By Chase Greer
CCC Journalism Program
BLACKWOOD – Students had the opportunity to represent their home cultures and traditions and see the cultures and traditions of other students at Camden County College’s World Cultures Day on April 9.
The college’s International Student Services invited students to display their countries’ traditional clothing, dances and songs at the event, which took place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Atrium of the Connector Building on the Blackwood campus.
The event featured a row of booths and flags representing countries from around the world. South Korea, Cuba, Ecuador, Argentina, India and many other countries were represented. The booths provided a look into each culture with pictures, fun facts, cultural artifacts and other information. There was a table with food from various countries and students wore traditional attire and informed one another of their diverse cultures.
The event began with a series of performances from students showing off their homeland’s cultures through song. They played traditional instruments, sang or performed cultural dances. At noon, there was a multicultural fashion show, complete with a red carpet and loud music for students to walk to. This was followed by the participants singing “Heal the World” by Michael Jackson in unison.
There were also seats set up for students and staff to watch the performances. By the end, the seats were packed. People were crowded around the seats and standing on the second-floor balcony to catch a glimpse of the excitement.
Camden County College student Efia Nkrumah represented her home country, Ghana, at the event. “As an international student, I like to volunteer to show my culture and celebrate my ethnic background,” Nkrumah said.
Camden County College student Than Le, who was in the crowd watching the performances, said about the event, “It’s emotional. It’s great for representation.”
Camden County College’s radio station, 91.5 WDBK, also had a booth set up. They broadcast from the event, providing live coverage and interviewing those involved. Loud music encouraged the uplifting and friendly environment as students talked to one another, tried foreign food and visited the different booths.
The event encouraged a sense of community, allowing students to experience cultures that they otherwise would not be exposed to. It also provided international students with an important opportunity to express their cultures and feel welcomed. Since most community college students live off campus, they are disconnected from each other outside of class, compared to those at residential schools. The event gave them a place to get to know each other and strengthened the sense of community at the school.
Camden County College’s International Student Services holds two World Cultures Day events each year. One is held on the Blackwood campus and the other is held on the Camden campus.