Cups of Culture: Carleton students unite for an evening of tea, snacks and activism

Dozens of Carleton University students gathered at Rooster’s Coffeehouse Friday to share cultural traditions and raise funds at the second annual “Cups of Culture” event.

Organized by Islamic Relief Carleton, the group brought together six clubs to raise money for Islamic Relief’s orphan sponsorship program, which offers health and education support to children in Afghanistan. By the end of the night, organizers said they had raised more than $1,000.

Nilab Akbari, president of the Afghan Students’ Association, said having a platform at the event gave her space to dispel stereotypes about her culture.

“It is not just an honour to represent our homeland but also a responsibility,” Akbari said. “We are more than war, and we are generous people with diverse cultures, languages and clothing.”

Ten minutes after the event started, a fire alarm forced attendees to evacuate the building. Once the event was back on track, tables filled up with various foods, sweets and drinks, including Lebanese ma’amoul cookies, Afghan gosh-e fil pastries and black tea.

Attendees, many dressed in cultural attire, walked around the coffeehouse, plates in hand as they learned about the cultural significance of the dishes they were eating and snapped photos with one another.

Leena El-Said, a third-year public affairs and policy management student, said the warmth she feels at events like these help her find community at Carleton.

“It can be isolating when you’re not surrounded by people with the same values, so it’s been really nice to find community.”

Yara Elnour, a third-year electrical engineering student, said she was struck with nostalgia at the event.

“I tried a couple North African cookies — which someone’s mom made — and they taste very similar to my mom’s pastries, so it brought back a lot of memories,” she said.

Yalda Sarwar,* a member of the Afghan Students’ Association, said she hoped people would leave the event with a sense of togetherness.

“Everyone in these clubs are each other’s neighbours, and we are not as far and distant as we think we are,” Sarwar said.

“It’s really important, on a human level, to get to know and connect with one another,” she said. “One of the best ways to do that is through food and culture.”

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*Yalda Sarwar has contributed to the Charlatan.

Featured image by Kathan Kapoor/the Charlatan.