Virtual iftar sees QF, ‘Tomoh’ promote cross-cultural understanding
EDUCATION, entertainment, interaction and experience have been blended with the Qatar Foundation to give the people of Qatar and beyond an insight into the traditions of the holy month of Ramadan, and to prepare them for the celebrations of Eid Al-Fitr.
At an online gathering organised by Qatar Foundation’s Community Engagement Team and Youth Initiative TOMOH For Development Organization, social media influencers from Qatar invited fellow influencers from abroad to experience a virtual iftar in a Qatari setting, promoting the spirit and value of cultural exchange.
During the live and interactive two-hour event, Ramadan With Qatari Vibes, hosts Noor Al Tamimi and Abdullah Al Ghafri explained the customs, traditions and practices of Qatar during the Holy Month in the company of the guests Alex Macheras and Jose Saucedo. It also featured competitions and challenges between the influencers – with online audiences joining – including table preparations, decorations and customs, and a recital of verses from the Qur’an, as well as iftar itself, with a local, regional and international audience invited to tune in.
Ahead of Eid Al-Fitr, QF’s Community Engagement team, together with Embrace Doha, also hosted an online event centered around the annual festival that marks the end of Ramadan – explaining its meaning, the preparations made for it, and how it is celebrated by young and old alike.
“Through our Ramadan With Qatari Vibes celebration, organized in partnership with TOMOH, we aimed to provide a true cross-cultural experience that both engages and enlightens people, both in Qatar and beyond,” said Ameera al Aji, Culture and Heritage Programming Specialist, QF.
“Many people know about Ramadan, but have maybe not had the opportunity to discover how its traditions are reflected within Qatari homes. By bringing together influencers from Qatar and abroad, we wanted to provide a unique edutainment opportunity for people to experience a traditional iftar, even in this time of physical distancing.
“As Ramadan nears its end, we have also looked to bring the essence of Eid Al-Fitr home to people by giving them a wider insight into the message, meaning, and customs of this annual festival, through partnering again with Embrace Doha. These events reflect our belief that, just because we are physically apart, we can still come together to enjoy, learn, and share experiences.”
Fatma al Taweel, Deputy CEO, TOMOH, said: “As an organisation with a strong focus on empowering young individuals for leadership and community development, we aspire to promote social instructiveness.
“We are delighted to have partnered with Qatar Foundation to host Ramadan With Qatari Vibes, an event that reflects the importance of fostering bonds of understanding that stretch across cultures. Even in these challenging times, technology – and the way we embrace it – has the capacity to keep us connected and bring us together, and we hope that Ramadan With Qatari Vibes has provided people with an opportunity to both enhance their knowledge about Qatari culture and traditions, and to simply have fun.”