(MENAFN- Gulf Times) It is that time of the year at American School Doha (ASD) when the entire school community comprising over 70 different cultures come together to celebrate diversity and ‘build bridges.'
More than 2,000 students from 77 different countries showcased the colours of the respective countries at the International Week at ASD concluding today (Thursday).
The theme of this year's international week at the school was ‘Building Bridges,' aimed at fostering a culture of mutual understanding and respect for each other's culture.
Through a variety of activities the students participated in the international week in different ways. The week kicked off with a grand opening ceremony held at the school gymnasium, attended by all 2,250 students, faculty members and staff of the school. The ambassador of United States of America to Qatar, Dana Shell Smith was also present at the occasion.
Attired in their national colours and traditional clothes, student representatives carried their countries flags at a parade amid loud cheers and ovation by a packed house. Flags of all 77 countries represented at the school were put up to fly high throughout the week.
On Wednesday (yesterday), all 2,250 students were fed by the parents with the international cuisine of 77 countries at an international buffet.
'International week is a celebration. We do it every year about this time and we celebrate the diversity of the cultures that we have here, Thomas L Hawkins, the Director of ASD, told Community.
'It is a huge honour and it really is intended to be the only time in the course of the school year, we bring the entire school, the entire faculty and all the staff, everybody together in one place to celebrate who we are, an American school in a very international environment, he added.
The students witnessed a performance by the armed forces band coming from the US Air Force. Throughout the week, the school's Arab Mothers' Association set up a tent where students could experience some of the local culture including swordsmen, traditional dances and falcon men.
The students showed their spirit for the week wearing different dress each day including the colours of their countries, their favourite sports teams' colours, Qatar colours and the ASD t-shirt day.
'It is an amazing celebration here but it is something that happens each and every day. It is one of the things that we teach as part of our ethos here at ASD. We teach respect for other people's culture, we try to bring people together rather than magnifying their differences, said the director of the school.
'Bringing them here together, you would see people from different countries whose countries might be at war but they are here celebrating and cheering for each other, he added.
The US, he said, is known as the melting pot of cultures because people have come from all over the world. The country enjoys a great cultural diversity. However, sometimes there is a lack of understanding in the US of people from other cultures and they do not celebrate it, he added.
'They tend to magnify it and that is where I think we need children like this going out celebrating and bringing that understanding throughout the world and that is why I have committed my life to international education, said Hawkins.
The ASD International Week is a tradition that was started years ago and has been carried forward consistently. The preparations start early, in September. A lot of people come together and make it happen.
'You get really emotional when you see the flags coming down the aisle and then you realise that we really are such an international community and here together, Jan Farmer, High School Associate Principal, one of the members of the organising team, told Community.
'Students clap so hard for the people who protect them, the guards. They probably get the greatest ovation and that just say something about what a caring community we are. That is what makes me emotional, she adds.
The International Week will conclude today with a closing ceremony put together by a division of the school. The upper and lower elementary as well as the Middle and High schools will put up their respective shows.
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.