Poole Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints had the opportunity to host an event during national interfaith week in November 2023. Stake members have been building a friendship with a Dorset charity named Unity in Vision, through hosting English Connect classes with refugees, recommended through the group and having international lunches monthly at Bournemouth chapel. Since the event was celebrating the charity’s Chairperson, Rita El Gazi, it was the ideal venue.
Unity in Vision first launched through a female migrant group in Bournemouth in 2020. Now a social enterprise, and in partnership with Westbourne Rotary Club, the group helped feed people during the Covid 19 pandemic. One of their current projects is training people seeking asylum or refuge to prepare and serve meals, orchestrated through the vehicle of the international lunches, and named Unity International Catering.
Five days into a week-long visit to Sudan in April 2023, to visit her ailing father, Rita found herself suddenly caught up in the armed conflict. The evening’s speakers revealed the depth of their friendship with Rita, heralded her achievements and reflected on her strength and faith. They also shared how their own faith gave them hope and guidance as they tried to do what they could, despite the distance, to get Rita and her family back to the UK. Rita showed photos and footage of her experiences, discussing the journey that she and a small group of family took to safety, and the miracles that they encountered along the way.
The mayor of Bournemouth Councillor Anne Filer ended the evening. Each of the three Abrahamic religions were represented at the event alongside multiple other friends. The Unity International Catering Project afterwards provided the refreshments.