North West Islamic Association holds successful Ramadan fundraiser in aid of Foyle Foodbank

Dr Sameh Hassan, the chairman of the North West Islamic Association (NWIA), has expressed his thanks to everyone who contributed to its Ramadan fundraiser in aid of the Foyle Foodbank - Foyle Network Foundation.

The Association recently presented a cheque for £3,500 to the Foyle Foodbank, bringing the total it has raised for the organisation since 2017, when the Ramadan fundraiser began, to an incredible £14,350.

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Speaking to The Derry News, Dr Hassan said the NWIA was “deeply grateful for the generous donations raised this Ramadan from across communities”.

“We have received donations from people of different faiths and no faith, who share the same human values,” he added. “Our fasting challenge for the Foyle Foodbank has been steadily growing for the last eight years.

“A special thank you to the amazing Seagate employees who participated in the fasting challenge this year and helped to gather support from their colleagues. Thanks to all who donated.” Explaining the NWIC’s ongoing relationship with Foyle Foodbank, Dr Hassan said the Association, which has its base in Pennyburn Industrial Estate, was founded in 2016.

He added: “We are a charity organisation and in our early days we were looking for charity activities in which to get involved because as we say, ‘charity starts at home’. “We were thinking about running a charity activity during the month of Ramadan because that is the month during which Muslims would give the majority of their charity.

“During the month of Ramadan, Muslims fast from dawn until dusk; we abstain from food and water.

“Back in 2017 Ramadan fell during summer time so the days were quite long,” recalled Dr Sameh Hassan.

“We were thinking about a local charity to donate to or to sponsor and we came across the Foyle Foodbank which was relatively new back then.

“Initially we thought we would just raise donations from the Muslim community but that idea developed into, why don’t we do a fasting challenge where we ask local people as well to take the challenge of fasting,” he said.

According to Dr Hassan, Ramadan moves by 11 days each year because it is based on the Lunar Calendar which is 11 days shorter than the normal calendar.

He said: “This year Ramadan was in March so it was much easier than 2017 when it was a big challenge to fast but actually we were overwhelmed with the response.

“We thought no-one would buy into it but obviously it is for a good cause and we should not have foodbanks in the first place. It is unfortunate we have to do this but we have to work as humans, regardless of faith or no faith, to help them. We had people from all across the city taking part - in Seagate, in the hospitals - who joined the Ramadan Fasting Challenge.”

The ongoing relationship between the NWIC and the Foyle Foodbank has developed beyond the now annual fasting challenge. Volunteers from the Association have taken part in Bag Packs in Sainsbury’s in aid of the foodbank, donated to particular appeals, and held collections.

Members of the NW Islamic Association who took part in a charity bag pack for Foyle Foodbank in Sansbury's.

“Foyle Foodbank is also currently allowing us to use its kitchen to do some cookery classes,” said Dr Hassan. “It is a strong relationship.”

“The idea during Ramadan is that Muslims abstain from the things they are allowed to have, that they take for granted - maybe things to which people who are less fortunate don’t have access; it helps us develop discipline, self control and self restraint in our lives.

“Having those feelings of hunger and thirst encourages people to give to charity to help those less fortunate.

“During the month of Ramadan is the time when Muslims generally give the most money to charity.”