Not one seat was vacant in the AIIAS Auditorium as people came to witness the Cultural Night themed Footprints: A Legacy for the Future, which occurred on November 20, 2016.
“This is the time where we celebrate diversity and where on earth do we have such diversity as we have here at AIIAS? It is amazing!” said Dr. Stephen Guptill, AIIAS President.
A group of children wearing different national costumes paraded to the stage while waving flags of the countries that represent the beauty and diversity of the students in the AIIAS community. The night was then emceed by Dr. Prema Gaikwad and Pr. Christian Ekoto.
Members of the AIIAS community, participant and audience alike, clothed in their country’s attires of various colors, together celebrated the different histories and cultures as delivered by the presentations.
Out of the many nationalities represented in AIIAS, those that performed were not limited to Indonesia, Philippines, Myanmar, South Korea, Africa, South America, South Asia, and the South Pacific.
The theme was reflected in each presentation by showing how each country’s foundation and philosophy began, how unity amidst diversity occurred, how ancestral influence was formed, how freedom was fought, and how religion or faith was brought in along by the pioneer missionaries that courageously explored the land.
“I learned a lot from the beautiful presentations tonight. I didn’t know that these countries have a history like this,” says a student from Mexico.
The program ended with an International Food Fair that featured different kinds of dishes and desserts prepared by the various international communities within AIIAS campus.
“We hope to learn to understand each other better. But even more than that, may we learn to appreciate each other’s cultures,” said Dr. Dolf Oberholster, AIIAS Vice President of Academics.
