Updated 16 December 2008
“Be kind to the orphans of others so that your own orphans will equally receive kindness.” (The Holy Prophet, SAW – Sermon on Ramadhan)
This past Ramadhan, the hearts of thousands of orphan children, families, widows, the sick and those in prison in Dodoma, Tanzania were filled with love and laughter as the Ramadhan Relief Program provided the comforts of food, drink and clothing.
Each year, The World Federation works with the Dar ul Muslimeen Orphanage in Dodoma, who organises a number if vital programmes for the needy Shia Muslims in the Tanzania. Among many other activities, the following were arranged this year:
- Open Kitchen Iftaars welcomed Muslims for a meal followed by a Dua and lecture;
- Food packages were distributed to more than 500 needy families, students of 8 Boarding Secondary Schools, Muslim Prisoners in Two Prisons, Madrasah teachers and 5 orphanages;
- Cash Gifts were gifted to needy Shia families;
- A Qur’an Hifz Competition was organised for the children;
- Eid Gifts were provided for orphans, widows, Muballigheen, teachers and Hawza students;
- Eid lunch was arranged for Muslim prisoners;
- Ramadhan awareness and spiritual seminars were held on all four weekends (8 days).
DISTRIBUTION OF IFTAR AND ISLAMIC BOOKS AT MBABALA VILLAGE
13 September 2008 was a historic day for the Muslim Residents of Mbabala Village (35 km from Dodoma), when Dar-ul-Muslimeen members visited them to distribute food parcels for Iftaar as well as Islamic books. Food packets containing rice, sugar, oil, maize flour, spaghetti and other items were gifted to almost 80 Muslim families there.
One of the elders of the Masjid where the distribution took place, Mzee Omary, thanked Dar-ul-Muslimeen for the Iftaar saying: “…it was a great motivation for the poor Muslim villagers who no longer feel isolated now after this historic visit by their Muslim brothers from Dar-ul-Muslimeen. Before this, no Muslim organisation has cared to visit us or brought us assistance, as far as I remember." Mbabala is a small village with approximately 950 families, majority of whom being Christians who are helped by the church missionaries.
EID GIFTS DISTRIBUTION
The Eid gifts distributed included cash money, kanzu (white robes), and dresses for women and children, Holy Quran, and stationery for students. Those who benefitted from these gifts included 49 widows, 92 orphans, 24 seniors, 45 Mubllighs, Madrasah teachers and volunteers and 150 children from the community.
Bibi Adam, one of the senior ladies beamed with joy and showed her gifted dress to everyone said: "Now I have a new dress for the Eid". The joy of the children was beyond description as they had something to celebrate for the Eid occasion.”
For more information, please email relief@world-federation.org