Mora Primary and Nursery School is a non-denominational school with a vibrant and diverse community, including Christians, Hindus, Jews and a large number of Muslim families.
In 2023, the Friends of Mora Association (FMA) ran our first Iftar event, and it has continued to grow and thrive. We have a fantastic relationship with our school, and their support has helped make it a real success. Year on year, more families from various backgrounds, whether religious or not, have come forward to get involved. They have contributed by helping with ticket sales, advertising, sourcing food, providing funding and, of course, attending the Iftar events.
In 2021 and 2022, we organised Eid breakfast events for the end of the Ramadan period of fasting. The children loved them, but parents wanted to be involved, too. In a meeting with our deputy head, Kate Bass, she mentioned that she had attended a fundraising dinner and auction for Iftar – the sunset breaking of the fast during Ramadan – at another local primary.
Together with Muslim FMA members, we came up with a structure that would be welcoming to everyone. We begin reaching out to the local community and businesses about four to six weeks before the event. We sell tickets in advance, limiting the number to ensure we can cater accurately. Our local mosque generously donates funds, which more than cover our food costs. Decorating the hall takes a long time, but it’s worth it.
- Celebrating different cultures
- Read about one school's amazing Garba event in Autumn term success stories
It starts about 30 minutes before the families break their fast and is attended by faith leaders and councillors, who have been supportive by suggesting grants we could apply for and providing contacts for donations or sponsorship.
We serve starters, a main course, dessert and tea or coffee at the tables. We aim to provide a culinary trip around the world, serving food that represents Muslims from different countries. Items on the menu include North African soup, fruit salad (Asian), samosa (Arab), kebabs and baklawa for dessert. Every year, children in traditional dress perform nasheeds (traditional songs) about Ramadan, read poetry, recite from the Qur’an or talk about what Ramadan means to them. One year, a teaching assistant and her husband performed Iranian classical music, which was beautiful. The event fosters community and is an opportunity for the Muslim families to proudly showcase a glimpse of their faith and culture.
The auction, hosted by me and Kate, begins as we serve dessert. We auction off donations from local businesses and school families, as well as canvas art created by the children. It gets very animated and it’s fun to see people in a new light as they bid for a candle, water gun, painting, giant cake, scooter or bouquet. The success of the auction amazes us every time.
There’s no other event quite like this one in our calendar. What began as a one-time event has grown into something exciting, as we prepare for our fourth year in 2026.
Jessica Roach is chair of the Friends of Mora Association in Cricklewood, London (419 pupils)
.gif "TryBooking.com")
