Community Iftar with Eric Wright: A Powerful Evening of Unity and Impact
On 26th March 2025, SibiNet proudly hosted a powerful Community Iftar in partnership with Eric Wright Water Ltd at the Gambian Islamic Community Centre. With nearly 200 attendees, including families, young professionals, faith leaders, and industry representatives, the evening became a shining example of how the construction and utilities sector can engage meaningfully with underrepresented communities.
The Iftar was more than just a shared meal, it was a celebration of culture, connection, and purpose. Attendees came together to break bread, build relationships, and explore new opportunities for collaboration between industry and community.
Eric Wright’s Commitment to Community
Eric Wright Water Ltd showed genuine, hands-on commitment to social value and diversity by sponsoring the event and sending a delegation of senior team members, including:
- Lisa Milner – Framework Manager
- Faiz Adam – Commercial Manager
- Simon Rathbone – Operations Manager
- Mark Durrant – Contract Manager
- Martin Davies – Planning Manager
- Olivia Robbins – Planning
Their involvement went far beyond formality. The team actively engaged in conversations with attendees, answered questions from young people exploring careers in construction, and shared Eric Wright’s values as a charitable trust, a model that resonated strongly with the community.
“It was a pleasure to hear about what a difference being a charitable trust means to Eric Wright. This truly embodies community engagement.”
— Lamin Yaffa, Chair, Gambian Islamic Community Centre
The Bigger Picture: Building More Than Infrastructure
This Community Iftar was not just a cultural exchange, it was a blueprint for inclusive industry engagement. By showing up, listening, and participating in a local, community-led event, Eric Wright Water Ltd demonstrated how companies can move beyond traditional CSR and build real trust.
The event also revealed an exciting next step: SibiNet and Eric Wright are now planning a 1-week work experience programme for young people from the local community, designed to open doors and inspire future careers in construction and infrastructure.
“It was great to see so many people at the event. The team was encouraged by the participation of the young people and impressed by their level of engagement and interest in future opportunities. We’re now working internally to shape a meaningful response.”
— Lisa Milner, Framework Manager, Eric Wright Water Ltd
“I’m really proud of the Eric Wright Water attendees — each and every one added so much value. They engaged with a youthful crowd in a totally different cultural environment. There’s fantastic talent in communities like this, and we need to do more to connect with it.”
— Kashan Ratyal, Delivery Business Lead, Severn Trent
Want to get involved in future community events or career engagement projects?
[Contact us] to find out how your organisation can make a difference.
