Spreading positivity

Sehris, Fatima and Fatima with offerings. (Joe Mastroianni). 288897_01

When Muslims living in Wyndham began celebrating Eid last Saturday, nine-year-old Fatima wanted to get the rest of her community involved in the celebrations too.

The Tarneit resident was joined outside her home by a couple of school friends who shared the same vision for spreading positivity during the religious holiday.

“[I gave] out coffee and orange juice, lollies, chocolate and cookies and I think some toys,” she said.

“I want to make everybody happy and I want to make people’s day and [for them to] have a good Eid.”

Community members, from any religion or background, who happened to stroll past the Hoque household were gifted a delicious treat.

Her father, Rafi Hoque, said his daughter came up with the idea herself and although he had been assigned to help from the background, he was proud of the unity Fatima was hoping to create.

“At the end of it, [we] are one country, one nation, we have different beliefs, different types of religion, let’s stick together for the sake of the nation and enjoy the celebration,” he said.

Fatima Halloum