and hot summers.
LIFESPAN Life expectancy on average is 82 years old (males 79 years,
females 86 years).
ECONOMY
Japan is the third largest national economy in the world.
Japan's industrial sector is heavily dependent on imported raw
materials and fuels. A tiny agricultural sector is highly
subsidized and protected, with crop yields among the highest in
the world.
RELIGION Shintoism 83.9%, Buddhism 71.4%, Christianity 2%, other 7.8%
(most Japanese follow a meld of Shintoism and Buddhism).
SCHOOLING
The literacy rate in Japan is 99% and the average school life
expectancy is 15 years. Japan is ranked 4th in math and science
in the world. Most students attend public schools through the
lower secondary level, but private education is popular at the
upper secondary and university levels.
CROPS Rice, sugar beets, vegetables, fruit.
FLOWERS
The Yellow Chrysanthemum, popularity wise and Japanese
Apricot are said to be the official flowers of Japan. The Cherry
Blossom (Sakura) is the unofficial flower of Japan because of
the popularity it has in Japanese culture.
SPORTS
Sumo is considered to be the national sport of Japan. Other
popular activities include judo, karate, kendo, football (soccer),
golf and auto racing.
The Regional flag of the Macau is light green with a lotus flower
above the water in white, beneath an arc of five gold, five-
pointed stars: one large in the center of the arc and four smaller
ones. The water beneath the lotus and the bridge symbolize
Macau's position as a port and its role played in the territory.
The five five-pointed stars echo the design of the flag of the
People's Republic of China, symbolizing the relationship Macau
has with its sovereign state.
WEATHER
Macau has a humid subtropical climate. Autumn in Macau, from
October to November, is sunny and still pleasantly warm with
low humidity. Winter (December to early March) is generally
mild. Humidity starts to increase from late March. Summer is
very warm to hot and it’s often followed by heavy rain,
thunderstorms and occasional typhoons.
LIFESPAN Life expectancy on average is 85 years old (males 81 years,
females 87 years).
ECONOMY
Macau's economy is based largely on tourism. Other chief
economic activities in Macau are export-geared textile and
garment manufacturing, banking and other financial services.
The clothing industry has provided about three quarters of
export earnings, and the gaming, tourism and hospitality
industry is estimated to contribute more than 50% of Macau's
GDP.
RELIGION Buddhist 70%, Roman Catholicism 15%, Protestant Christianity
10%, Bahá'í Faith 4%, and Muslims 1%.
SCHOOLING
The literacy rate of the territory is 93.5%. A fifteen-year free
education is currently being offered to residents and it includes
a three-year kindergarten, followed by a six-year primary
education and a six-year secondary education.
CROPS Macau’s main crop is maize, rice, citrus, and coffee,
FLOWERS The Lotus is Macau’s official flower,
SPORTS
In general, football (soccer) has the greatest popularity in
Macau. Another common sport is Rink Hockey, which is often
practiced by the Portuguese.
Malaysia’s flag design is based on the flag of the US. It has 14 equal
horizontal stripes of red alternating with white. There is a blue
rectangle in the upper left side corner with a yellow crescent and a
yellow 14-pointed star. The flag is often referred to as Jalur
Gemilang, which translates to Stripes of Glory. The crescent is a
traditional symbol of Islam. The 14 stripes stand for the 13 member
states and the federal government. The 14 points on the star
represent the unity between these entities. The color blue
symbolizes the unity of the Malay people. The color yellow is the
royal color of Malay rulers.
WEATHER
Malaysia has a climate categorized as equatorial; it is hot and
humid throughout the year. Malaysia faces two monsoon winds
seasons, the Southwest Monsoon and the Northeast Monsoon. The
Northeast Monsoon brings in more rainfall than the Southwest
Monsoon. Local climates are affected by the mountain ranges in
Malaysia.
LIFESPAN Life expectancy on average is 74 years old (males 71 years, females
77 years).
ECONOMY
Malaysia has an open state-oriented multi-sector economy. It has
one of the best economic records in Asia. The government aiming
to boost domestic demand in order to reduce the economy's
dependence on exports. However, exports still remain a significant
driver of the economy.
RELIGION Muslim 60.4%, Buddhist 19.2%, Christian 9.1%, Hindu 6.3%,
Traditional Chinese religions 2.6%, other 1.5%.
SCHOOLING
The literacy rate in Malaysia is 89% and the school life expectancy
is 13 years. The education system features kindergarten then six
years of compulsory primary education followed by five years of
optional secondary education.
CROPS Rubber, palm oil, cocoa, rice, coconuts, timber and pepper.
FLOWERS
The national flower of Malaysia is the hibiscus rosa sinensis, locally
known as the bunga raya. Other native flowers include rafflesia
arnoldii and hibiscus rosa.
SPORTS The most popular sport in Malaysia is football (soccer).Other sports
include badminton, field hockey, tennis and martial arts.
Malaysia
G:\Awana GO\Regional Booklets\Pacific Rim\Myanmar\Myanmar_Country Sheet.doc Printed 8/5/2014
The flag of Myanmar recently adopted a new state flag on October
21, 2010 which replaced the former socialist flag it used since 1974.
Centered on the green band is a five-pointed star that overlaps the
other two colors. The green color represents peace and tranquility
while yellow stands for solidarity. Valor and courage is denoted by
the red field.
WEATHER
Myanmar is between the Tropic of Cancer and the Equator and lies
in the monsoon region of Asia. There are two monsoon seasons. The
southwest monsoon is from June to September and is known for its
cloudy, rainy, hot and humid summers. The northeast monsoon, with
its milder temperatures and lower humidity during the winter, is from
December to April.
LIFESPAN Life expectancy on average is 65 years of age.
ECONOMY
Myanmar’s economy is one of the least developed in the world due to
decades of stagnation, inefficient economic policies and corruption.
Agriculture is the primary industry. As of 2009, over 32% of the
country lives in poverty.
RELIGION Buddhist 89%. Christian 4%. Muslim 4%. Other 3%.
SCHOOLING
Nearly all the schools are government-operated and are based
under the United Kingdom’s system due to 100 years of British
colonial rule. The adult literacy rate of Myanmar is over 90%.
CROPS Rice, pulses beans, sesame and groundnuts.
FLOWERS The Paduak is the national flower. Orchids are also native to
Myanmar.
SPORTS The most popular sport in Myanmar is football (soccer). Chinlone,
lethwei (kickboxing) and other martial arts are well-liked.
Naypyitaw
Thaton
KunmingDali
Dukou
Gejiu
Pongsali
Jinghong
Lincang
TengchongBaoshan
Lijiang
Xichang
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Chiang Mai
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Ratchasima
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Barisal
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Bhamo
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Maymyo
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Meiktila
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Prome (Pye)
Minbu
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Monywa
Shwebo
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Pyapon
Henzada
Mergui
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Chumphon
Sandoway
Amherst
Ta-kaw
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Putao
Hopin
Lashio
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Pathein
Magway
Bago
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Dawei
Mawlamyine
Taunggyi
Hakha
Myitkyina
Mandalay
Sagaing
Bangkok(Krung Thep)
Naypyitaw
Vientiane(Viangchan)
DhakaSAGAING
DIVISION
BAGODIVISION
AYEYARWARDYDIVISION
TANINTHARYI DIVISION
YANGONDIVISION
MAGWAY
DIVISION
MANDALAY
DIVISION
KACHIN
STATE
CHIN
STATE
RAKHINESTATE KAYAH
STATE
MONSTATE
KAYINSTATE
SHAN STATE
Yangon
C H I N A
I N D I A
T H A I L A N D
VIET NAM
BHUTAN
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DEMOCRATIC
REPUBLIC
BANGLADESH
CAMBODIAAndaman Sea
Mouths of the Irrawaddy
Irra
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Irrawaddy
Chi
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in
Brahmaputra
Salween
Mekong
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Bay o f Bengal
G u l f o f T h a i l a n d
Mar
taba
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ekong)
Yuan (Red)
National capital
Division or state capital
Town, village
Major airport
International boundary
Division or state boundary
Main road
Secondary road
Railroad
MYANMARMYANMAR
Map No. 4168 Rev. 2 UNITED NATIONSMay 2008
Department of Field SupportCartographic Section
The boundaries and names shown and the designations used on this map do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations.
0 100 200 300 km
0 100 200 mi
Chinese Line
Indian Line
Preparis Island(MYANMAR)
Ramree I.
Cheduba I.
Launglon BokIslands
Bilugyin I.
MerguiArchipelago
Coco Islands(MYANMAR)
94° 96° 98° 100° 102°
24°
26°
22°
20°
18°
16°
14°
12°
10°
18°
16°
14°
12°
10°
20°
28°
22°
24°
26°
92° 94°
96° 98° 100° 102°
with the gospel of Jesus
Christ and providing them long-term discipleship!
G:\Awana GO\Regional Booklets\Pacific Rim\New Zealand ~\New Zealand_Country Sheet.doc Printed 8/5/2014
New Zealand’s flag is blue with the Union Flag in the upper left side
quadrant. It has four red five-pointed stars edged in white centered
in the right half of the flag. These stars represent the constellation of
Crux, also known as the Southern Cross. The Union Flag in the
represents New Zealand's colonial ties to Britain. The flag was
designed and adopted for restricted use in 1869 and became the
national flag in 1902.
WEATHER
New Zealand has a mild and temperate maritime climate. Conditions
vary across regions from extremely wet on the west coast of the
South Island, to semi-arid in inland Canterbury and to subtropical in
Northland. The southern and south-western parts of the South Island
have a cooler and cloudier climate. The northern and north-eastern
parts of the South Island are the sunniest areas of the country.
LIFESPAN Life expectancy on average is 81 years old (males 79 years, females
83 years).
ECONOMY
New Zealand has a modern, prosperous and developed market
economy. New Zealand’s economy fell into recession before the start
of the global financial crisis and contracted for five consecutive
quarters in 2008-2009. The government plans to raise productivity
growth and develop infrastructure, while managing government
spending.
RELIGION Protestant 38.6%, Roman Catholic 12.6%, Christian 4.6%, Methodist
3%, Pentecostal 2%, Maori Christian 1.6%, Hindu 1.6%, Baptist 1.4%,
Buddhist 1.3%, other religions 2.2%
SCHOOLING
The literacy rate in New Zealand is 99% and the school life
expectancy is 19 years. Primary and secondary schooling is
compulsory for children aged 6 to 16. There are 13 school years.
Attending public schools is free.
CROPS Wheat, barley, potatoes, pulses, fruits, vegetables, wool, beef, fish.
FLOWERS
The national flower of New Zealand is the Sophora microphylla, more
commonly known as Kowhai. Other popular flowers are mount cook
buttercup, ladies tresses orchid, flush willow herb, Sun orchid and
toetoes.
SPORTS The most popular sport in New Zealand is soccer. Most of New
Zealand’s sports come from English origin. Some of the more popular
sports are Golf, netball, tennis and cricket.
New Zealand
The flag of Papua New Guinea was adopted on July 1, 1971. Red and
black have long been the traditional colors of many of the tribes in
Papua New Guinea. The upper triangle is a soaring yellow bird called
the Raggiana Bird-of-paradise (also known as the kumul). This is the
national bird and it represents the emergence of Papua New Guinea as
a nation. The lower triangle is the five-pointed stars of the Southern
Cross constellation and symbolizes the country’s connection with the
other South Pacific countries.
WEATHER
Papua New Guinea has a tropical climate. Although occasional rain
falls year-round, December to March is considered the wet season.
Nearly 85% of the main island is made up of tropical rain forest.
LIFESPAN Life expectancy on average is 63 years of age.
ECONOMY
Agriculture provides the livelihood for 85% of the population. Papua
New Guinea is a poor country with approximately 37% of the country
below the poverty line.
RELIGION Indigenous beliefs 34%. Roman Catholic 22%.Lutheran 16%. Other
Protestant 10%. Presbyterian/Methodist 8%. Other 10%
SCHOOLING Most of the population is illiterate with women being the most affected.
Most of the education in the country is provided by church institutions.
CROPS Sweet potatoes, coffee and copra
FLOWERS Over 2,000 species of orchids and 2,000 species of ferns.
SPORTS The most popular sport in Papua New Guinea is rugby. Other sports
include cricket, Australian rules football and soccer.
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with the gospel of Jesus
Christ and providing them long-term discipleship!
The original flag of the Philippines was adopted in 1898. There is a white
equilateral triangle at the hoist. In the center of the triangle is a yellow
sun with eight primary rays. The three stars in the corners of the triangle
represent the country’s three main islands. The blue color stands for
peace and justice and the white triangle is for equality. The red field
symbolizes courage.
WEATHER
The climate of the Philippines is known for its high temperatures, severe
humidity and ample precipitation. There are two seasons. The warmest
months of the year last from May to October during the southwest
monsoon. The northeastern monsoon, which brings cooler temperatures,
is between November and April.
LIFESPAN Life expectancy on average is 72 years of age.
ECONOMY
The Philippines is considered a newly industrialized nation. The service
sector is the major occupations followed by agriculture. About half of the
population lives in rural areas where poverty most severe.
RELIGION Christian 90%. Muslim 5%. Other 5%.
SCHOOLING
Even though most of the Philippine population is literate, there are still
some issues. There is a decline in the quality of education, especially in
the elementary and secondary levels. Economically disadvantaged
students have higher dropout rates and the classrooms are
overpopulated.
CROPS Bananas, coconuts, pineapples, rice and corn.
FLOWERS Sampaguita is the national flower of the Philippines. Other flowers
include ylang-ylang, waling-waling, gumamela and sunflowers.
SPORTS
Arnis (stick fighting) and chako sticks are the national sports in the
Philippines. Other popular activities include basketball, boxing, football
(soccer) and volleyball.
with the gospel of Jesus
Christ and providing them long-term discipleship!
The national flag of Singapore was adopted in 1959. The flag
features two horizontal bands of red and white. On the left side
of the red band, there is a white crescent enclosing a pentagon
of five small white five-pointed stars. The red color denotes
brotherhood and equality. The white signifies purity and virtue.
The crescent moon symbolizes a young nation on the
ascendancy. The five stars are the nation's ideals of
democracy, peace, progress, justice, and equality.
WEATHER
Singapore's climate is classified as equatorial. This climate is
characterized by uniform temperature and pressure, high
humidity and abundant rainfall. June is the hottest month of
the year. The eastern side of Singapore is much drier and
slightly hotter than western side.
LIFESPAN Life expectancy on average is 82 years old (males 80 years,
females 85 years).
ECONOMY
Singapore has a highly developed and successful free-market
economy. It has an open and corruption-free environment,
stable prices, and a high per capita GDP. The economy depends
heavily on exports and on growing financial services. The
government hopes to establish a new growth path that focuses
on raising productivity.
RELIGION Buddhist 42.5%, Muslim 14.9%, Christian 9.8%, Taoist 8.5%,
Catholic 4.8% and Hindu 4%
SCHOOLING
The literacy rate in Singapore is 92.5%. Education takes place in
three stages (Primary, Secondary and Pre-university
education). Students begin with six years of compulsory
primary school. Secondary school lasts from four to five years.
CROPS Orchids, vegetables; poultry, eggs, fish and ornamental fish.
FLOWERS The national flower of Singapore is the Vanda Miss Joaquim,
which is a hybrid orchid.
SPORTS
The most popular sport in Singapore is football (soccer). Other
popular sports are basketball, cricket, sailing, table tennis and
badminton.
Singapore
with the gospel of Jesus
Christ and providing them long-term discipleship!
The national flag of Solomon Islands was adopted officially on 18
November 1977. The five main island groups are represented by the five
stars. The blue is supposed to represent the surrounding ocean, while the
green represents the land. The yellow stripe is symbolic of the sunshine.
WEATHER
The climate of the Solomon Islands can be described as a tropical climate
with two different seasons. The dry seasons are between December and
February, and from June to mid-September; the rainy seasons last from
February to end May, and from September to end November.
LIFESPAN Life is 74.42 years. Male: 71.83 years and female: 77.14 years .
ECONOMY
Solomon Islands, ranks as a lesser developed nation, and more than 75%
of its labor force is engaged in subsistence and fishing. Most
manufactured goods and petroleum products must be imported.
RELIGION Christian 92%, Buddhism 3%, Muslim 0.07%, and Other 4.93%.
SCHOOLING
Education in Solomon Islands is not compulsory and only 60 percent of
school-age children have access to primary education. Efforts and plans
made by the Department of Education and Human Resource
Development to expand educational facilities and increase enrolment
have been hindered by a lack of government funding, misguided teacher
training programs, and a failure of the government to pay teachers.
CROPS Coconuts, Yams, Taro, Cacao, Sweet Potatoes, Cassava, and Green
Vegetables.
FLOWERS There is no national flower for this region, but it’s known for their orchid’s
variety.
SPORTS Solomon Islands national sport is Football Soccer. They also enjoy related
sports, such as Futsal (indoor soccer) and Beach Soccer .
with the gospel of Jesus
Christ and providing them long-term discipleship!
The current flag of South Korea was adopted on January 25,
1950. It has three parts: four black trigrams, one each corner of
the flag, a red and blue taegeuk in the center and a white
background. The taegeuk refers to the ultimate reality from which
all things and values originate. Each trigram represents one of the
four universal elements. White denotes peace and purity. Blue
stands for the negative cosmic forces of the yin while red signifies
the opposite positive forces of the yang.
WEATHER
The climate of South Korea has four distinct seasons. Winters tend
to be long and cold while the summers are short, hot and humid.
Most of the rain occurs between June and September.
LIFESPAN Life expectancy on average is 79 years of age.
ECONOMY
South Korea has an emerging economy and is a high-income
developed country. It relies heavily on its export-oriented strategy
to increase its economic growth. The country has a low
unemployment rate, but some issues include a rapidly aging
population and an inflexible labor market.
RELIGION Christian 26%. Buddhist 26%. No Affiliation 46%. Other 2%.
SCHOOLING
Primary education is required by all students starting at the age of
six. The competition among students is very demanding. The
South Korean population is well-educated as over 98% of the
residents are literate.
CROPS Rice, barley, vegetables and fruit.
FLOWERS
The Hibiscus Syriacus (also known as the Rose of Sharon or
Mugunghwa) is the national flower of South Korea. Other flowers
include the Forsythia Korean Nakai, Rhododendron Mucronulatum,
Magnolia and Prunus.
SPORTS
Football (soccer) and baseball are the most popular sports in
South Korea. Traditional sports include tae kwon do (martial arts),
kite flying, bull fighting, ssirum (Korean wrestling) and basketball.
with the gospel of Jesus
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G:\Awana GO\Regional Booklets\Pacific Rim\Taiwan ~\Taiwan_Country Sheet.doc Printed 8/5/2014
Taiwan’s flag has a red field with a dark blue rectangle in the
upper left side corner bearing a white sun with 12 triangular rays.
The blue color signifies liberty, justice, and democracy. The red
stands for fraternity, sacrifice, and nationalism. The white
represents equality, frankness, and the people's livelihood. The 12
rays of the sun represent the months and the twelve traditional
Chinese hours. The blue and white design symbolizes the sun of
progress.
WEATHER
Taiwan lies on the Tropic of Cancer, Which means its climate is
marine tropical. The northern part of the island has an extended
rainy season that last from January to late march. The entire
island experiences hot, humid weather from June through
September.
LIFESPAN Life expectancy on average is 78 years old (males 75 years,
females 81 years).
ECONOMY
Taiwan has a dynamic, capitalist, export-driven economy with
gradually decreasing state involvement in investment and
foreign trade. Exports have provided the primary momentum for
industrialization. This heavy dependence on exports exposes the
economy to upturns and downturns in world demand. In June
2010 Taiwan and the mainland signed the landmark Economic
Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA), which Taiwan
authorities hope will eventually lead to a free-trade
arrangement.
RELIGION Buddhist and Taoist 93%, Christian 4.5%, other 2.5%
SCHOOLING
The literacy rate in Taiwan is 96%.The educational system in
Taiwan produces pupils with some of the highest test scores in
the world. These students excel in mathematics and science.
Taiwan has been criticized for placing excessive pressure on
students and avoiding creativity in favor of routine
memorization. Current law mandates 9 years of schooling.
Taiwan’s President announced that the government is going to
implement a 12 year compulsory education program by 2014.
CROPS Rice, vegetables, fruit, tea, flowers.
FLOWERS The national flower of Taiwan is the plum blossom.
SPORTS The most popular sport in Taiwan is baseball. Other popular
sports are taekwondo, basketball, table tennis and cycling.
Taiwan
The current flag of Vietnam was adopted on September 5, 1945. It has a
red field with a large yellow five-pointed star in the center. The color red
symbolizes revolution and blood, and the five-pointed star represents the
five elements of the populace - peasants, workers, intellectuals, traders,
and soldiers - that unite to build socialism.
WEATHER It is tropical in the south, and monsoonal in the north with a hot, rainy
season (May to September) and a warm, dry season (October to March).
LIFESPAN The national average life expectancy in Vietnam is 72 years.
ECONOMY
Vietnam has been, for much of its history, a predominantly agricultural
civilization based on wet rice cultivation. But Vietnam's current economy is
dominated by state-owned enterprises. Agriculture's share of the
economic output has shrunk to about 22%, while industry's share has
increased to 40%.
RELIGION 7.9% Buddhists, 6.6% Catholics, 1.7% Hòa Hảo, 0.9% Cao Đài, 0.9%
Protestants The vast majority of Vietnamese people practice ancestor
worship in some form.
SCHOOLING
Education is not free; therefore, some poor families may have trouble
paying tuition for their children without some form of public or private
assistance. Regardless, school enrollment is among the highest in the
world. 94% of the country is literate.
CROPS Rice, coffee, cotton, peanuts, rubber, sugarcane, and tea.
FLOWERS Tuberose, chrysanthemum, peach flower, orchid, yellow apricot flower,
lotus, and the water lily
SPORTS
The Vovinam and Bình Ðịnh martial arts are widespread in Vietnam.
Soccer is the country's most popular team sport. Other Western sports,
such as badminton, tennis, volleyball, ping-pong and chess, are also
widely popular.
with the gospel of Jesus
Christ and providing them long-term discipleship!