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Doha
THE Al Liwan Qatari Student Club at Georgetown University in Qatar (GU-Q) had one message for the international guests at their recent Qatar National Day (QND) campus celebrations: We are all Qatar.
Held at GU-Q and just outside on the grounds of Oxygen Park, this year’s Georgetown student-led QND fair brought together the entire campus community, along with friends, family and guests from across Education City, to savour the traditional foods, local arts and Qatari culture and to celebrate the diversity that has become a hallmark of Qatar’s global reputation.
The university’s atrium was transformed with large Qatari flags, a stage for artistic performances, and a majlis seating area where Dr Ahmad Dallal, dean of GU-Q, and HE Dr Hamad bin Abdulaziz al Kuwari, minister of state and GU-Q’s first ambassador in residence, chatted with students over coffee and traditional pastries.
Vendors offered local food favourites for sale, but donations by the families of Qatari and non-Qatari students including mouthwatering harees, sweet date and nut paste, fragrant cardamom cookies and more, allowing every visitor to enjoy an authentic Qatari cultural experience. Senior student Ali Hamad al Sheebani, the club’s vice president, said: “In our tradition, the way to honour your guest is to invite them to the Qatari table.”
The celebrations also featured a live performance by Qatari singer Nasser al Kubaisi, a traditional sword dance by the Turath Band, an oud performance by musician Polus Mekhael, pony rides for the youngest visitors, a photo booth and a walk-through art gallery featuring local artists.
Poetry, which according to Al Liwan Club President Dana Darwish is a cornerstone of Gulf culture and society, was also celebrated with a recitation by two GU-Q students, Masah Barakat (GU-Q’21) and Shaza Amjad (GU-Q’22).
Al Liwan also took part in the one-day student-led QND celebrations held at the Education City under the themes of sport and sustainability recently.
“We decided to sponsor GU-Q’s Sustainability Club and Women in Society and Development Club, to show how all Hoyas are contributing to making Qatar a better place, and demonstrating the sense of unity among students of all nationalities”, said Darwish. The club also made it a point to involve international students in the organisation of QND activities.
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16/12/2019
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