Relief Effort for the Victims of Haiti Earthquake

In corporation with Nil Academy, private Turkish school located in Toronto, IDI organized a relief effort for the victims of Haiti earthquake. For the campaign, the students have collected donations from their relatives, friends and neighbors. In addition, they also organized a bake sale event with the attendance of The Honorary Consul General of Toronto for Haiti, Dr. Eric A. Pierre. During the event, besides selling bake sale items they also organize an auction to sell their favorite toys to help the victims in Haiti. AT the end of the event, donations have reached the amount of $1003.26. After the speech of Honorary Consul Dr. Pierre about Nil students’ wisdom, generosity, and kindness, 10th grader Diyar Tugrul presented the donations to the Honorary Consul Dr. Eric A. Pierre. The principal of Nil Academy, Sukan Alkin, indicated that a painful earthquake had hit Turkey in 1999, which was a similar experience of Turkey with Haiti and said, “We share the same pain with Haitians”.

Intercultural Dialogue Institute Family Iftar Dinners Bridge Cultures and Faiths

Intercultural Dialogue Institute and Dialogue Foundation organized tens of home iftar dinners throughout Canada this year; bringing together leaders and members of diverse communities in the homes of Turkish families.  Muslims all around the world including Canada celebrate Ramadan by fasting from sunrise to sunset, without drinking or eating.  After sun set there is a great feast that fills the home as families gather to break fast: “”Iftar”.  Turkish Muslim families have used iftars as opportunities to invite people of diverse faiths, cultures, and communities to their homes for iftar dinners to share their most intimate moments of reflection and celebration.  Intercultural Dialogue Institute and Dialogue Foundation launched this project to share

this blissful occasion with the greater Canadian society.  The aim was to be able to provide a better understanding for the Muslim fast and help Canadians explore this 14 centuries old tradition.  Ramadan dinners brought about one hundred people from all world religions together under the roofs of Turkish homes.

Dialogue Foundation Family Iftar Dinners Broadcasted on CBC radioOne:  DayBreak with Mike Finnerty

Dialogue Foundation invited diverse community leaders to experience iftar (fast-breaking) in Turkish Muslim homes in Montreal North. Families from different ethnic backgrounds and diverse faiths celebrated the spirit of Ramadan in these house iftars.  The theme of this year has been “Turkish Delights, Ramadan Nights”, as the guest enjoyed authentic Turkish cuisine and home baked Turkish delicacies in these programs.  In one of these iftars in Montreal North, Muslim families invited the local police members in order to underline the values of friendship, tolerance, respect, and Dialogue among communities and the police in Montreal North; especially after the tragic recent incidents in the region.  Loreen Pindera, from CBC, joined the dinner as the media correspondent and observer.  On September 30, 2008, Loreen Pindera shared her reflections and observations of the event very positively for 15 minutes on the CBC Radio 1 program called “DayBreak” with Mike Finnerty.