Organised by the Bedian Diversity Initiative, Culture Week ran from 18-22 March and was a huge success.
Celebrating Diversity during the Culture Week
On the opening day, students arrived at the College in traditional cultural attire, national sports kit or the colours of their nation’s flag. The College came alive and prefects from the BDI visited forms to choose the best dressed students, who were presented with prizes at break time.
On Wednesday morning the whole school competed in an online Culture Quiz made by Siena, Lamie and Maria in L6. Prizes for the highest scoring students were given out at Celebration Assembly.
One very popular event during Culture Week was the BDI’s sale of food and drinks from different cultures. Spanish rice milk drink Horchata and Taiwanese tapioca milk drink Boba went on sale, while African Fanta was so in demand, the prefects auctioned off the last two cans for £10 each! The range of food sold included African meat pie and Puff Puff, Hispanic nachos and rosquillas, Hungarian pastry rolls Kakaós csiga, Australian Lamingtons and Hong Kong fortune cookies. The food sale alone raised over £500 for a nursery in Gambia. With students also donating £1 in exchange for wearing cultural clothing on Monday, the BDI is excited to find out what the total raised will be.
On Thursday morning, Head Girl Tara took the opportunity to educate the Lower Sixth on the feast day of St Patrick. She told us the story of the saint’s life as well as the origins of the famous St Patrick’s Day celebrations. We were treated to a quiz and even learned some Irish vocabulary. Maith thú Tara!
Finally, Friday morning’s mass allowed us to demonstrate how grateful we are for the diversity in our College, with the Prayers of the Faithful delivered in Spanish, Cantonese, Mandarin and Yoruba. During the offertory procession, a number of cultural items were presented, including Ankara fabrics, whose vibrant colours and intricate patterns symbolise the rich cultural heritage and diversity of the African continent.
The Qipao, also known as Cheongsam, is a traditional Chinese dress whose intricate designs and luxurious fabrics of the Qipao reflect centuries of craftsmanship and artistry. The abanico is a graceful and elegant accessory that holds cultural significance in many European countries, particularly Spain, while the flag of Barbados, with its blue and yellow bands and iconic trident emblem, allowed us to honour the contributions of the Americas to our shared humanity. Finally, Aboriginal sticks, traditional symbols of Indigenous Australian culture, carry deep spiritual and ceremonial significance.
Following Mass, the BDI leaders gave an overview of the achievements of the group and awarded prizes to those students who had gone above and beyond. They also announced the appointment of cultural leaders in each form.
Culture Week in the Prep: An Ode to Diversity
Culture Week kicked off with a vibrant assembly delivered by Bedian Diversity Initiative Leaders Dara S and Jeanne B from the Lower Sixth. Like the rest of the College, the Prep students dressed up in traditional clothing, arriving in a wonderfully cheerful range of colours and outfits.
The two Sixth Form Prefects brought the whole of the Prep School on a tour around the world. Students from Prep 4 and 5 were grouped into their continents and paraded down the aisle, showing off their cultural attire to a selection of specially selected music. Many came to the front and explained the stories behind items significant to their culture.
The children were also delighted to watch performances of an Afrobeats dance by Tolu and Annnaliese in Prep 5; the Sixth Formers explained the Nigerian tradition of showering dancers with money and the children were thrilled to be given fake money throw, showing their appreciation for their peers’ talents. Aoife, Evelyn and Enya in Prep 5 & 6 wowed onlookers with their traditional Irish dance and amazing footwork.
Dara and Jeanne left the children with the message of how important it is to celebrate our cultures and differences as it helps us to connect with people in our own culture and others as well as promoting the virtue of Understanding. As they left, ‘I Know Who I Am’ played them out of the hall, an empowering gospel song which is about us all being one in Christ.
Dara S, Upper Sixth Student