Food Fair
What Were You Doing 25 Years Ago?
On 24th October 1983, the ICS celebrated its first International Day!
This idea arose when Mr Trevor Clare (then Principal of the ICS) requested suggestions for an event that reflected United Nations International Day. (Previously the school had had an elaborate Costume Parade).
Mrs Edwina Issa, (yes she was teaching at the ICS then!) suggested that the ICS children could be ‘in role’ with their families as travel agents for their country. They would wear national dress and sell their food and products to the public at their country’s stall. The event would open with the Costume Parade and an explanation of the United Nations Charter of Rights for the Child. And so the first ICS International Day was born…..
His Royal Highness Crown Prince Hasan and his wife, Her Royal Highness Princess Sarvath were the Guests of Honour. On the day, these patrons of the school arrived with their young son in army uniform. After watching the Costume Parade, the Prince declared the 1st International Day open. Mrs Issa then gave the royal guests a tour of the international stalls. (At the Jordanian stall, HRH apparently telephoned for a tent which arrived with more books, posters and pictures to supplement the stall!
During the course of the day, each nation staged a national tradition eg the Japanese Tea Ceremony.
The early Food Fairs also sold and displayed goods from their country as well as food and drink. Often great attention was paid to detail:
“Some countries made their stalls special; the Jordanians had built a Bedouin Tent, the British built their tea shop and the Swiss made a part of a room with a window showing some show outside”.
(Asifa Dar – Class 9 ICS Journal 1984). Obviously a huge amount of planning and preparation took place. “How it all came together I don’t really know – some great team work, a great staff and school body. It is a day to remember – this UN event, highlighting the rights of children and adults. It would make an ideal world such as the one the ICS family live in” Edwina Issa.
Those early Food Fairs established a format that has grown and evolved over the years. The 2008 ICs Food Fair (exactly 25 years later!) had over 82 members of staff who signed up to help. This year there were also more than 200 students involved ‘on duty’ throughout the day. In addition to this over 100 parents helped.
“Every year the success of the Food Fair grows and what makes it a great success is your involvement!… The fun you have and the involvement you provide is the key to our success” (Isabel McClay – current Food Fair Co-ordinator)
This year the food stalls were the main attraction. There was also a substantial number of handicraft stalls. New this year was the White Elephant stall and the Dunk Tank (Both a great successes). Many children’s games and activities were also offered also great music and dancing, throughout the day. In addition to these were the ever popular Face Painting and Bottle Stall, not forgetting the Grand Raffle with its large number of varied prizes, so kindly donated by the greater Amman community.
The 25th Annual ICS Food Fair raised more than 29,000 JD! 40% of this goes to charity, 40% to the school;the other 20% is a buffer and is kept for other PSA (Parent Staff Association) events organised throughout the year. (None of this money will be put towards building the new school).
“ICS staff, student and parental involvement (that is more than 400 people) is what makes the ever growing success of our ICS Food Fair”. (Isabel McClay)
So the success and popularity of the ICS Food Fair just grows and grows. Here’s to the next 25 years!
Julie Anne Nasser
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