Making a Big Difference in a Small World

Annarely Rodriguez, Staff Writer

Issue date: 4/14/09 Section: Current Affairs

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Two of the models wear the traditional Hindu clothing and dance as part of the show. The song playing, "Jai Ho," was in the movie "Slumdog Millionaire" soundtrack.

Two students from IMAN model traditional Hindu clothing for women. The students from IMAN partnered with the Indian Student Association to show the audience a little bit about both cultures.

The students who participated as models in the show pose for a picture backstage before the event starts. Students modeled both Hindu and Islam clothing throughout the night; others also performed during the event.

The members of the board for IMAN make one of its four raffles. All proceeds from the raffles and the tickets for the event went to SOS Children's Village.

The International Muslim Association at NSU hosted its first annual benefit fashion show, "It's a Small World," on April 9 in the Don Taft University Center. People from all over NSU and the outside community gathered on the second floor of the UC to see the different fashions that people who practice Hinduism and Islam usually wear.

"It [was] really good. There was a lot of variety. It was not just fashion, but there was also a comedian and rappers," said Lamaar Evans, a first-year-graduate-business student and Kappa Alpha Psi brother. "My favorite part though, was the rapping. It was not dirty; it was classic and it had meaning behind the words."

"It was nerve-wrecking, but also a wonderful experience," said Yasemin Kanar, a sophomore biology major and one of the models in the event. "My favorite part was getting ready with the girls. I mean, this is what we usually wear and it was fun to show it to everyone so that people learn about the culture because a lot of people don't know that much about Islam."

After an inclusive call to Islamic prayer 15 minutes before the event started, which anyone who wished to join was welcome, NSU's Indian Student Association began the show modeling their iconic clothes to the music of Radio X. The show also included the traditional clothing worn in the Middle East as well as a segment in Islamic fashion in South Asia. Before every walk, the students of NSU's Indian Student Association explained the culture and traditional clothing they were about to model.

" 'It's a Small World' fashion show was held to raise awareness on the different religious organizations around NSU," said Afroza Khan, a senior biology major and production manager of "It's a Small World." "The event was a huge success, and IMAN did an amazing job putting the entire show together. It was definitely one of the highlights this year."

Inspired by the 2007 event "Faith Through Fashion," the event brought so many people to the second floor of the UC that the seats set up around the catwalk were all full and people were standing and leaning against walls to enjoy the show.

The cause was SOS Children's Village, an orphanage for kids in Broward County. Although they have been an international organization since the 1980s, the first one in the United States was opened in 1993 in Coconut Creek and it is now home to
69 children.

"We love finding new friends, especially when they come out of the blue, like they did," said Vicki Walter, community relations manager for SOS Children's Village in Coconut Creek. "We rely on the support of our friends and neighbors to inform others about foster care and support our kids."

"It was a lot of work, but seeing it put together makes us realize that it was worthwhile," said Shaika Noor, a junior accounting and business major and president of IMAN. "It is a different show for NSU to see. Hopefully it will bring diversity to NSU, but it is for a good cause and a good way to end the year."

Through the selling of refreshments and raffle tickets, as well as donations, the members of IMAN collected a total of $800 for SOS. To find out more about SOS Children's Villages please log onto www.sosflorida.com. To find out more about IMAN visit www.nova.edu/IMAN.

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