Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and is observed by many Muslims around the globe. The purpose of keeping a fast is not just to abstain from food and water for thirty days but also to remind people to think about the more important things in life and to think about those who go without.
 
Travelling to Ghana with Platform2 I got the opportunity to volunteer in a small town called Tapa Amenya. I was involved in building a community library, taught in under-privileged schools and assisted the local hospital in the admin department.
 
The people in Tapa grabbed every bit of happiness with both hands and made the most of it. These were people who worked hard to make a better life for themselves and their families but struggled every step of the way.
 
This was the first time I truly understood what Ramadan meant as it was the first time that I had come across people who didn’t even have their basic needs met. Not a day went by when I was not blown away by the harsh reality of their life. For example when I worked at the hospital I realised that malaria is part of everyday life in Ghana. Life expectancy is low and infant mortality is high and there is an increase of people living with HIV/AIDs.
 
This made me reflect on life back in the UK. Some people living in Tapa are unable to afford to pay for medication and treatment if they become sick. We are very fortunate in Britain with the NHS and our social security system. In many developing countries they do not have this choice and finding medical assistance and food for families can be a real challenge. Sometimes they have to choose between the two.
 
Education is another major issue; for many in Ghana education stops after high school as families are unable to support their children any further. Many settle down to become farmers or seamstresses whereas in the UK we would still be at school. Some children don’t go to school at all; these were the children selling items on the side of the road. Some of these had been sent to the city to earn a living for their family.
 
My experience made me appreciate my life. During my childhood I was very fortunate as I did not know poverty or hunger and was not forced into child labour.
 
Ramadan is about sharing and helping the deprived. Throughout the year when you find yourself at the dinner table looking at the heaps of delicious food set out in front of you and while you tuck in and fill yourself so that you can’t manoeuvre out of your chair, think of those who live on one meal a day, who don’t have access to clean water and especially those who don’t have access to medical care.
 
Returning to the UK I have realised that we can make a difference all year long and especially during particular times like Ramadan. We should think about giving and sharing our wealth to make sure that life is more equal for all. Perhaps then we will all have access to clean water, food, sanitation, health care and education – a fairer world.
Luqman Ahmed Khalil