College of the North Atlantic-Qatar (CNA-Q) held a new event to celebrate multiculturalism on its campus.
The inaugural Souk Areej Min Baladi (Flavours of My Homeland) opened on Thursday in the presence of ambassadors and other representatives
from various embassies.
CNA-Q’s Qatari student body officially hosted the event, where students and staff representing 19 countries showcased their heritage and traditions. Over 3,500 members of the public visited the campus courtyard as it was transformed into a
lively souk.
CNA-Q president Dr Ken MacLeod said, “Our college community is a lot like Qatar – we are comprised of a mosaic of individuals who come from different backgrounds and heritages. In the past we have displayed our multi-faceted college community at an event called Global Village. This year we invited the public to come directly onto our campus to learn about the many countries that are represented here, and let the students shine as ambassadors of their native countries. We decided to do this in a souk-style setting, which, of course, is the quintessential hallmark of Qatari culture.”
Souk Areej Min Baladi was organised, in part, with the Bedaya Centre for Entrepreneurship and Career Development who supplied vendors providing delicious food, handicrafts, jewellery, clothing and accessories.