WAFC hosts Ramadan dinner to promote cultural understanding

More than 160 people came together to celebrate the growing engagement between football and the Islamic communities in Perth at the annual Ramadan Dinner hosted by the West Australian Football Commission (WAFC) and AFL.

A host of special guests attended the dinner at Domain Stadium on Wednesday, June 21 including the Minister of Citizenship and Multicultural Interests Hon. Paul Papalia MLA, and Principle Policy Advisor Jane Ardern.

Ramadan is the ninth month on the Islamic calendar, which marks a period of prayer, fasting, charity-giving and self-accountability for Muslims in Australia.

The dinner is designed to promote cross-cultural understanding between those of the Islamic faith and the wider community using football as common ground.

WAFC Community Engagement Manager Paul Mugambwa said it is important we highlight the contribution multicultural communities have made to the game’s history and welcome new communities to embrace in the future.

“It’s important the WAFC continues to reach out to culturally and linguistically diverse players to further grow the game and build better, stronger communities,” Mugambwa said.

“Football has extraordinary power in uniting all people of all backgrounds and it’s crucial we continue to develop ways in which everyone can be a part of the sport.”

While sharing a buffet meal of Middle Eastern cuisine, participants also heard from special guest speakers Ahmed Saad, Multicultural and Bachar Houli Programs Coordinator and Sheikh Wael Ibrahim who performed the call to prayer and discussed the importance of Ramadan.

Photo left-right: Sarah Boksmati (East Perth Women’s FC player),Susan Chuot (Fremantle Dockers AFLW player), Hon Paul Papalia MLA (Minister of Citizenship and Multicultural Interests), Ahmed Saad (Multicultural and Bachar Houli Programs Coordinator), Yusef Kassem (WAFC Community Engagement Trainee)