Festival of the Sacrifice

by Becca Hovland, Beirut ESL Officer

“Sometimes those who have less give more.” – Pradyumna Kalita 

It is with this mindset that teachers at SB worked to inspire their students in preparation for Eid al-Adha this past month. Eid al-Adha (Festival of the Sacrifice) is one of the two most important holidays celebrated by Muslims around the world. For this day, many families sacrifice an animal such as a sheep or a goat, and they donate the meat to families who cannot afford their own.

The SB teachers illustrated the most important traditions of Eid al-Adha to their students: spreading happiness and goodwill among their family, friends, and neighbors; clearing their hearts of any bad to make space for only good; and making donations for those in need.

Although the families of SB have little, they still adhere without hesitation to these customs of generosity and compassion, and the students are learning to as well. Students in Beirut decorated construction paper sheep and received candy. SB also gifted each of our 168 students in Beirut with a new pair of pants and a shirt. 

With new clothes and an encouraged sense of compassion, our students went back to their homes to spread even more love to those around them