Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi Launches AUS Global Day To Celebrate World Cultures

Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, President of the American University of Sharjah (AUS), recently inaugurated the AUS Global Day under the theme "Peace Around the World." The event saw the participation of Hussain Muhammad, Consul General of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in Dubai; Dr. Tod Laursen, Chancellor of AUS, and other senior university officials. The AUS Main Plaza was bustling with visitors exploring over 29 cultural and student-interest club pavilions, engaging in a variety of activities.

Shaima bn Taliah, Executive Director of Student Experience at AUS, highlighted the importance of such events in enriching students' experiences and fostering understanding among diverse communities. She praised the students for their exceptional efforts in organizing their booths and performances, emphasizing the value of these extracurricular activities in enhancing students' skills in communication, collaboration, and cultural competence.

The Emirati Cultural Club took an innovative approach by designing its booth in the shape of a book. Yousef Mansour Algargawi, President of the UAE Cultural Club, shared that the booth displayed information and pictures of buildings featured on UAE currency from the 1700s to present, aiming to educate visitors about the UAE's history and development. The booth also featured unique vendors like Racks, which introduced a new board game inspired by Sharjah and special desserts infused with Emirati flavours.

Other attractions at the Emirati display included musical renditions and traditional dance performances. Algargawi noted that Global Day allows cultural clubs to showcase their creativity and provides a platform for exploring other cultures.

The Palestinian Cultural Club celebrated Palestinian heritage through art, cuisine, traditional dress, and dance. Abdallah Darwish, President of the Palestinian Cultural Club, expressed his enthusiasm for sharing various aspects of Palestinian culture with visitors. The club's booth offered a range of Palestinian delicacies and performances, including a play depicting life in Gaza and a special performance by children from the AUS Choir.

The Indian Cultural Club designed its booth to resemble The Palace of Mirrors, Sheesh Mahal, in Jaipur, India. Siraj Mecci, President of the Indian Cultural Club, detailed how the booth featured a seven-meter-long arc decorated with 30,000 pieces of mirror and traditional Indian windows made from cardboard. The club also prepared a grand performance that took visitors through different eras of Bollywood cinema, showcasing the diversity of Indian culture through dance.

This year's AUS Global Day successfully brought together students and visitors to celebrate and learn about different cultures from around the world. Through innovative displays and performances, participants were able to share their heritage and foster a sense of global community on campus.

With inputs from WAM