With the Just World Festival around the corner, anticipation is nearing its height. The festival will be held March 10 from 4-6:30 p.m. through the AHS front lobby and through the science hallway.
The Just World Festival represents an opportunity for students to broaden their sense of a local community into a global one. In addition, students themselves on current global issues and how they can make a difference.
“The [Just World Festival] gives students the opportunity to learn about ways that they can contribute to their community,” AVID teacher and Just World sponsor Laura Wells said. “There will be a lot of student clubs as well as outside community organizations advertising volunteer opportunities and ways to get involved.”
Arabic Club, French Honor Society, Annandale Theatre Company, National Art Honors Society, Green Atoms, and Bible Study are just a few of the student clubs that will be participating in the festival.
The four outside organizations participating include the Annandale Rotary Club, Boy Scouts, Peace Corps, and the Braddock ES STEAM Club.
This diverse set of organizations and causes will allow students to truly embrace this year’s theme, “Belong”. The theme symbolizes students coming together to create and empower a sense of belonging. The Just World Interact Club hopes that students will work together to co-create a sustainable approach to solving critical issues in the world by taking action and being active in their school, local, and global communities.
“I want to go to just world because it’ll be an opportunity for me to be exposed to what Annandale’s clubs have to offer in engaging in those diverse cultures we are composed of,” senior Jenna Saykhamphone said.
The festival does an amazing job of pairing an education experience with fun and creative activities in an effort to get students involved.
“The Just World Festival is super fun, there will be lots of food and we will be having SEALs sponsor Bob Kerr coming to the event as our guest speaker,” President of Just World Interact Club Kayla Pham said.
There are several ways for students and organizations to participate in the club. Students can come to just enjoy the festival and the food or donate to the festival raffle. Organizations will be hosting a booth in the exhibition hall or selling items in the fair trade marketplace.
Senior Kevin Tran has stepped up as the Vice President of Programs by organizing all service workshops and the kid zone. The service workshops give students the chance to package birthday cards for veterans with the kid zone consisting of a project that welcomes refugees.
No matter your specific interest or role in the AHS community, the Just World Festival is an outstanding opportunity for students to connect with others, build relationships, and take steps towards making a real difference in their local and global communities.
“I hope I can achieve new flavors on my tastebuds, but most importantly more information I’ve yet to learn about the cultures our school is composed of while contributing to our community,” Saykhamphone said.