The Shippensburg University Women’s Center, International Programs and social work students hosted a celebration of women’s contributions to society on March 15.

The Office of Social Equity and Commission for Human Understanding sponsored the Women’s World Festival in the Ceddia Union Building.

“2016 has been a great year for women internationally,” said Emilee Danielson-Burke, assistant dean of students director of sorority and fraternity life and the event’s emcee.

Throughout the evening students and staff were able to enjoy various food and music from different cultures. Some activities included henna tattoos and various student groups teaching about different cultures.

“I very much enjoyed this experience. I find it so interesting how from nation to nation, we as women vary in wardrobe, style, dance, food and language,” said Olivia Guerin, vice president of SU panhellenic council. “In the end we are all the same and fighting for all of the same rights and privileges that we deserve.”

Event goers also had the opportunity to support Equality Now’s mission to protect and promote the human rights of women and girls around the world. The non-profit, Ten Thousand Villages, sold products, a percentage of which isgoing to Equality Now.

The main event included a poetry reading by members of Reach Out reading in Spanish and a member of German Club reading in German.

To follow the reading, Troupe Asherah had the attendees dancing in their seats as they performed belly dancing. The event also held an international fashion show. The show included typical outfits from Japan, India, Rwanda, world soccer clubs, Saudi Arabia, Guyana and Thailand.

At the conclusion of the fashion show, Danielson-Burke invited everyone back on stage to take one last look at the different cultures that make up our campus, she said.

The event concluded with an interactive belly dancing lesson from Troupe Asherah.

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