Multi Faith Iftar in Bournemouth
Once a month the young adults of the Poole Stake and the young asylum seekers from the Bournemouth area, along with students that attend the weekly English Connect Classes, meet to share a meal and to spend a couple of hours playing board games and socialising. This gives the students an opportunity to practise their English away from a classroom setting. The event is known as YIP - The Youth Integration Programme, and involves members of the charity Unity in Vision, Westbourne Rotary Club, and The Poole Stake. On Sunday 17th March 2024, instead of the normal YIP event, we hosted a special evening for the students and the families of refugees that we regularly serve with.
Mrs Rita El-Gazali, Chair of Unity in Vision welcomed everyone to the Iftar and thanked all those who had supported the event by providing the food, drink and venue.
Following the welcome, a young 14-year-old asylum seeker, Saad Zia, gave the call to prayer and for all in attendance it was a very touching moment. For our Muslim friends that wished to give their personal prayers, they were invited to go to a separate room that had been set up appropriately with prayer mats facing Qibla (Mecca).
As is the tradition, the Iftar started with dates and water for all to enjoy, followed by a wonderful meal made up of dishes from Syria, Sudan, Egypt, Iran, India, and Great Britain.
The evening included members of the Muslim, Jewish and Christian faiths, and we had representatives from the countries of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Egypt, England, France, Iran, Morocco, Sudan and Syria.
There was a lovely spirit of unity and friendship between all, even during the clearing up at the end of the evening where everyone joined in to help, where the laughter and chatting continued.
We all left the evening feeling very uplifted and strengthened by being unified in all that we have in common, in all that we share as children of God.