Community Connections
A time of togetherness
In University of Canberra student Achmad Badrun Kurnia’s home village of Jombang in Java, Indonesia, there’s a uniquely melodious wake-up call for sahur, the pre-dawn meal for Muslims observing the fasting month of Ramadan.
“The children walk through the village, playing traditional bamboo instruments to wake us all up, and let us know it’s time for sahur,” he says. “We also have fireworks, in the mornings and evenings.”
Badrun misses these traditions now that he is pursuing a PhD in Math Education in Australia’s bush capital … but he’s building new rituals within the UC community, and the larger community in Canberra.
One of these has been the nightly gatherings for iftar, or the breaking-of-fast meal, in the UC Refectory. These have been organised throughout Ramadan by the UC Muslim Student And Staff Association (MSSA).
Ramadan is a time of reflection and self-restraint, but it’s also a chance to strengthen community bonds, says MSSA President and fellow PhD student, Tariq Alzyadat. He is grateful for the generous people who have come forward to sponsor the nightly iftar events.
“Because so many of us are away from our home countries, we try to create a family atmosphere when it comes to the breaking of fast especially, among the students and staff at UC. It’s not just about enjoying the food, but enjoying it together,” Tariq says.
“The events were a success in large part thanks to all the MSSA volunteers and participants. And I’m really thankful to UC, especially UCLife, for their support – it has made us all feel like UC is another home,” he said.
The largest iftar event was hosted by the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates, and organised by the MSSA, UCLife and Global Student Recruitment; Deloitte, PwC and Oracle also sponsored one night of each week.
The practice of fasting hasn’t been observed solely by the Muslim community, either.
Politics and International Relations student Callum Lightbody isn’t himself Muslim, but has many friends of the faith – so this year, he decided to join them in fasting, and in breaking the fast at the Refectory.
“I first heard about Ramadan in high school and learned that it was partly about Muslims putting themselves in the shoes of others,” he says. “That’s why I did it.”
“The first week wasn’t physically hard – it was more about the mental discipline, keeping my mind on what I was doing. Fasting has taught me a lot about self-restraint, and to be more appreciative of my privileges and opportunities.”
The month of Ramadan ends in the celebration of Eid al-Fitr, as it’s known in the Middle East. In South East Asia, the festival is known as Hari Raya Aidilfitri.
It’s often a week-long celebration for Muslims in those countries; although it will be quieter in Canberra, community celebrations will nonetheless see families and friends gather in merriment after morning Eid prayers. And in a particularly Aussie twist, Tariq says that some Eid celebrations will incorporate barbecues.
Originally from Saudi Arabia, Amro Aseeri, who is studying for a Bachelor of Medical Science, has lived in Australia since he was 10.
“The Ramadan and Eid vibes are really different here, of course – you don’t have the muezzin’s call to prayer, for one thing,” Amro says. “But I’ve been trying to get more involved with the local Muslim community, and getting together with the UC folk for iftar has gone a long way to creating a vibe of our own!”
“Tariq especially has done an amazing job – he dedicated himself to making sure we all had a great Ramadan.”
Amro’s Eid celebrations will be quieter than back in Saudi Arabia, where “the whole suburb gets together!”, but he’s looking forward to celebrating it with his friends from various cultures and countries.
Badrun, whose wife and two children are in Indonesia, says that while he misses them even more during Ramadan and Hari Raya, he’s also glad of the opportunity to share his culture with others, and to learn about theirs.
“And I am thankful for the community spirit I have found here,” he says.
After visiting friends, Tariq will end the first day of Eid with a video call to his large extended family back home, as his brothers and sisters gather in his father’s house in Jordan.
“Eid is a celebration of good memories,” he says. And he is always making more in Canberra, with his UC family.