Peacock Collegiate students were given a chance to experience just some of the cultures belonging to their student body during the third annual Cultural Fair on Nov. 21.
The fair, hosted and organized by students for other students, offered an opportunity to talk about one’s cultural origins and share music, food, and even entertainment.
With 14 countries represented, the gymnasium was a busy place as students filtered around the room to check out which cultural dish might whet their appetite — from ceviche at Costa Rica’s booth to pancit at the Philippines booth.
This is the third year that Peacock students have organized the fair, and this year two social studies classes combined forces with the Multicultural Leadership Group to do the organizing.
“We saw it in Central (Collegiate) and we were like, you know what, we have lots of kids who are from different countries and we can have a day where they can wear their traditional clothes and not be judged,” said Mahwish Ullah, one of the student organizers.
Experiencing new food was obviously a highlight for many students, but the goal was really to create a connection and answer questions.
“I hope they learn something new (at the fair),” said Ullah.
“And learn to embrace other cultures,” added Cari Francis, another student organizer.
Students were encouraged to visit every booth and collect a stamp in their “passport,” and to take part in the other interesting activities — like the button making station, or the scavenger hunt to collect details from each country’s booth.
For Ullah and Francis, the Cultural Fair is a unique chance to express the cultural diversity of the student body in a place where there is no judgement and questions are genuine.
“We're just here to embrace our culture and show where we are and where we come from,” said Ullah. “I hope this goes on forever because. . . it's beautiful. It's that one day where everybody smiles.”
“Everyone should have the chance to show off where they came from,” said Francis. “And it makes us proud [to see everyone here] because a lot of the kids are shy and they don't really want to show who they are, but it's a chance for them to really shine.”
