Living a valuable life is an aspiration of each and everyone, however it is unfortunate that the circumstances in which we are born and raised influence our journeys. So many people in our communities are faced with many adversities which includes poverty, sadly for many this is as a result of the circumstances they were raised. Upon reflection, the true measure of our lives lies in how it ends with the legacy we leave behind, not how it begins.

No matter our circumstances as human beings we all want contentment in our lives. We tend to set goals working towards them, in order to experience a sense of purpose and satisfaction, enabling us to live a valuable life.
Along this journey to living a valuable life, we also look at building meaningful relationships. As human beings we are essentially social creatures, and our connections we build with family, friends and our community plays a vital role in our well-being and overall fulfilment resulting in a sense of belonging, support, and love. Additionally, a valuable life is often characterized by our personal growth and resilience. We experience challenges, setbacks, and adversities, but it is through these experiences that we grow, learn, and become stronger individuals.

Above all living a valuable life extends beyond personal fulfillment, growth and building meaningful relationships. Most importantly it also involves making a positive impact on others and the world around us. Whether through acts of kindness, volunteering, or dedicating our time to helping others, contributing to the welfare of others adds meaning to our existence.

Yesterday we fed 3,250 people in our surrounding communities of Hanover Park, Lavender Hill, Seawinds, Parkwood, Manenberg, Retreat, Milnerton, Khayelitsha and Vrygrond taking the total mouths fed to date to 139,740 since our inception. We would like to thank all our sponsors, volunteers and the team for making it possible to uplift and give hope to people in our communities.

Ultimately, living a valuable and meaningful life lies not in the destination but in the journey itself. Helping others in need during our journey, allows us to look back on our lives with a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction, knowing we have lived a valuable life contributing those in need in our communities. It is said that a man’s true wealth is the good he does in this world, may we all work towards assisting those suffering from poverty in our communities for many years.

See below few pictures of yesterdays feeding:

During the days of Hajj (Pilgrimage), we reflect on the spiritually transformative journey that teaches us the important lessons about unity, humility, patience, perseverance, sacrifice, spiritual renewal and gratitude amongst other things. When reflecting on these lessons and implementing these in our lives, we are able to develop a positive outlook to life as we start understanding the love and mercy of our Creator towards His creation.

An important lesson of the Pilgrimage we can learn from reflecting on both the Creator and the Created is when Prophet Ebrahim (AS) (Abraham) had to leave his wife in the desert with her child with no food or drink. In this story we should reflect upon the love that a mother has for her child (May the Almighty bless our mothers), but more importantly reflect upon the love and mercy of God placing His love in creation being the mother for her child who was in a state of helplessness. Similarly, we have people less fortunate in our communities in a state of helplessness and we need to ask ourselves, “Is it then not our duty to assist humanity as best we can?”

Assisting humanity is one of the noblest pursuits we can undertake in our lives. By helping others, we not only make a positive impact on their lives, but also contribute to the greater good of society as a whole. It is a deeply rewarding and fulfilling experience that can bring out the best in us and inspire others to do the same.

One inspirational message regarding assisting humanity comes from Mahatma Gandhi, who said: “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” This quote reminds us that by helping others, we can discover our own purpose and meaning in life, and become the best version of ourselves. Another inspirational message comes from Mother Teresa, who said: “Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.” This message emphasizes that even the smallest acts of kindness and compassion can have a profound impact on the lives of others, and that every effort we make to assist humanity is valuable and meaningful.

Yesterday we manage to feed approximately 3,250 from the communities of Lavender Hill, Seawinds, Khayelitsha, Parkwood, Manenberg, Retreat, Grassy Park and Vrygrond. We thank all the sponsors for the generous contributions, the team and all those that volunteered to make this possible.

We find an inspirational message in the Quran, where it states: “And whoever saves one life, it is as if he had saved all of humanity.” (Quran 5:32) This verse emphasizes the importance of helping others, and reminds us that even a single act of kindness can have a ripple effect that extends far beyond what we can see.

Ultimately, the message is clear: assisting humanity is a noble and worthwhile pursuit that can bring joy, fulfillment, and purpose to our lives, while making a positive impact on the world around us.

See below pictures of yesterdays feeding:

With the state of the economy, there are many people who are in need of assistance due to various reasons such as poverty, illness, natural disasters, and many others. As responsible individuals, we have a moral obligation to help those in need.

One of the most important steps we can take is to identify the needs of individuals in our surrounding communities. This can be done by reaching out to local charities or community organizations. We can also talk to individuals directly and find out what their needs are. By identifying the needs of individuals, we can better understand how we can help them.

Volunteering is a great way to contribute to helping those in need. It not only helps the individuals in need but also provides a sense of fulfillment to the volunteers themselves. Volunteering can also provide an opportunity to learn new skills and meet new people.

There are many ways in which we can contribute to charitable causes. We can donate money, goods, and services to organizations that help those in need. We can also participate in fundraising events or organize our own events to raise funds for charitable causes. Additionally, we can advocate for causes that we believe in, such as raising awareness about the impact of poverty.

Today we fed 3,200 people from the communities of Vrygrond, Khayelitsha, Lavender Hill, Seawinds, Steenberg, Grassy Park, Ottery and Manenberg. We thank all our sponsors, the team and volunteers for their continued support.

It is therefore our moral obligation as individuals to help those in need. We can do this by identifying their needs, volunteering, and contributing to charitable causes. By doing so, we not only help those in need but also create a better society for all. The Prophet Muhammed SAW said, “whoever helps his brother in times of need, the Almighty will be there in his time of need”. Let’s work together to assist those in our communities, together we can achieve more.

See below some pictures of todays feeding:

We live in a country where many people are suffering from poverty as a result of unemployment and inequality in our country. It is disheartening seeing people suffering in our communities, yet corruption increases resulting in diminished opportunities for people in impoverished communities to change their circumstances. Infrastructure which supports development, growth and the quality of peoples lives are deteriorating, healthcare facilities are not maintained, schools are not equipped for learning and most recently energy has resulted in the loss of jobs, businesses having to close down and impacting productivity in the workplace.

With all these challenges facing us it is important for us to remain patient and remain hopeful in the mercy of the Almighty where circumstances can change in an instant as we are made resilient. The Almighty mentions in the Quran, “Be sure We shall test you with something of fear and hunger, some loss in goods, lives, and the fruits of your toil. But give glad tidings to those who patiently persevere. Those who say, when afflicted with calamity, ‘To Allah we belong, and to Him is our return.’ They are those on whom descend blessings from their Lord, and mercy. They are the ones who receive guidance” (Quran, 2:155-157). This is a reminder that we all will be tested and we should continue to have hope. Hope can be explained as being able to see the light, despite all the darkness.

Yesterday we provided a warm meal to residents of the communities of Salt River, Grassy Park, Highlands, Vrygrond, Khayelitsha, Lavender Hill, Parkwood, Egoli and Retreat feeding approximately 3,200 people. After going into these communities, it is important to reflect on how fortunate we are and be grateful by giving back to our communities where people are less fortunate.

With the energy crisis looming, it is important that we continue to assist the less fortunate in our communities. Your contribution towards our feeding initiatives will assist us to further provide food to those in need during the upcoming winter months. We urge you to support in cash or kind and we would like to thank all the sponsors, the team and volunteers for all your support, together we able to achieve more.

See below pictures of the initiative.

In life we all are able to reflect on a situation whereby we had a dream, one which included making an intention and persevering through to accomplish our objectives. Sometimes we never get started as we don’t make firm intentions or we make our intentions and then give up when times are tough. In the Quran in chapter 53, verse 39 the Almighty states, “Humans can have only that for which they make effort”. It is thus true that strength and growth comes through continuous effort and struggle.

As we reflect on the past two years, having started serving 300 people (two pots) with funds obtained by friends and family, we now managed thanks to the Almighty to increase our feeding to 3,350 people (12 pots). It all started with a good intention and continuous effort to grow tenfold. Since the start our aim was to bring people together, to create unity and through this united front make a difference in our communities. Seeing what has been achieved is as a direct result of the community we brought together and sharing what is being done and where funds are spent, ultimately being completely transparent.

Today we managed to feed 3,350 people taking the total mouths fed to 126,350 to date. We served the communities of Khayelitsha, Vrygrond, Samora Michell, Parkwood, Seawinds, Steenberg, Lavender Hill and Manenberg. We would like to thank you all for your continued support in cash or kind, May you be rewarded for your efforts and May we continue this growth trajectory.

See below pictures of todays initiative:

Love is one of the great secrets of life. It is an integral part of our life and yet many of us struggle to understand it, despite it being the core of human beings. It drives us to do many things to please the beloved or to sacrifice for the beloved. When we love to give, we start to realise that giving is actually receiving. As Mother Theresa said, “It is not how much we give, but how much love we put into giving”.

With your support we managed to provide food parcels to 210 families from the communities including Mitchells Plain, Grassy Park, Lotus River, Retreat, Seawinds, Vanguard, Samora Michel, Belhar and Parkwood.

Abu Huraira reported from Sahih Muslim: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “You will not enter Paradise until you have faith and you will not have faith until you love each other. Shall I show you something that, if you did, you would love each other? Spread peace between yourselves.” How profound is this Hadith that we should spread love as this will attain us paradise.

We would like to thank you for supporting 210 families in our communities and entrusting us with your charities. Alone we can do a little, but together we can do so much.

See below from todays initiative:

How fast has the first two weeks of Ramadaan gone by, yesterday reaching the halfway mark. As human beings many of us tend not to appreciate time, not realising that time is something the Almighty has given us that is restricted, yet so valuable. Once time is gone, it can never be recovered, therefore it is important to use our time wisely and not take for grant the opportunities we have been blessed with.

Today we fed approximately 2,500 taking the total mouths fed to date after this weeks feeding to 111,350. We provided food this week to Belhar, Kuilsriver, Khayelitsha, Lavender Hill, Retreat, Ottery, Lotus River and the informal settlements in Athlone. We thank all the sponsors, the team and volunteers for generously contributing in cash and kind, may the Almighty increase your wealth and grant you all the best of health.

In the Quran the Almighty mentions the importance of time, “By time, indeed, mankind is in loss, Except for those who have believed and done righteous deeds and advised each other to truth and advised each other to patience.” (Quran, 103: 1-3). To understand this verse in the context of reaching the halfway mark, we need to reflect on our lives as if we only had a single day. This verse highlights the Almighty warning us regarding the latter part of the day when people become tired and lazy. One can also understand that we are potentially being warned to reflect that the second half is better that the first. As we reach this halfway mark it is important to reflect on the past weeks but also our lives as it is where we draw lessons from.

As Albert Einstein said, “In the middle of everything lies opportunity”, therefore as we have reached the half of Ramadaan may we reflect on the past two weeks and take the next weeks as an opportunity to do more. Often it is said that it is not how one starts that matters most, but rather how one ends. May we be granted good endings not only for Ramadaan but in our lives.

Few pictures of todays initiatives:

Yesterday we provided eight pots of food to communities of Ottery, Parkwood and Samora Michell for people to break their fast. How people flock to our religious places in the various communities seeking aid when hungry and when faced with many other challenges. Our religious places should be the centre point in our communities for people to turn to. In addition to providing food to the communities, we also undertook breaking our fast and sharing a meal with orphaned children, what a humbling and amazing experience it was.

Feeding initiative

“Trying to put an end to poverty is a complicated issue, but feeding people those in need of food is not”

We fed approximately 2,000 people yesterday taking our total feeding to 107,670 which includes the feedings this week. How fortunate are we to be able to give back to our communities, inspiring them with hope and positivity. We pray that the Almighty alleviates them from the adversities.

Serving the orphans

“The true character of a society is revealed in how it treats children”

Nelson Mandela

According to UNICEF, it is estimated that 153 million children worldwide are orphans with approximately 5,700 children becoming orphaned daily. UNESCO released statistics that approximately 263 million children and youth are out of school and the World Bank released a statement indicating that there are 69 million children worldwide who suffer from malnutrition. If children is the future leaders, surely we need to make a change today.

As we arrived at Junaid Safe Haven orphanage last night, we were welcomed with smiles and the faces immediately lit up from excitement. We had the opportunity to break our fast and share an evening meal with fourteen orphans ranging from one year to fifteen years old and two caregivers, being Uncle Junaid (Husband) and Aunty Fouzia (Wife). We would like to thank Uncle Junaid and Aunty Fouzia for the opportunity and welcoming us into your beautiful home.

After preparing the meal, we finally got the opportunity to engage with the children and caregivers. Uncle Junaid and Aunty Fouzia indicated that they have been fostering children for thirty years, picking children up from the streets, people leaving there children with them and never returning and receiving foster children from Social Services. Although all these sacrifices, ensuring the children obtain an education, are nourished and clothed daily, they do not receive an sustainable income from government and have to live off their saving to ensure the upkeep and nurturing of the children.

We applaud Uncle Junaid and Aunty Fouzia for all your efforts and to all others helping children that have been orphaned or abandoned.

We would like to thank all our sponsors, the team and volunteers for all your support, without you we would not be able to create joy on the faces of these children.

Zakaah is one of the Pillars of Islam and it’s importance cannot be stressed, yet so much of us neglect this duty bestowed upon us. Zakaah is an Arabic word that relates to cleanliness, growth, blessings and praise. Zakaah is defined as a form of charity to purify our wealth, increase our blessings in life of which we will obtain a great reward. It has been made obligatory for every Muslim to give this charity once a year calculated as 2.5% of one’s excess wealth to widows, orphans, disabled, the needy and destitute. In simple terms, Zakaah is considered right of the poor on the wealth of the rich, therefore withholding Zakaah is depriving the poor of their due share. We see how peoples morals are impacted, arising from the love and greed of wealth. By giving charity, it assists us to detach ourselves from our wealth and prevents us from becoming enslaved chasing after wealth on a daily basis.

Despite our religions and beliefs, charity and the importance of being of service to humanity is a duty for each an everyone of us. Have we ever asked ourselves why the Almighty has made certain acts obligatory upon us and others not? One can only imagine it’s importance, how much these obligatory acts are loved by the Almighty and how these will be of benefit to us when rendering these acts.

Today we fed approximately 2,500 people in the communities of Vrygrond, Retreat, Lavender Hill, Belhar and Khayelitsha with dhal, rice and akni . We thank our distribution partners, sponsors, the team and all those that volunteer, this would not have been possible without your support. We ask the Almighty to make us realise that giving is actually receiving, that less is actually more and allow us to be grateful and serve humanity.

As human beings there is no exercise better for the heart than reaching down and lifting people up. We go through life to eventually find our gift, then slowly realise that the purpose of life is to give it away. How many of us give our all and feel as though it cost us nothing, this is what one considers true generosity. As we approach the holy month of Ramadaan, May the Almighty allow the blessings of this month to penetrate our hearts, for us to be more generous in giving back and for us to become conscious and cognisant of the Almighty.

Today we managed to feed approximately 2,500 mouths from the communities of Lavender Hill, Vrygrond, Khayelitsha, Retreat, Parkwood, Ottery and Samora Michel. We would like to thank all of the team, sponsors and distributors for your continued support. We would also like to say thank you to Ebrahim Mia for providing us the opportunity to feed the community of Samora Michel and may we grow to establish a kitchen in the community if God wills.

We humbly request your support towards our ramadaan initiatives, we received a total of 20% of the funding required Algamdulila to ensure that these initiatives are excecuted, these include cooking, food parcels and iftar at the orphanage. Thank you for all your support, together we are able to assist more people in our communities.

See below pictures of todays feeding initiative: