The holy month of Ramadan is a month of fasting, prayer, reflection and community for those who practice the Islamic faith.
Ramadan is celebrated by at least 90 per cent of the residents living in Kara Tepe and so in support of the occasion, this year we are again working with our wonderful partners Because We Carry to do nightly food distributions for those who are fasting.
We spoke with our resident volunteer coordinator Saskia to get an insight into how Ramadan is being celebrated on Kara Tepe and what our team is doing in support of the celebrations.
Fasting is one of the most synonymous acts associated with Ramadan and it is something that is done between sunrise and sunset during the 30 day celebration. No food or water can be consumed. Out of respect and solidarity, our Kara Tepe team decided to complete one day of fasting for Ramadan.
Waking up at 4:30am, the team started their day with a shared breakfast over FaceTime. Arriving at Kara Tepe at around 7:00am to start the day’s activities, the team soon found themselves struggling, especially with the non-drinking part of the fast.
“Together with the resident volunteer team, we continued fasting throughout the day whilst still providing our daily services such as operating the clothing store and running the recycling program. The toughest part was having to push through without being able to drink any water,” said our resident volunteer coordinator Saskia.
By 8:15pm, as the sun started to set across the island of Lesvos, the Kara Tepe team gathered to share their first meal of the day with the resident volunteer team.
“A glass of water and a bean salad never tasted so good!” Saskia exclaimed. “We concluded that is was a super challenging task but it gave us the opportunity to put ourselves in the shoes of our residents. We have so much respect for them, fasting and stull helping us with executing daily services with the same smile and motivation.”
After the Kara Tepe team completed dinner, they started work on the preparation of packages for the breakfast distribution, something they are doing every evening for the month of Ramadan.
“Everyday the residents get something extra such as baklava, eggs or yoghurt. And daily, we provide two dates per person, especially support by MOTG,” Saskia explained.
The most beautiful part of the month’s celebrations is the amazing vibe that fills Kara Tepe every evening.
“During the preparation [for the distribution] we sing and dance and also after the distribution, we have a little party with the resident volunteers and drink coffee and chai together,” Saskia says.
We feel so fortunate to be a part of the Ramadan festivities and we feel glad to be able to support and stand in solidarity with our incredible community of residents during this time.