St Catherine’s School, Twickenham, held a Faith and Culture Festival in September as the last day of Unity Week. It gave the pupils the chance to celebrate many different cultures by trying out new cuisines, traditions, games, and more. This was a very important day for me and all of my peers since it allowed me to discuss my faith and culture with many of them and to learn more about the various faiths and customs practised by other pupils.
During Unity Week, the school got the opportunity to hear from different speakers, including Darren Edwards who spoke movingly about how he doesn’t let his disability stand in the way of adventure.
The school also provided the opportunity to learn different types of dancing, including Afrobeats. I got the opportunity to choreograph a Bollywood dance that was then presented to the whole school! I was able to talk to Anaya Jaffer in Year 12, who participated in the dances for her thoughts on this experience. “It was an amazing chance to spend time with other girls and create the dances; it was a joy to perform them to the rest of the school”.
Unity Week will always be an extremely significant time as it is a great way to deepen my knowledge not only of my own faith but also of other cultures, and help younger girls deepen their love for their cultures and faiths. Diversity plays a critical role in our lives. Celebrating diversity helps to build a world where everyone feels seen, heard, and valued.
Growing up in Dubai, and attending an international school, I was always surrounded by people of different cultures and religions. When I moved to the UK, learning more about my culture and diversity became so much more important to me as a woman of colour. This is why St Catherine’s providing an event like Unity Week is a great opportunity for all pupils.
