International Heritage Day celebrates LAU’s multicultural spirit
The Beirut Campus was decorated like a multicolored mosaic of cultures, as students gathered two weeks ago (April 14) to celebrate International Heritage Day for a fifth consecutive year.
![[photo]](international-heritage-day08-01-180.jpg)
Click on the image to view pictures on the Student Affairs photo gallery.
The Beirut Campus was decorated like a multicolored mosaic of cultures, as students gathered two weeks ago (April 14) to celebrate International Heritage Day for a fifth consecutive year.
Seven clubs set up outdoor stands to showcase the cultural heritage of their countries. Students dressed in folkloric costumes, served traditional food to their guests, played songs in their languages or dialects, and displayed photos and artistic works.
“Those who deny their roots, are rootless, and those who deny their heritage, have no heritage,” said LAU President Joseph Jabbra, urging students and visitors to preserve their cultures. He also highlighted the importance of building bridges between people from various backgrounds so that diversity does not become a source of conflict.
Dean of Student Affairs in Beirut Tarek Na’was said, “Our university hosts students from 73 different nationalities…This is a source of pride and enrichment for us.”
The Algerian, Armenian, Kuwaiti, Lebanese-UNESCO, Palestinian, Saudi, and Syrian student clubs had worked for days to prepare attractive stands decorated with flags, photos, maps, posters, garments, foods, beverages, crafts, brochures, books, and CDs.
The event was more than an exhibition of promotional materials. It was an opportunity for students to engage in activities such as dancing and singing. “The aim…was to make students interact and enjoy the day, and not only pass by and see the stand,” said Lebanese-UNESCO Club President Abbas Sibai.
PLO Representative Abbas Zaki, Kuwaiti Cultural Attaché Youssef Shemlan Al Roumi, Saudi Cultural Attaché Ayman Al Maghrebi, and Algerian Cultural Attaché Laouj Wannas were among the diplomatic officials that attended the event.
Read a previous story about this annual activity.
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