March 28, 2024

UMW’s Arab Culture Club Volunteers at Arabfest

On Saturday Sept. 26, the University of Mary Washington’s Arab Culture Club volunteered at Arab Eid fest, a cultural event in the Washington D.C. area. The club adviser, Professor Maysoon Al-Sayed Ahmad and 14 UMW students set out early that morning and stayed until 4 p.m.

This was the second year the Arab Eid occurred.  Last year the festival was only one day with 6,000 attendees. This year, the event was expanded to two days.

The majority of the club members monitored the games, including inflatables for kids. While there, the members were able to interact with the kids and families. The festival organizers provided lunch with different Arab world foods.  There was also live Arabic music. During the concert, some of the club members danced in front of the stage alongside other attendees of the festival, learning traditional Arab dances.

The group believed the trip was very successful overall, having learned a lot about Arab culture and having fun in the process, and they would be happy to go back and help again.