Elliott Hudson College is delighted to announce the successful completion of its third annual Culture Week, a dynamic and inclusive celebration of the college’s diverse student body and cultural heritage. Held from Monday 4 – Friday 8th March, Culture Week 2024 featured a variety of engaging activities that promoted unity, inclusivity, and mutual respect within the college community.

”Culture Week is a week dedicated to celebrating everyone’s diversity and uniqueness. It is a way for everyone to come together as one for a week filled with appreciation and understanding, and a chance to learn about all the different cultures within Elliott Hudson College!” Said Year 12 Student, Chelsey Davis.

Culture Week kicked off on Monday with a surprise flash mob, energising the college and setting the stage for the week’s festivities. The excitement continued with an International Women’s Day Live Lounge Lunchtime performance celebrating the contributions and achievements of women from diverse cultural backgrounds.

Throughout the week, students participated in activities like the Culture Fair, showcasing fun facts, traditions, games, and information about their cultures. Henna art sessions were held daily, offering students the opportunity to engage with this beautiful tradition from South Asian, African, and Middle Eastern cultures. And we celebrated World Book Day by celebrating authors who celebrate diversity. “Culture week was definitely the highlight of my year so far, learning about different cultures and traditions was an amazing experience” Said Student, Faheema Desai in Year 12.

Andrea Minos, a talented Year 13 student artist, created a range of Culture Week merchandise, including T-shirts inspired by photographs from last year’s event. Andrea transformed these images into a series of paintings, which were then printed on T-shirts and sold throughout the week to celebrate cultural diversity.

Tuesday’s Live Lounge Lunchtime featured a series of musical performances by students, including original pieces that celebrated their cultural heritage. Eti in Year 13 said: “Culture Week was extraordinary: I’ve never experienced so much fun and love in the same day. I’ve always been proud of being myself but celebrating how different we all are made everything 100 times better.”

The highlight of the week was Wednesday’s fashion show and dance performances. Students proudly showcased their cultural dress, walked with flags, and performed traditional dances, celebrating their heritage with pride and joy.

Student Sumayyah Aswat in Year 13 described it as: “by far the best week of the year. It was a fantastic opportunity for us to celebrate and learn about different cultures in our college. The most memorable event of the week was the catwalk which included a variety of cultural music and dances performed by my friends and teachers who made the week unforgettable.”

With Rhoda in Year 12 adding: “The whole show was just out of this world! The organisers went above and beyond.” “We had so much fun rehearsing the dances and culture week gave me the chance to show my culture which felt amazing,” said Fumi in Year 12.

”I just wanted to let you know how amazing culture week was; the lights, the music, the outfits, I just loved everything about it especially how we all embraced and appreciated other peoples’ cultures. Honestly, it’s a shame us year 13s aren’t going to be doing it another year round,” said Student Kelsey-Marie Cardoso.

Thursday featured an International Food Fair, where students brought in traditional dishes from their home cultures to share with their peers, fostering a sense of community through culinary exploration. Alishba Adnan in Year 13 expressed her enthusiasm for providing a platform for students to showcase their cultural heritage: “Culture week is such a beautiful way to show the diversity within the college. It helps to express my culture and embrace others. The food was amazing with not just one cuisine style but many ranging from Asia to Africa. The week helped us to understand each culture and indulge in cultural appreciation, especially through wearing my own ethnic clothes to express my culture in an environment that accepts diversity wholeheartedly. A very memorable week.”

The week concluded with a day of reflection on Friday, encouraging students to think about the cultural communities around the globe and the importance of diversity and unity.

Unique Francis in Year 13 shared her experience of the week:
“Culture week helped me express my culture and represent myself and my culture with no shame and to be my authentic self which I don’t always feel I can be outside of college.”

“Culture week gives us the opportunity to be seen and heard.” Said Ebrahim Jarjoue Year 13, “We embrace all cultures at EHC but taking part in culture week makes us feel like one strong unit.”

“It was without a doubt the best week of college, an experience worth remembering. It was a great chance to not only celebrate my own culture but also to learn so much about the cultures of my friends. From dressing up in traditional attire to trying delicious ethnic cuisines, every aspect of the week was remarkable. Not to mention, the dance performances were absolutely incredible. Hats off to the performers! They did great.” Said Year 13 student Ali Hamza.

Culture Week at Elliott Hudson College underscored the college’s overarching values to promote diversity, inclusivity, and equality throughout our community. The event was a resounding success, highlighting the strength found in unity and the joy of celebrating our differences.