Among the standout events was a panel discussion on the humanitarian crisis in Sudan, organized by graduate student Hana Bakhit with support from the Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy. The hybrid event brought together representatives from the World Food Programme in Sudan, USAID’s Sudan team, and the DT Institute, a nonprofit focused on resilient, inclusive global development. Following the event, many attendees mentioned how enlightening they found the panelists' contributions, leaving them with both a deeper understanding of Sudan’s crisis and a call to continue learning and engaging on these issues.
Global Week 2024 Celebrates Cultural Exchange and Diverse Global Perspectives
Essay
Global Week 2024 Celebrates Cultural Exchange and Diverse Global Perspectives
F
rom October 26 to November 2, amidst a carpet of brightly colored leaves, UVA Grounds embraced an international spirit (and balmy fall weather) for Global Week 2024. This annual event series, inspired by International Education Week, offers students, faculty, and staff the chance to engage in programs highlighting global cultures, research, and service. With a robust lineup of over 30 events, this year’s Global Week engaged students, faculty, and staff in learning and celebrating UVA’s global connections and featured an exciting range of activities, including panels, cultural showcases, and information sessions.
A map at the Global Week table in front of Peabody Hall allowed students to put a pin on a location where they had been or would like to go, in exchange for a ticket for the Global Week raffle.
Another highlight was a visit by Her Excellency Shaikha Al-Zain Al-Sabah, Ambassador of Kuwait to the United States, who spoke with UVA history professor Fahad Bishara on Kuwait's current priorities at home and abroad, its close ties with the U.S., and her personal journey from journalism to global diplomacy. Emphasizing the power of storytelling in combating disinformation worldwide, Al-Zain also shared her insights on the role of young people in shaping global futures.
Al-Zain speaks with Professor Bishara
Professor Nemata Blyden speaks during panel following the screening of Brief Tender Light
Global Week also celebrated students’ own international journeys. The International Studies Office and the Carter G. Woodson Institute co-sponsored a screening of the documentary Brief Tender Light, a coming-of-age, transnational story that follows four African students from Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe as they navigate the complexities of identity and culture in the U.S. Following the film, African students Nnenna Onyima, Megnot Abebe, Kwesi Forson, Amina Diop, and Mikki Suraphel shared reflections on the film and their own journeys to and experiences at UVA in a panel discussion moderated by Professor Nemata Blyden, Chair of the Department of African American and African Studies.
The newly launched Translate-a-Thon brought together multilingual volunteers for an immersive, live translation experience. The event was organized by the Multilingual Outreach Volunteer Effort (MOVE) at the Center for American English and Culture (CAELC), whose 488 volunteers translate documents from English into 57 languages for UVA and community partners.
Student CIOs shared their heritage with events featuring Brazilian churrasco à la braza, Egyptian cultural figures, and Mexican Day of the Dead festivities. The Fralin museum put on a popular workshop in Persian calligraphy. Another CAELC program, Volunteers with International Students, Staff, & Scholars (VISAS), spiced up its weekly cafe with a special Halloween theme, featuring seasonal folktales and legends from around the world.
Students at the CIO-sponsored event From Egypt to the World: Celebrating Global Achievements
Students who participated in the week’s events or stopped by the Global Week table were given chance to participate in the Global Week raffle and win prizes including Bose noise-cancelling headphones, an Away carry-on suitcase, and UVA swag. This year’s prize winners were John Alden Lewis, Haley Oeur, Em Gunter, Katherine Hu, and Jenni Liu.
Global Week raffle prize winners
With participation at an all-time high, Global Week 2024 showed once again the international nature of UVA’s community and the breadth of opportunities for global engagement at UVA. Through celebrating diverse cultures and expanding perspectives on pressing global issues, this year’s calendar underscored the importance of cultural exchange in building a more inclusive, connected world.
