President’s interview

The event also included interviews with some representatives of the communities, for example, we interviewed the President of the Qazaq Society in Belgium, Amirlan Nurbalin. He has highlighted the significance of cultural unity during the event. “Events like this demonstrate how culture can bring people together beyond borders,” he said. He noted that such initiatives create an environment where traditions are shared, respected, and appreciated by a wider audience. According to Nurbalin, the gathering served as a platform for building meaningful connections and strengthening a sense of community among participants. He also emphasized that representing Kazakhstan abroad is not only about preserving national identity, but also about fostering mutual understanding and long-term collaboration within an international environment.

Cultural significance of event

The event presented an extensive display of authentic Kazakh and Azerbaijani culinary traditions which provided visitors with the opportunity to taste genuine dishes from both ethnic groups. The presenters shared their national heritage through their talks which included historical details and cultural identity elements whereas the musical performance together with traditional dances created an energetic and friendly environment. The social event which included cultural activities from the program functioned as a professional networking event because participants shared their contact information and made new professional relationships while they searched for ways to work together in the future. The event served as a heritage celebration which included practical experience sharing that taught both communities to organize student activities better while they developed their skills to host similar events in the future.

Traditional food

The Kazakh society prepared traditional dishes for the event which included plov, samsa and baursaks while they brought national Kazakh chocolate to share with guests. The group displayed the Kazakh flag which created a strong visual representation of their national identity. The Azerbaijani community brought their traditional dishes to the event together with flags and various cultural food items and drinks. The two groups exchanged their culinary dishes and cultural symbols which created a genuine cultural experience that let participants discover the full range of both cultural traditions.

Conclusion

To sum up, the event succeeded as an important celebration which shed the light on cultural exchange between Kazakh and Azerbaijani communities. The event demonstrated the cultural wealth of both traditions while it helped participants build relationships which created a shared feeling of community and mutual understanding. The event created a solid base for upcoming collaborative projects between KU Leuven international students through its combination of cultural displays and networking and shared organizational activities.