This weekend marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month when Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset. It is a pretty big deal for Muslims as it is one of the five pillars of Islam and a big deal for non-Muslims in Jordan because restaurants close during the day and it is illegal to eat, drink or smoke in public.
My favorite part of Ramadan is the iftaar: the big meal that is shared at sunset to break the fast. The best iftaar that I attended this year by far was when I accompanied the Questscope team to break the fast with a non-formal education (NFE) center in Al-Rusayfa, about 45 minutes outside Amman.
That particular NFE center is very well attended and there were about 40 boys at the dinner along with their facilitators, the Ministry of Education liaison, and the principal and superintendent of the school that hosts the NFE sessions.
NFE boys feasting
Mansaf: a traditional Jordanian dish of rice, lamb and tangy yogurt sauce eaten with the hands
Me and the NFE boys in Al-Rusayfa
