Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture

AL-BUSTAN SEEDS OF CULTURE is a non-profit organization dedicated to educating children about the Arabic language and culture through structured exposure to the language, arts, architecture, music, dance, and natural environment of the Arab world. "Al-Bustan", Arabic for "The Garden", also strives to promote understanding and respect both within the diverse community of Arab-American children and among children of various ethnic, religious, and socio-economic backgrounds.

AL-BUSTAN SEEDS OF CULTURE has identified five main goals to pursue:

• supporting the Arab-American community's pursuit and affirmation of its cultural identity within American society
• exposing and educating children, of Arab and non-Arab heritage, in the Philadelphia region and beyond, to the language and culture of the Arab world
• using a common language and cultural heritage to bring together the diverse community of Arab-American children
• supporting the development of Arab-American youth leadership by empowering children with a deeper knowledge of their cultural heritage and history and creating opportunities for greater educational engagement and academic achievement
• making the Arabic language and culture accessible to a wider audience of children and their home communities in an effort to promote cross-cultural awareness and exchange