Chai & Chobi: Iraqi Culture Night

Rawan Mandwee (Arabic 2018) received a CLS Alumni Development Fund award to host the first annual Chai & Chobi: Iraqi Culture night with the Iraqi Student Association at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor in early March. The aim of the event was to provide a space for students with Iraqi backgrounds to celebrate their cultural heritage and allow those unfamiliar with it to learn about Iraqi culture, highlighting the positive aspects of the country that are often left out of the dominant social narrative. They demonstrated how the Iraqi population is made up of diverse ethnicities, religions, and languages, represented by students on campus. The event offered Iraqi food, showcased art, and had traditional games and music. Members of the Iraqi Student Association performed choreographed chobi and baggiya routines, followed by a collective dance line where everyone was able to join in as well as teach those who had never done it before.

"This event greatly contributed to my professional skill set, as it involved cooperation and collaboration among the entire executive board in addition to major organizing, communication, and problem-solving."