- Title: RELIGION/RAMADAN-FRANCE-SOUP KITCHEN Paris Ramadan soup kitchen welcomes all
- Date: 2nd July 2015
- Summary: PARIS, FRANCE (JUNE 29, 2015) (REUTERS) HANDS STIRRING SOUP WOMEN PREPARING FOOD VARIOUS OF MEAT COOKING SOUP BEING POURED IN POT FOUNDER OF 'SOUP FOR ALL', HACHEMI BOUDRAEM CARRYING POT (SOUNDBITE) (French) FOUNDER OF 'SOUP FOR ALL', HACHEMI BOUDRAEM, SAYING: "I was leaving the association building and there was a woman, as one would say, a pure French woman, who was apol
- Embargoed: 17th July 2015 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: France
- Country: France
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVAD1FFSYFWXVQ0X5DE7TF9AMO89
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: A Paris based charity organisation is providing free iftar meals during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, and encouraging people of all faiths and backgrounds to come and share the food.
Volunteers for the organisation, called 'Soup for All', cook a soup made from meat, vegetables and pasta, and distribute it in a big tent in the east of the French capital where they serve up to 1,000 people every night.
During the month of Ramadan, Muslims traditionally carry out charitable acts or acts of kindness. Soup for All founder Hachemi Boudraem said it 's important to him to help all people in need - whoever they may be.
"I was leaving the association building and there was a woman, as one would say, a pure French woman, who was apologising for being here. She was with two children who were four or five years old and she told me, 'I heard that you were distributing some things'. She said she had a 400, 500 euros pension and couldn't afford.... She's 70 years old this woman, a grand-mother. So I told her it was an obligation, for us it's a duty," he said.
Born in Algeria, Boudraem is a former telecommunications engineer. He founded Soup for All 23 years ago.
Boudraem also collects food for local churches, keeping non-halal food given to his organisation and reallocating it.
During the Ramadan period, some 30 volunteers work each day to organise the iftar meal. Volunteers at the charity are from a variety of faiths, one Christian volunteer is Gabriel, who has been volunteering at the charity for two decades.
"To me, Ramadan is the Muslim equivalent of the Christian lent. And maybe also for Jewish asceticism I do not know. That means it's a time of relative penitence, of partial or temporary privation of food, which is an invitation -- especially when you can't drink and the weather is hot -- to meditation, to reflect a bit. And it's also a time for donation," said Gabriel.
France has one of the largest Muslim populations in Europe. The month-long Ramadan fast, could prove to be a challenge for Muslims observing the fast this year due to the long days, with temperatures reaching record peaks of up to 38 degrees in parts of Paris.
During Ramadan observant Muslims fast from dawn to sunset. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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