How to Celebrate Different Countries and Cultures

Written by: Ludane Thaw

With advances in modern technology, anyone can fly to a new destination to experience diverse customs and foods or distinctive music and dancing styles. But these days, universities are taking intentional strides to bring those experiences to campus by recruiting diverse candidates and employees — to everyone’s benefit. As the campus community expands to include different cultures, it’s a great opportunity to learn how to celebrate and appreciate these different cultures and groups.

But with more and more diversity on campus, it can be hard to interact responsibly with people from different countries and cultures without falling into stereotypes, misconceptions, or appropriation. And without the intentional promotion of cultural variety, minority students can feel isolated and disconnected from anything familiar.

Campuses with multiple cultures raise a key question: How can universities encourage a responsible celebration of different countries and cultures?

Listen First

Talk to the members of the different cultures represented on campus. You can learn about different customs, cultures, and ways of interacting through open, honest dialogue. Everyone holds stereotypes and misconceptions about different cultures. But by talking to members of those communities and asking questions you can better understand and appreciate those groups.

Provide Spaces

In a group photo or video, people typically look for themselves first. In the same way, people are looking for others who look like them and share their experiences in the spaces they occupy. Employee Resource Groups, student cultural clubs and groups, heritage celebrations, and awareness days and months are great ways to create spaces for people from different cultures and backgrounds to gather and celebrate their heritage. With forethought and planning, you can create intentional ways to allow people to feel seen and valued.

Let Community Members Take the Lead

It is important to provide space for different groups to gather, maintain, and affirm their identity. But for lasting impact and success, the key is ensuring that members from those communities take the lead in creating and maintaining those spaces. As those spaces take shape and formalize, the campus at large can learn more about different cultures directly from members of those communities. Reach out to community members and encourage them to create spaces and opportunities for campus-wide education and appreciation.

Provide Financial Support

Keep in mind that while it’s nice to encourage diverse students to create spaces and opportunities for people to celebrate, it’s an additional responsibility that requires time, effort, and most importantly, budget. Institutions should provide financial support to any students or community leaders that emerge to help create opportunities for a cultural celebration.

Bridge Gaps Between Different Cultures and Communities

As various cultural communities find their voices and spaces on campus, each group can seek opportunities to bridge gaps and connect with others. For example, hosting regular multicultural days or international food fairs are fantastic ways to simultaneously expose the campus community to various cultures. Universities can also work to form planning committees that include members from various cultural groups to organize these large-scale events. The goal is to help bridge gaps and demonstrate that human beings are more alike than they are different.

The Benefit of Celebrating Different Cultures

Celebrating different countries and cultures is a fantastic way to bring a global experience to the local campus level. Each group is unique, and everyone benefits from responsibly celebrating another culture. Inclusivity and a sense of belonging are key to the success of any university. And as the world becomes increasingly diverse, universities that encourage cultural celebration and awareness will better equip their students for the global economy.

There’s a relationship between campuses and the cultural communities they serve. Like with interpersonal relationships, admit when you need additional guidance. Always start with listening to members of those communities. By hearing from them, you increase the likelihood that you’ll appreciate, rather than appropriate, their cultures. But keep in mind that mistakes are inevitable. Cultural groups will need a safe space to voice when appreciation misses the mark. And universities should be prepared to listen, learn, and apologize. Campuses that create this open dialogue around cultural celebration will find that there is no one best way to show appreciation — it’s a continuous journey of learning, iterating, and improving together.