International Mud Day – June 29, 2024

History of International Mud Day

At the “World Forum for Early Childhood Care and Education,” members of the “Nature Action Collaborative for Children” — Gillian McAuliffe, and Bishnu Bhatta — got together to talk about the differences in playing with mud between their countries Australia and Nepal, respectively. The issue with Gillian’s region in Australia was the lack of mud since it’s a very sandy place, however, Bishnu’s problem wasn’t the amount of mud, but the lack of clothes and even soap to wash them. When Gillian mentioned this issue to children from her community, they all got together and started a campaign to raise money and send it to the kids in Nepal, so they could afford the clothes and soap.

Soon enough, the Australian kids were able to raise a thousand dollars and Bishnu was able to organize an event for the Nepali children of the Panchkhal orphanage. Not only did they get to play in the mud, but they also were able to have their first meat meal in five months! Ever since then, every year both groups get together in their own countries to play in the mud. In 2013, six families from Australia even traveled to Nepal to participate in the celebration. These families have also helped fund the renovations of the orphanage.

From Holland to Nepal to the U.S., the resulting partnership has motivated educators, children, and families to commemorate International Mud Day every year on June 29. We all look the same on this muddy day, regardless of age, color, or religion! Throughout the years, new resources have been published to help educators from all around the world celebrate International Mud Day and help their students connect with nature and understand the differences between their relationship with mud and other people’s.