Our hope will be stronger. Our love will prevail.
Every year since its establishment, R&R Syria has been holding a big Peace Iftar in the holy month of Ramadan. For millions of Muslims throughout the world, Ramadan is a most special time. It is not only a month of fasting, meditation and nearness to God, but also a month of hospitality, solidarity and tolerance. R&R Syria is inviting every year all communities present in Akkar, the region of our first Peace Centre, to unite for one special night over Iftar tables to break the fast together. Sunnis, Alawites and Christians, both Syrians and Lebanese, followed our invitation and shared a moment of hospitality and shared humanity.
This year's Peace Iftar was prepared by the students of the informal camp school Al-Ihsan, with dancing & singing performances, full of tears, smiles, hope and joy. The event started with the Muslim call for prayer recited by our students Abdul Malek and Qutaiba, signaling the beginning of the feast. Conversations were exchanged between our diverse guests over delicious oriental meals. Welcoming speeches were delivered by Friedrich Bokern (R&R Syria's founder and director) and Sheikh Abdou (the director of the camp school), both expressing the desire for unity in diversity and their solidarity with all those affected by the Syrian crisis.
The main performance was about the hopes for Syria. The first scene portrayed the country as the children were seeing it today: bombed to ruins, mutilated, destroyed. Many of the children and many of the visitors could not hold back their tears, as so vividly described by our international volunteers on their blog space. The second and third stages were illustrating Syria's future recovery and hope for justice and peace. It all ended with an energetic Dabka dance, the traditional middle eastern steps that are solemnly performed in every village or community at special occasions. Other acts of the evening included traditional Syrian and Islamic hymns along with an emotional song performed by our student Heyam on Syrian orphan children.
This night of fraternity was concluded with many songs and smiles. Thanks to the children of our camp school, our guests from Akkar and from around the world could grasp a feeling of true solidarity that goes beyond any formal declaration. We were united as a family. We were united as humanity.
The main performance was about the hopes for Syria. The first scene portrayed the country as the children were seeing it today: bombed to ruins, mutilated, destroyed. Many of the children and many of the visitors could not hold back their tears, as so vividly described by our international volunteers on their blog space. The second and third stages were illustrating Syria's future recovery and hope for justice and peace. It all ended with an energetic Dabka dance, the traditional middle eastern steps that are solemnly performed in every village or community at special occasions. Other acts of the evening included traditional Syrian and Islamic hymns along with an emotional song performed by our student Heyam on Syrian orphan children.
This night of fraternity was concluded with many songs and smiles. Thanks to the children of our camp school, our guests from Akkar and from around the world could grasp a feeling of true solidarity that goes beyond any formal declaration. We were united as a family. We were united as humanity.
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