My 2023 Ramadan and Eid: North Great George's Street Youthreach

by Naseebullah Oryakhil

For Muslims it will not be the same to attend school or college during Ramadan because your routine will change a lot for 30 days. Muslim people will only have 2 meals in 24 hours and at specific times – the first meal must be eaten early in the morning before sunrise and the second after sunset. Ramadan involves fasting, which lasts between 12 to 18 hours, depending on where you are in the world.

My 2023 Ramadan was not that bad the way I was expecting it to be, because I was lucky enough that I was attending the North Great George's Street Youthreach. The centre and staff are very supportive of Muslim students and respectful of them having to fast and pray during Ramadan. Usually the first week of Ramadan is not easy, but after one week you will get used to it. For some people it is harder, depending on different things. In Islam, Ramadan is a holy month, and in Ireland it began on Thursday March 23rd 2023.

How I Managed my 2023 Ramadan

I could not get to bed until I had my first meal before sunrise, then I had to get up for school at 8:30 which was impossible for me. I was waking early to eat and pray, then not going asleep for a long time, then trying to get up on time for Youthreach.

I was attending school late all the time. The coordinator and staff were helpful and encouraging for all of us during Ramadan because it was hard some days to work, to concentrate and to attend.

It is not the same for all Muslims to stay awake until morning – but this is the way I spent my Ramadan. It was bright when I woke up so I could not go back to sleep.

I was attending class late every day because I couldn't sleep until I had eaten my morning meal, In the centre all the staff and the Coordinator of the Youthreach have been very nice and helpful to us. And the best thing was that the staff and coordinator were very understanding our situation they said they knew it's not easy but will not be for long.

In the middle of the second week of Ramadan the Easter holiday started for one and half weeks which was a very good break at the right time. I could eat in the morning and go back to bed, and take it easy in the day. It also made it a lot easier to return to the centre after a week and half off knowing we only had a week left to the end of Ramadan. To be honest I would say this is the hardest part of Ramadan, to continue going to school at the same time in this last week of Ramadan. I am used to it doing it in Ireland now, it was not very hard and I finished Ramadan without too much difficulty.

First day of Eid

I emailed Ger the coordinator to confirm that Ramadan would officially end on Thursday evening 20th April 2023. Because of the lunar cycle we were not sure if it would go on to the Friday evening at first. Saudi Arabia officially confirmed it on Thursday evening which was good news. The coordinator of our Youthreach centre had told us he would give us the day off for Eid so we had the Friday off to celebrate the end of Ramadan with a feast on Eid. We also all attended the Mosque in the morning to give thanks.

I know all the Muslims students got the day off in our Youthreach, and having the Friday and the weekend, to celebrate the Eid with friends and call back home/family in Afghanistan was great.

I am really grateful for the way I got treated in the North Great George's Street Youthreach by all the staff members and Coordinator, the staff are very welcoming, encouraging and inclusive.