To celebrate International Week, members of the SISC Start-Up Club held its first-ever bazaar from October 18-19, 2023 for students from all levels to enjoy. Their booths were themed to be culturally diverse and consisted of food, jewelry, and accessories. It was evident that each & every member gave their all into preparing for this event, and their efforts paid off as the result was a truly colorful experience.
Walking down the Luxembourg Campus Hallway made students feel like they were taking a tour around the world as Mexican and Thai cuisines were featured for them to feast on, as well as Italian-inspired and locally-crafted accessories for them to wear. This bazaar wasn’t just to earn a profit, though. It was also a way for students to bring their appreciated cultures into the spotlight.
Creative Director Gabriela Manuntag, a member of the Thailand Market booth that sold Thai snacks such as Mango Sticky Rice and Kluay Kaek, remarked that their Southeast Asian friends helped them conceive their business.
She said, “[We came up with this idea] because we have a friend who's half-Thai . . . and she inspired us to promote Thai food. It’s also fortunate that we found out that we have another half-Laotian senior who helped us to make the food.”
Group booths weren’t the only attraction. One booth that caught the attention of many students was Crafted by Jei by Club Secretary Jaymie Reyes, which sold crocheted hats, keychains, and starter kits. When asked how her experience was, she answered how challenging it was to manage both her solo booth and overall club activities, but she prevailed.
She added, “I had a hard time managing my receipts and giving out change to the customers at the same time . . . but, on the second day, I managed to organize everything and find a way to issue receipts easily.”
In the end, Start-Up Club’s members were content, especially Club President Ryza Boco. Though she may not have considered it a seamless activity, the club’s very first bazaar was nonetheless a milestone that its members will cherish. She explained, “Words cannot explain how grateful I am for the opportunity to participate in the International Week by putting up a bazaar and for the members who diligently worked on their booth pitches.”
President Boco added, “The experiences and ups & downs that we had can be a way for us to improve for the next one. Therefore, we are looking forward to the next bazaar that we will be hosting.”
The Start-Up Club’s hard work and dedication gave them unexpected yet positive results, and they only expect to grow more as a student organization as they plan for more bazaars ahead.
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