Coming together to learn about Ramadan

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Member News image Members from CFA and a range of community groups attended the Iftar

Members from three brigades have attended an Iftar dinner held by members of the local Muslim community to learn more about fasting during Ramadan.

Volunteers from Narre Warren, Narre Warren North and Cranbourne took part in an Iftar at the Brentwood Park Community Centre held by members of the Ahmadiyya Mosque in Langwarrin.

CFA Cultural Diversity Engagement Officer Nada El-Masri coordinated the members’ attendance at the event and said it was a great experience for a number of community groups to come together.

“Members of the mosque haven’t been able to do this properly for the last two years, so it was great to come together and see everyone take part in the Iftar. As well as our CFA members, there were members of the Somali community, the Sikh community, local MPs and a number of different community groups in attendance.”

Nada said it was a great way for non-Muslim members to understand the experience of their Muslim peers during the time of Ramadan.

“The non-Muslim members had heard about Iftars and wanted to learn more,” Nada said.

“The Imam at the mosque broke the concept of fasting down into three easy to understand points and simplified the concept for them to understand.

“For me, it was good to say ‘fasting doesn’t impact our operations, we’re able to volunteer as normal’.

“They were able to learn about the particular circumstances in which we’re able to break fast if needed – like a big campaign bushfire.”

Nada said it was a fantastic way for members to better understand the communities they serve.

“It’s a way to better learn about our communities and the people within them. They need to learn, understand and most importantly listen to those they serve.

“It increases our abilities to effectively implement community safety and community engagement activities within our communities and allows for effective delivery and approach when it comes to fire safety.”

Cranbourne Fire Brigade 3^rd Lieutenant and Community Safety Coordinator Aaron Orchard said attending the Iftar was a fantastic way to increase his knowledge of the diverse community within his area.

“We got the invite through CFA and I thought it would be a good idea to go along and learn more about the Muslim community,” Aaron said.

“I had no idea what to expect. I’m not religious, I don’t really have any friends that are religious so for me it was a whole new world.

“I’ll be honest, I felt a bit awkward at the start, but as soon as I arrived that feeling immediately subsided and I felt so welcomed.

“You go in not knowing too much, and it was so good to learn what their community is all about and I think it’ll really help me to engage with the Muslim community in my role as Community Safety Coordinator for the brigade.”

Aaron said he learnt a lot about how the Muslim community gives back to their local communities.

“We learnt a lot about the reasons for fasting and the benefits it has, and we also learnt a lot about the volunteering that the Muslim community do and how they give back, which was just fantastic to see.

“I’m really glad I attended the Iftar.”