U of S students raising money for the homeless during Ramadan

As part of Ramadan, a group of Arab students at the University of Saskatchewan are raising funds for Saskatoon's homeless community.

The Arab Students' Association at the University of Saskatchewan hopes to gather $1,000 for The Lighthouse Supported Living emergency shelter by June 30.

The most beautiful thing I saw in Canada was how different cultures come together.- Ghassan Al-Yassin

Ramadan is the holiest month in the Muslim calendar and is marked by abstaining from eating and drinking from dawn until dusk, among other religious activities.

Association member Mays Al-Dulaymi said Ramadan reminds them of what they have and what other people don't.

"It's time to appreciate our many blessings and to reaffirm our commitment to community by helping those who are less fortunate," she said.

Medical student Ghassan Al-Yassin said he often jokes about how difficult it is to walk by Tim Hortons while fasting.

"But then you remember that there is someone else out there who is in the same position but not by choice," he said. "It's a constant reminder of the hardship other people go through."  

Both Al-Dulaymi and Al-Yassin moved to Canada from Iraq. Both said they were surprised by the amount of homelessness and the lack of affordable housing.

When Al-Yassin first moved he was staying at the U of S residence, but slowly started exploring the city. He said he was surprised by what he saw in some neighbourhoods.

"It just felt like I was in a different part of Canada," he said. "[Like] I'm not in Saskatoon or Canada anymore. The houses looked different. The whole environment looked different."

The association decided to raise money for the Lighthouse, as they all thought it fit well with their mission of helping marginalized people.

Al-Yassin said he's been inspired by seeing people do what they can for others.

"The most beautiful thing I saw in Canada was how different cultures come together. I thought this was the perfect way for us to engage the whole community of different backgrounds to basically, at the end of the day, help each other," he said.

To donate visit the Arab Student Association webpage.