STUDENTS from Stuartholme School, Toowong, and Brigidine College, Indooroopilly, recently spent an enlightening afternoon speaking with members of the Muslim community.
The cultural interaction on August 20 – organised by Brisbane City Council and held at St Lucia’s University of Queensland – gave the Catholic students a greater appreciation of similarities and differences between Christianity and Islam.
A panel of speakers including an influential Imam (or spiritual leader) Dr Mohammad Abdalla and Australian Muslim Woman of the Year Nora Amath Rane, told their stories of what it was like to be both a Muslim and an Australian.
Then an Islamic meal was shared and students were encouraged to ask questions.
Year 11 Stuartholme student Sophie Kassay said she enjoyed the different food and was able to satisfy her curiosities about the religion.
“The food was really yummy. We had yellow rice with pastry and spinach,” she said.
“It was really good to be in a situation where we could ask anything we liked.
“I’ve always wondered about why Muslims wear the hijab so it gave me a good opportunity find out.”
Stuartholme’s head of religion Michael Downey, who also attended the day, said he was keen to have more dialogue sessions.
“We hope to continue the conversations and to get something planned for next year, which would involve more schools,” he said.
“You can learn as much as you like from a text book but there’s nothing like meeting real people from other religions.”
About 90 students, including some from Kenmore State High School, participated on the day.
