With these words, Sheikh Nayhan Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, inaugurated preparations for the first Small World event in Abu Dhabi. It is designed to be a 10-year project. Each year representatives of the international communities living in the UAE will raise money for a charity that assists children in their home country. Through SmallWorld, these communities will show off their culture and traditions whilecollecting donations for the charity they have selected.
In the inaugural year at least 27 countries are involved in the big event on Thursday, March 31, from 5 pm to 12 midnight. The event comes at the end ofthe well known Education without Borders student conference organized once again by the Higher Colleges of Technology. This year 1500 students from around the world will participate in a rich educational and cultural program from March 28-30 at a special outdoor theater.
On March 31 the Small World country booths will be located in the same area. Each country has been asked to provide up to 1500 pieces of finger food and threeminutes of entertainment during the event. From 5 pm visitors will tour the booths, taste various examples of local cuisines, and collect brochures and small gifts. At 7:30 the official part of the program begins with Sheikh Nahyan leadingambassadors and other VIPs to their seats for the entertainment. After a parade offlags, representatives from each country will sing, dance, or otherwise demonstrate very briefly something typical of their culture. After that, a DJ will play dance musicuntil midnight on the sand behind Emirates Palace. Because the goal is to raise money for charity, only organizers enter for free. Tickets are 365 AED per person and will be for sale around the city. However, although the monies raised will go to children, Small World is not an event for children. No one under 18 is allowed.
