The International Office and the Ludovika Welcome Center Department of Ludovika University of Public Service (LUPS) organized two intercultural workshops in October at the John Lukacs Lounge, featuring presentations on Syria and Kenya within the framework of the Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship program. The aim of the workshops was to support the integration of international students and to promote cultural understanding.
The first presentation was given by Maria Fayad, a Syrian master’s student, who provided a detailed overview of Syria’s rich historical heritage, highlighting Ugarit and Ebla as some of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited areas, and discussing their ancient civilizations, writing systems, and religious traditions. She also spoke about the distinctive features of Syrian gastronomy, as well as 20th-century cultural icons such as Sabah Fakhri, the singer who popularized traditional Arabic music, and Nizar Qabbani, a prominent poet of Syrian national literature. Maria Fayad enriched her presentation with personal experiences, emphasizing the deep cultural significance of Syrian hospitality.
The second session was led by Peter Igesha, a Kenyan PhD student from the Doctoral School of Public Administration Sciences, who began his presentation with the sound of the Kenyan national anthem, then brought to life colorful tribal garments, traditional dances, and unique festivals. He discussed Kenya’s economic strengths, including tea and coffee exports and digital innovation, noting that the country had already developed a pioneering mobile payment system in the 1990s. He demonstrated how fermented milk is prepared, spoke about Kenya’s world-famous Olympic champions, and described the migration cycles of wild animals and the country’s breathtaking landscapes. The event concluded with traditional Kenyan dances.
It was announced that the next session in the series, to be held on November 24, will feature Indonesia and Ecuador.
Text: Eszter Agapé Szkárosi
Photo: International Office