Celebrating diversity

Thousands of visitors attended the fourth-annual British School of Bahrain (BSB) International Family Fair to celebrate the diversity of the students and snap up a range of handicrafts and traditional fare on display, writes Charlie Holding.

The event, organised by the Friends of the British School of Bahrain, was attended by ambassadors and VIPs and had a global theme that saw visitors ‘travel the globe’ with a passport stamped at each country stall they visited.

BSB head Dr Charles Wall, said: “We have 1,740 students with more than 60 nationalities represented at the event.

“Each stall presented its country’s heritage, food and achievements, particularly sport, which was this year’s theme. Students went around with a ‘passport’ and had to answer questions about each country’s sporting achievements.”

During the event there was non-stop entertainment, which included singing, dancing, music and sporting displays from students, parents, and representatives from the BSB’s various after-school academies.

As well as country stalls there were also an extensive marketplace featuring a wide selection of fine jewellery, diverse art, handmade crafts as well as other shopping items.

One stall, Fil-Bah Moms, used the fair as a platform to raise funds and awareness for victims of the devastating Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines.

Anna Marie Al Shehab said: “A group of us Filipina mums who have been friends for years got together and decided we had to do something to help the families affected by the typhoon. We each put in a minimum of BD150 and used it to buy merchandise such as hats, T-shirts, mugs etc and sell it on to raise awareness. All the money we make, we send to charities in the Philippines.

“It is something we plan on doing for the long-term, sending money back every three months. So far we have raised BD700 and are so proud because we know that what we’re doing will make a real difference to people’s lives.”
 
Also present at the fair was British artist Carie Sauze, 61, from Saar, who was showcasing her portrait and landscape pictures. She said: “I’ve been an artist forever and drawing is my passion. I love doing portraits, especially of children. Each picture is a labour of love and captures a moment in time.

“I used to live in Florence in Italy and the place inspired me to start painting landscapes, which has stuck with me and when I came to Bahrain I was inspired by the souq and its fascinating characters.
 
“The BSB event is a great way to showcase my work and let people know about my art courses for beginners in drawing and watercolour at Celebrations on Budayia Highway.”

The fair also featured a Santa’s Grotto, international Tea House, games, rides and more. Event sponsors Batelco offered iPads as prizes and Qatar Airways provided a pair of tickets as raffle prizes.