Souhir Rahhou en Hanane Sabbab

Everyone from the neighborhood is welcome, regardless of faith, but the last edition and the first edition were both specifically aimed at mothers and their daughters. "During Ramadan, women are often busy cooking for their families every evening," says Hanane. "We thought: how nice would it be if they could join somewhere themselves for one evening, without responsibility?"

This year, about seventy women and girls came together during the mother-daughter iftar. Everyone brought a dish, which resulted in a long table full of food. But more important than the buffet was what happened around that table. "You notice that people start talking to each other," says Hanane. "And then it often turns out that despite different backgrounds, we mostly have the same life experiences."

Hanane was born and raised in Venlo. For years, she has been committed to helping young people, especially girls. It all started with a kids' club in Venlo-Zuid. "I noticed that children in my neighborhood played outside less and were less creatively engaged," she says. "I wanted to do something about that." Her involvement grew through volunteer work and projects with young people. She now works as a youth worker and girls' worker at Incluzio. "With young girls, I sometimes see the same questions I used to have," she shares. "Who am I? Where do I belong? Not everyone always understands where you come from."

Souhir came to the Netherlands from Morocco fifteen years ago. Her start here was not easy. She arrived with a master's degree in Economics but soon found herself in a difficult personal situation, with a divorce and two young children. "You have to learn the language, understand the rules, find work, and meanwhile raise your children," she says. "It felt like I had to start all over again, and the language barrier was very frustrating in the beginning. There was a big gap between my abilities and the way I could express myself."

She decided to actively go out: do volunteer work, meet people, and learn the language as quickly as possible. In Arcen, the village where she lived, she got involved in a language café and helped refugees. That eventually led to a job in the social sector as a participation coach. “I often see something of myself in the people I guide,” she says. “That's why I know how important it is to make connections and truly hear and see people.”

Between Two Cultures

In their work, Hanane and Souhir meet many women and young people who are looking for their place between different cultures. “Many people grow up with two worlds within them,” says Souhir. “You have one foot in the Netherlands and one foot in your parents' country.”

That can sometimes be confusing. She herself knows that feeling all too well. “When I am in Morocco, I sometimes feel Dutch. And here, I feel Moroccan again. You have to learn to deal with that, but it remains a journey.”

At the same time, Ramadan is also a period where food and cooking together play a significant role. "My entire Instagram feed is filled with food during Ramadan," laughs Hanane. "Everyone is looking for new recipes or showing what's on the table that evening." Every evening of Ramadan is concluded after sunset with the iftar, a moment when families and friends come together to break the fast. The festive highlight around food and togetherness follows at the end of the month during Eid al-Fitr, also known as the Sugar Feast. Eid al-Fitr is the first day of the month of Shawwal, which follows Ramadan. According to Souhir, Eid al-Fitr is somewhat like how people often celebrate Christmas Day: a beautifully set table, dishes prepared with care, and family gathering together. "You look forward to having that moment together all day long."

Connection at the table

It is precisely this idea that Hanane and Souhir try to make visible with the public iftar they organize annually during Ramadan. The mother-daughter evenings bring together different generations and backgrounds. "During such an evening, you see that people start to understand each other better," says Hanane. "You talk about upbringing, culture, faith, but also just about daily life." Sometimes surprising encounters occur. Women who have never spoken to each other discover that they share many of the same concerns or dreams. "Food helps with that," Hanane says, laughing. "A table full of dishes breaks the ice."

Afterwards, Souhir heard from several women that it was their first time going out to eat somewhere during Ramadan. “Normally, they are busy every evening for their family,” she says. “So it was special that they could now join themselves.”

For both women, this is ultimately what iftar is about: meeting. “The basis of Islam is peace and respect for each other,” says Souhir. “That's what we want to show.” And they succeed, they notice. More and more often, people who do not fast themselves are also joining. “Then you notice that curiosity turns into understanding,” says Hanane. For those who have never experienced an iftar, they have a simple tip. “Ask a neighbor if you can join sometime,” says Souhir. “During Ramadan, the door is actually always open.”