On Thursday last week the Centre for Languages hosted a wonderful Eid al-Fitr celebration with our Muslim Community here at Wintec.

There was a great turnout of Muslim kaimahi, ākonga and even some of the children from kidz@wintec, along with several of our executive team, to celebrate the ‘breaking of the fast’ after the fasting month of Ramadan.

 Mohamed Shakoor, Principal Academic Staff Member and Academic Counsellor from the Centre for Languages addressed the crowd while reflecting on three things, patience, compassion, and gratitude. 

Ramadan is a really important time for Muslims. It's a month when they fast during the day and spend more time praying and reflecting. But it's not just about not eating or drinking. 

“Ramadan teaches some important things that can be used in our everyday lives,” Shakoor said.

“One big lesson we learn from Ramadan is patience. You know, waiting until we can eat after fasting all day takes a lot of patience. But it's not just about waiting for food. It's about being patient in everything we do. Like when things don't go our way, or when we must wait for something, we really want. Ramadan teaches us to stay calm and patient, even when things get tough.

“Another lesson from Ramadan is caring for others. When we fast, we know what it's like to feel hungry and thirsty. This helps us understand how others might feel when they don't have enough food or water. So, Ramadan reminds us to be kind and help those who are in need.

“And you know what else? Ramadan is a time for being thankful. When we break our fast, we remember how lucky we are to have food and water every day. It reminds us to be grateful for the good things in our lives, like our families, friends, and all the blessings we have.

“We should keep practicing these things every day. We can be patient when things don't go our way, we can help others even when it's not Ramadan, and we can always be thankful for what we have,” Shakoor said.

He finished his speech by challenging the crowd to take these lessons to heart and try to make the world a nicer, friendlier, and more united place for everyone.

“Let's remember the lessons of Ramadan and try to live them every day. Let's be patient, caring, and thankful, not just during Ramadan, but all year round.”

Following the celebration for our Wintec Muslim whānau, our ākonga in the Hub also got the opportunity to try some Halal food and learn more about Eid al-Fitr.