November 10, 2010, Wednesday/ 16:12:00/ TUĞBA KAPLAN
A group of international students studying at Fatih University has been busying cooking dishes for a kermes (fundraiser) in order to collect funds for Africa and Pakistan for the upcoming religious holiday, Eid al-Adha.The group of students is from various countries, including Vietnam, Bangladesh, Kazakhstan, Georgia and several African countries. In this foreign land where they are studying, the students have volunteered to cook dishes from their native countries to sell at the kermes to send sacrificial animal meat to needy people in other parts of the world. The dishes they have cooked include Kazak samsa, Uighur ravioli, sushi and Uzbek rice as well as many other traditional tastes. The kermes is in its third year. All students, instructors and professors at the university have shown great interest in the event.
Kenyan student Sultan Ismail says the gap between the rich and poor is more evident during eid al-adha in his country because sacrificing an animal is not only a religious duty, it is also a sign of wealth in Kenya. While expressing his pleasure in being able to extend a helping hand to others, Ismail says thanks to Eid al-Adha many people will have meat in their homes. Anna Dilayou from Georgia is another volunteer. Even though she is Christian and does not celebrate Eid al-Adha, she has dedicated much of her time to cooking and selling food at the kermes. “I know that I am not Muslim, but religion and culture does not matter when it comes to helping others. Only good will is what matters,” she says.
The funds collected during the event will be sent to Africa and Pakistan through Kimse Yok Mu (Is Anybody There), a well-known charitable organization. The same group of foreignstudents from Fatih university held another kermes for Gaza earlier this year.
