MARCH 2023

In March 2023, we at Wave served 1832 hot meals, welcomed 47 new arrivals, distributed 661 clothing items, 23 sleeping bags and 627 hygiene items, ran 167 showers, charged 239 phones and powerbanks, and washed 114 loads of laundry.

While we are always busy serving our community, we have noticed a quieter month in terms of new arrivals at our centre. Ever-increasing border securitisation and restrictive migration policies can have a significant impact on the number of arrivals seeking assistance and support. Although we may not have seen as many new arrivals this month, we have continued to work hard to support those who do come through our doors. Our centre is open to anyone who needs a safe and welcoming space, and we continue to offer access to hot meals, clothing, showers and laundry facilities.

Ramadan 

At our centre, we were busy with preparations for the holy month of Ramadan, which began this month! One of the most important factors in preparing for Ramadan is ensuring that we have enough food for people to break fast at sunset. We adjusted our operating hours to accommodate the long hours of fasting during this special month. Our team of dedicated volunteers has been working tirelessly to adapt to schedule changes and prepare additional special meals and sweet dishes for Suhoor and Iftar!

This year marks a significant milestone for our centre as it is the first time since 2019 that we are able to host Ramadan indoors! Celebrating Ramadan communally can hold a special significance for many of our community as they are away from their homes, families and loved ones. Ramadan is a time of spiritual reflection and connection which can be difficult when separated from familiar people and places. Additionally, we converted our storage room into a prayer room, furnished with prayer mats and Qurʾāns.

We are grateful for the support of so many who generously donated to our fundraising campaign, enabling us to reach our target of €1300! We’d like to extend a special thank you to a private donor for their additional support. With the funds raised, we’ve been able to purchase costly ingredients like meat and prepare enough dishes to share with our community. Our team has been hard at work preparing a variety of traditional dishes, such as Loubia and Burek, and sweets like Zalabya, which have been especially popular and enjoyed by all! Daily meals at Iftar include a soup with dates, halva and milk.

Once again, we would like to thank everyone who made it possible for us to provide additional meals during Ramadan. We’re looking forward to preparing for Eid al-Fitr next month, the festival marking the end of the month-long fasting period! Ramadan Mubarak to our community and all those observing!