Students break fast together: ‘I love the sense of community during iftar’

Two days before the end of this year’s ramadan, about thirty students come together for an iftar event in the EUR living room. With a presentation, organiser Rania hoped the students will learn more about islamic culture and most of all that the international students can feel a sense of community when they all break their fast together.

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The event is a collaboration between the Persons of Colour Committee and the Cultural Cooking Committee of the Erasmus University College. One of the participants Zaid, who was raised in the Netherlands by Afghan parents, explains a bit on how an iftar usually goes: “You start breaking the fast with dates. I really like dates, especially if you add nuts or chocolate to them!” Tonight, Samin from the cooking committee prepared the dates with walnuts: “They’re very in line with what we use to break our fast with normally in my country, so it is bit of home.”

Around eight thirty, the sun is set and people enthusiastically dig into their lentil soup, flatbread and falafels. Maarten, chair of the Cooking Co, explains: “The event is social first and foremost, and we hope it creates a sort of second family.” Zaid calls the iftar a bonding moment: “I love the sense of community during iftar.” As the dessert are being brought to the table, Rania says with a smile: “I definitely felt the ramadan spirit, the night was very homey.”