Event Spotlight: Cultural Weekend 2024
Notre Dame College recently hosted its annual Culture Week, a long-standing tradition that showcases the gifts and talents of its students. This year's event, organised by the Student Executive, took place over a week in November, during which the campus was filled with a vibrant celebration of diversity and student inclusion.
The week kicked off with stalls and vendors selling local dishes, henna, face paints, jewellery, and cakes in the upper study area. On the first day, students also had the opportunity to immerse themselves in the heritage of their peers, as they explored the various cultural expressions on display.
Wednesday during Culture Week featured the Culture Catwalk, where students showcased their traditional cultural dress. This event was a significant highlight, allowing students to proudly display their cultural heritage and share it with the wider Notre Dame community. The following day, the Culture Performances took place, which included impressive dancing, beautiful singing, and the Philippine Tinikling.
Haleema Ghani, Student Executive President, expressed her gratitude for leading the event and stated that it was an important part of the student experience at Notre Dame. She expressed that it was an absolute honor to take lead on such an important part of the student experience at Notre Dame.
Feedback received about the Culture Week was 100% positive, with students expressing gratitude and pride in celebrating their own cultures and immersing themselves in the heritage of their peers. The event was met with appreciation and excitement, with many looking forward to next year's event.
In addition to the Culture Week activities, Notre Dame's rich programming includes arts showcases, cultural education and dialogue through lectures and panels, student life activities, intramural sports, club events, and annual community celebrations. These elements contribute to the rich programming of Notre Dame’s Culture Week and related campus cultural celebrations, combining artistic, intellectual, spiritual, and social components to foster inclusiveness and cultural awareness.
The Student Executive, who organised the event, also raised an impressive £961 for St George's Crypt, Motor Neurone Disease Association, and Leeds Children's Hospital. Culture Week at Notre Dame College is not just a celebration of diversity, but also a powerful demonstration of the student community's commitment to giving back to the wider community.
The Student Executive's impressive fundraising during Culture Week for St George's Crypt, Motor Neurone Disease Association, and Leeds Children's Hospital is a testament to the blend of fashion-and-beauty, represented by the Culture Catwalk, with education-and-self-development, such as culturally educational dialogues and panel discussions, at Notre Dame College. This rich programming fosters personal-growth through its artistic, intellectual, spiritual, and social components, adding remarkable value to the student experience at Notre Dame College.
