By Kendall Johnson
On Friday, March 31st, the SWANA and AOA clubs came together to host an event that gave insight into the different traditions and overall lifestyle these communities represent. SWANA is an organization that is predominantly made up of Southwest Asian and North African members. This is the second year they have hosted this event, and it is expected to become an annual tradition. However, this year they decided to try something different and partner up with Asians of America to make it an even more extravagant evening. Attendees could come and go from 6:30 to10:00 pm, and it took place in the Guyer commons. Members of each club were in charge of their own booth where they sold an assortment of items particular to their specific heritage.
Each person that was responsible for a booth could wear the clothes that are traditional to their culture, and also play music that coincides with this. Henna, jaded bracelets, and many other items were sold, and food and drinks were also available to anyone who attended. Everyone in these clubs wanted to spread awareness about things in their cultures that may seem different to others. It was a great way for students to learn about these different parts of the world while also engaging with their friends, eating, and seeing what kind of attire is customary. At each booth, one to two people were in charge of a specific region and they were expected to promote these areas via pictures, collectables, food, information, etc. Anyone who attended the event was free to ask questions they may have had about these certain countries.
Zain Ali is the co-founder of SWANA. When asked about the purpose of hosting this event, she said that “many people in our club remember doing something like this in kindergarten. We thought it would be good to make a larger scale version of that.” It was a hard task for SWANA and AOA to put this occasion together. From setting up the many tables, to plating the food, all the way to having to clean up at the end of the night, Ali said one of her favorite moments was after everyone had left, and it was just the club member officers who remained. “We were just so happy and everyone was kind of dancing in the cafeteria. We realized that we had put this together ourselves, and we made this happen. It was such a sweet moment to share with everyone,” Ali said. With the feedback received from Guyer students, SWANA and AOA definitely have a reason to be proud of themselves.
Ali’s goal is to truly give everyone a sense of belonging, no matter what walks of life they come from. “I feel like a lot of people have come to me and said they’ve never really had the chance to have a space made of people who are of similar backgrounds to them,” she explained. SWANA’s energy is so different compared to other clubs around the school, that it makes it a really special organization to be a part of. Ali was asked about how she feels about sharing different aspects of her culture “I have always been pretty timid about talking about my culture, just because it is usually combated with negative reactions.” However, Ali has realized that she can’t change who she is. “Being Palestinian and Muslim shouldn’t be controversial, because it isn’t,” Ali concluded.
AOA and SWANA leaders pose with their teacher sponsors Mr. Labelle and Mr. Rigaud
