Girls display colourful array of cultures

Attending the Women’s Cultural Social Get Together in Dunedin yesterday in cultural attire are (from left) Alaina Lu, 10, Sameha Barekzai, 9, Aisha Barekzai, 12, Safa Nayle, 13, Marwa Shafaee, 12, Baran Shafaee, 15, Bahar Shafaee, 14, and Hamia Shafaee, 10.

Women’s Cultural Social Get Together co-ordinator Madiha Farid said the day was about celebrating diversity and culture of Muslim women, fostering a sense of identity for the youth and supporting women-led businesses.

Many of the attendees delivered speeches about what it meant to them to be part of different cultures, and many local businesses run by women helped organise the day.

Ms Farid said many of the women and girls in attendance were refugees, immigrants, or had come from that background.

After speeches, they had a potluck dinner and a competition for best-dressed girl in cultural attire.