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Suzanne Muir | Zubeida Barmania | Sabra Desai Burlington Post Newspaper Halton Muslims begin observance of Ramadan Suzanne Muir, Special To The Post Oct 29, 2003 Suzanne Muir has been the Halton District School Board's diversity co-ordinator for two years. She is responsible for helping schools create inclusive learning environments reflecting various cultures and religions. She agreed to offer her thoughts as a Muslim observing the period of Ramadan. Halton District School Board diversity co-ordinator Suzanne Muir prepares for Ramadan with her sons Zayd Nawaz, 5, and Haytham Nawaz, 3. Neighbour Aidan Boose, 3, made a decoration for the Muslim family to help them celebrate  Ramadan Mubarak. Happy Ramadan! This week begins the Muslim month of fasting called Ramadan. It is a holy month for Muslims where healthy adults fast during daylight hours for 30 days, from sunrise to sunset each day. In our family we wake up early before the sunrise to eat a breakfast called suhr. As Muslims come from all over the world, they eat foods particular to their culture. My husband and I eat cereal, toast and juice. Each day at sunset we gather together as a family to break our fast with a small meal called iftar. The tradition is to eat a date and drink some water first while saying a small prayer of thanks for the ability to fulfill our fast that day. Then, after our sunset prayers, we eat our regular dinner meal together. Many families will attend evening prayers at the mosque each night of Ramadan, where the holy Qur'an is recited in its entirety by the end of the month. On weekends the mosque will hold community iftar meals, which provides a nice opportunity for us to see friends and get to know newcomers to the Burlington community. Everyone is welcome to attend an iftar meal. Although fasting is a challenge, I like the simplicity of the day without preparing meals and taking time to eat. Feeling hunger helps me to remember and be more empathetic towards those who have less. Donating to charities is another important part of participating in Ramadan. As a community we can acknowledge Ramadan by remembering our food bank and favourite charities during this month. My children, Zayd and Haytham, are too young to fast so they participate in other ways. A significant aspect of Ramadan is learning to be patient and for children this is a particular challenge. During Ramadan we spend extra time with our two young sons encouraging them to be extra kind to each other and their friends. As they are just three and five years old, waiting their turn for a favourite toy is sometimes the biggest challenge. Zayd and Haytham make Ramadan a special time of the year by making decorations for our home. There are not many commercial decorations available for Ramadan so we make our own out of bright construction paper, garlands and sparkle glue. This year we were really touched by the kindness of our neighbours, Vangi and Jeff, and their two children, Aidan and Conner, who made us a Ramadan decoration for our home. This demonstration of kindness between friends and neighbours of different faiths is the key to a caring community. Although we have different beliefs and traditions, we have similar values and want our children to respect and understand each other well. The children enjoy counting down the days of Ramadan on their calendar looking forward to Eid (pronounced eed). We will make Eid cards to send to the boys' cousins in Regina and small homemade gifts. At the end of Ramadan our family will attend prayers at the mosque and then spend Eid day with our parents and friends. Zayd and Haytham look forward to wearing new clothes and playing with new toys, as well as eating candy and desserts. Each adult they meet on Eid day will give them a dollar coin known as Eid Money. Burlington is a multicultural and multi-faith community which is changing everyday. Schools recognize many faith and cultural backgrounds of their students. Many schools include Ramadan in the monthly calendar that goes home to parents along with Diwali, Hanukkah, Christmas, Chinese New Year and other holidays throughout the year. Many teachers are finding ways to teach children about differences with respect and understanding. As a parent this is wonderful to see as I want my children to be global citizens. Since moving to Burlington I have been impressed by how friendly we are here. Many people take the time to say hello while in passing at the store, the bank and the playground. If you know a friend, neighbour or work colleague who is fasting, take a few minutes to say Ramadan Mubarak, Happy Ramadan, to them today. From our family, may you, too, enjoy the joy of Ramadan. Wasalaam, peace. Feedback from Suzanne Muir's Ramadaan Article "Just wanted to thank you for the updates, and state that I appreciate all the work contributed by your staff, into volunteering their precious time, to contribute to a community organization. ... Even though some of your staff by necessity must be salaried, I suspect a great deal of additional support is provided just because it needed to be done! At this special time I wish that you all have a peaceful Ramadan and a wonderful Eid when the time comes .... Also, was happy to read that when the family moved to Burlington, they were welcomed... with all the current "hype" and mis-information about Islam (not to discount by the way, that Muslims also have their "hard liners" who can be just as intolerant about others).. it has been very difficult in some cases, for Muslim families... especially the children, if their classmates or playmates have been listening to anti-Muslim rhetoric etc. Maybe, just maybe, it's getting a little better.... Best wishes, Mary Mia (a non-Muslim, but married into a Muslim family.)" "Is there en e mail address I can contact Suzanne ,her story is very uplifting and Inshallah would like to have my nephews meet her sons so that they can learn from each other." Salaams Amina South African Women for Women (SAWW) Recipients During 2002 and 2003 FMW nominated two outstanding women for their work both nationally and internationally. Both these women were recognized for their unsurpassed work and dedication by South African Women for Women (SAWW), a Canadian based organization who supports South African Women, empowers women through education and honours those who have achieved. ZUBEIDA BARMANIA  A Barrister at Law, having been called to the Bar in London. England, with an LLB from the University of Western Ontario Canada and a Masters degree from the American University of Beirut, Zubeida practiced law briefly in South Africa, having pupilled under the late Chief Justice of South Africa and subsequently in Canada where she specialised in Pension Law. Zubeida, the only daughter of a distinguished feminist leader, Fatima A.I. Kajee was encouraged to participate in community activities. In Canada she worked in various capacities as honorary Counsel, board director and advisor to, among others, the Urban Alliance on Race Relations, the Canadian Bar Association Committee on Visible Minority Women, the South Africa Canada Association, the Association of Employees for Employment Equity, the Urdu Society of Canada, the Canadian Council for Muslim Women, the Raag Mala Society, and Islam-West. It was in South Africa, encouraged by her mentor the late Chief Justice Ismail Mahomed and Dullah Omar the first black Minister of Justice, that she was to make her most significant contribution. Zubeida was involved in a wide range of issues in South Africa including work at the renowned Community Law Centre at the University of the Western Cape, senior advisory work on retirement and pension issues, the South African Commission on Gender Equality to which she was appointed by former President Mandela following her nomination by a joint Committee of Parliament. She served on the Poverty Commission hearings in Eastern Cape, appeared before Parliamentary committees representing the Commission on Gender Equality. From 1974 she worked for Ontario Hydro as a pensions lawyer and served on Employment Equity and Gender Issue Committees' of Hydro and the Canadian Bar Association. In particular she organized the Committee on Visible Minority Women for the latter. From 1980 to 1993 she was Counsel to the Canadian Council of Muslim Women. Since returning to South Africa in 1993, Zubeida has worked with several Ministers and served on the Gender Equality and Poverty Commissions. Appointed by the Minister of Finance, she now serves as a quasi-judicial officer sitting on the Review Board of Special Pension, a statutory board that determines pension eligibility for those who were involved in the liberation struggle. In South Africa Zubeida has participated in seminars and held workshops as a Gender Commissioner and in the North West in particular pertaining to pension education. A highlight of her role as Gender Commissioner was the invitation from Pakistan to spend five days giving televised seminars for an audience of 20 million viewers to address gender issues in Urdu. Zubeida, through her biography, establishes her dedication to public service and equality issues. South African Women for Women is pleased to present Zubeida the Community Service award, in recognition of her work in Canada and South Africa on gender equity and anti-poverty. Sabra Desai  Sabra Desai who has in excess of fifteen years experience in training, consulting and teaching on issues of racism, equity and access here in Canada and abroad. She is a professor at Humber College and teaches Social Psychology and Counselling. She is a valued member of the Humber Academic Council and the Professional Development Council. Kellogg Fellow. Human rights, anti-racist and feminist activist. Educator, therapist and consultant. Sabra Identifies herself as a nationalized Canadian woman of South African Asian Muslim lineal descent. A survivor with the perseverance and strength necessary to live through an apartheid South Africa and the patience and focus of one nurtured on a small farm in her native KwaZulu Natal. Her volunteer and professional interventions and research have gained her recognition as an activist-educator. She has in excess of fifteen years experience in training, consulting and teaching on issues of "racism", equity and access here in Canada and abroad and has conducted anti-racism, human rights education and training in Ethiopia, Guyana and South Africa. A professor at Humber College, she teaches Social Psychology and Counselling. She is a valued member of the Humber Academic Council and the Professional Development Council. She is also a resource person to the Critical Events Response Team at Humber. She is respected for her integrity and ability to bring together her personal experiences, education, background and common sense to inform her work. As an activist, Sabra brings a sharp critique to the tensions that emerge between racialized communities in the context of the colonial legacy and globalization. Her volunteer commitments include establishing and facilitating the Critical Events Support Team launched by the Federation of Muslim Women in response to the needs of the Muslim community during the aftermath of September 11, 2001. She has also just returned from her second summer of working with individuals living with AIDS and HIV for the Mndeni Clinic, Hibiscus Coast, South Africa. Her volunteer directorships have included Vice Chair of Women in Transition, an organization operating shelters for women and children and its Chair of the Programming Committee. She chaired the Cross Cultural Communications Centre, a resource centre for progressive sustainable development and anti-racism. She was one of the founders of the South Asian Women's Centre. Sabra was also a member of the committee to establish Interim Place (1981). The Rubena Wills Counselling Centre recognized and honored her as one of their first recipients of the Remarkable Women's Award. We are proud to honour her with the South African Women for Women's Human Rights Award 2002 |