VOC’s flagship Ramadan outreach project ended on a high note at Masjidul Ameer in Ruyterwacht on Sunday, with hundreds of community members streaming in, mostly children. The 16th Ahlan Wa Sahlan programme was an opportunity for VOC to engage with the local community for an afternoon of soothing Quranic recitation and thikr, in the build up to Lailatul Qadr. The final outreach had a strong focus on children, as VOC also hosted the 2015 Kids Ramadan project.
The success of AWS is based on its ideals – the social investment programme strives to retain the deen of Islam and promotes social equality.
“The ability to provide someone something to eat for iftar and looking after the poor can never be underestimated,” says AWS co-ordinator Ebrahim Arnold.
Scores of young and elderly men crammed into the masjid, ready to begin the Khatam. In the women’s section, there was a good turnout of youth.
Iftar was sponsored by humanitarian organization Gift of the Givers and the Khatam al Quran coordinated by VOC.
For Arnold, admiration had to be attributed to impoverished communities like Ruyterwacht in their ability to overcome challenges as preserving religion and providing for the destitute.
“The impoverished communities work harder to retain the deen of Islam and still have to provide for the poor,” says Arnold.
With the programme in full swing inside the masjid, outside there was an atmosphere of excitement and appreciation as VOC Ramadan Kiddies Project concluded. 250 children pitched at the event, lining up inside the marquee to receive their Bucket of Joy and Certificate for Fasting.
This side initiative is not only aimed at celebrating first time fasting youth but served as a pinnacle of hope for impoverished communities.
“Our children have the right concept of fasting…they know that they are doing it for the sake of Allah. They shared with me that they are fasting to feel the pain of going without food and how the poor and needy people feel,” says VOC Afternoon Cruise presenter Aeysha Laatoe.
All children were handed over a new Quran, a good incentive for them to start reciting.
“One girl told me that because of the Quran we gave last year, she is now in Quran,” says Laatoe.
The project was primarily aimed at all primary school learners fasting for the first time. Children were obliged to pay a R20 donation. All proceeds went to an initiative called Buckets of Joy.
With this programme, children witnessed the gift of giving and the conditions in which poverty stricken communities are subjected to.
Children were over joyed with the certificates they received for fasting the month of Ramadan. They shared their feelings about the accomplishment.
“I am so excited that I have fasted the whole month of Ramadan,” says Ilyaaz Kadar.
“I feel happy,” beamed Zaakirah Linsay.
“I did not find it difficult to fast the month of Ramadan,” exclaimed Layla Jappie.
VOC and Gift of the Givers have thanked the Muslim community for their support this year. VOC (Nailah Cornelissen)