Hopwood Hall College students celebrate Diversity Week

Date published: 12 March 2008

Students at Hopwood Hall kicked off the college’s annual Celebrating Diversity week to the thumping sound of Brazilian beats when the Manchester School of Samba arrived in town to deliver drumming workshops on Tuesday 11 March. The aim of the week was to encourage students to explore themes of diversity and issues surrounding race, religion, disability, gender and sexuality in the college, the local community and wider society. Throughout the week different cuisines from around the world were served in the refectory and a competition was also held where students created artwork, devised performances and organised events about what diversity means to them. 

The college’s international students, who come from as far as China and Hong Kong to study in Rochdale pitched up a stall in the foyer of the Rochdale campus offering a taste of the Orient with different foods and sweets on offer for others to try. They also made colourful displays where students could learn which animal signifies the year they were born, as well as writing the names of passers by in beautiful Chinese calligraphy. Ladies from the Pakistani community in Rochdale also came along and offered free henna painting. Students were also visited by a charity worker from Sierra Leone who spoke about issues affecting young people in Africa. 

Pre-Uniformed Services and Life Skills students organised an Interactive Disabled Olympic event where students experienced what it is like to play sport with a disability, including activities such as blindfolded assault course and one legged handball. 

Head of Learner Services, Ted Taylor said of the week: "Every year we are always delighted that our students enter into the spirit of Diversity week and we have been overwhelmed with the number of entries into the competition, the thought that has gone into them is wonderful. We at the college feel that Celebrating Diversity Week is a very important event in our calendar as it encourages students to think about other cultures and customs and how we should appreciate and embrace them. The week was a lot of fun but also carried an important message."