Babel brought the world to the West High Commons—one pastry at a time—during its cultural bake sale Dec. 12. Held from 4:15 to 5:30 p.m., the after-school event raised $193 to support the club’s activities and materials.
The bake sale doubled as both a fundraiser and a celebration of the club’s mission. Babel works with the Iowa City Community School District’s Before & After School Programs, where members teach language and cultural lessons to elementary school students.
Students and staff at the bake sale sampled a variety of international treats, including Middle Eastern basbousa soaked in syrup, delicate French cookies, Czech and Danish pastries and classic American chocolate chip cookies. Sedef Bayman ’28, co-founder and co-president of Babel, brought Turkish shortbread cookies, known as un kurabiyesi. The buttery, melt-in-your-mouth cookies sold out quickly, despite Bayman preparing two batches.
“Foods from around the world are all different in their own ways, and even if two dishes are similar, they won’t be the same,” Bayman said. “I wanted people to get a little taste of different cultures from the people who know how to make their dishes best, especially now when you can go out and buy pretty much anything from Costco or Fareway.”
Funds raised from the sale will go toward launching and expanding Babel’s outreach programs at local elementary schools, where members teach language and cultural lessons. Leaders said they hope to host similar events in the future, combining education with community involvement—and, if possible, more baked goods.
