Coleg Gwent joins forces with Newport Mosque for Ramadan celebrations

Here at Coleg Gwent, we’re an inclusive and diverse college, determined to promote a welcoming environment where people from all backgrounds can learn and work together.

This month we celebrate Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting and prayer. The festival is marked worldwide with communal prayers, self-reflection, and charity.

In support of our Muslim staff and learners practicing the Ramadan fast, Coleg Gwent staff have visited Newport Central Jamia Mosque to receive a guided tour of the mosque and share an iftar meal. Iftar is the evening meal, often taken by a community, that breaks the fast of Muslim people who are observing Ramadan.

The college made a £500 donation to the mosque to help supply food, sweets, and fruit for mosque members and residents including refugees and asylum seekers. The sponsorship comes as part of the College’s commitment to community-focused equality, diversity, and inclusion initiatives.

Nkechi Allen Dawson Diversity, Inclusion & Wellbeing Manager said: “Ramadan is a time of giving, generosity, compassion, and tolerance. We are proud to know that our partnership with Newport Central Jamia Mosque has helped the community break their fast with a good meal while also providing refugees and asylum seekers with vital services they need, aiding them to build new futures here in Wales.”

“Recognising Ramadan and our Muslim community here at Coleg Gwent is a crucial aspect of our work in promoting religious acceptance. Visiting the Newport Central Jamia Mosque was an enlightening and unforgettable experience, and the mosque welcomed our staff with open arms.”

Sarwat Hamid, Business Lecturer said: “Ramadhan is all about patience, generosity and kindness. It is an opportunity to reflect on what I can do to be a better person.  It is a month where I can try and connect spiritually and emotionally to my religion, offer repentance and continuously remain humble”.    

Promoting inclusivity during Ramadan and beyond requires an ongoing commitment to diversity and inclusion. This means actively working to create a welcoming and inclusive environment that celebrates and respects differences. By doing so, students from all backgrounds can feel valued and supported and fully participate in all aspects of college life.

Want to join in on the festivities? Join us in wishing your colleagues, friends, and neighbours a “Happy Ramadan” or “Ramadan Mubarak!”