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Ramadan generosity: Wits Muslim group feeds the hungry

  • Writer: Salim Nkosi
    Salim Nkosi
  • Mar 26, 2024
  • 2 min read

Updated: Apr 19, 2024

By: Salim Nkosi

  

Wits religious student association brings smiles to children’s faces through an Iftaar drive.


The Muslim Student Association (MSA Wits Med & Edu Campus) has launched two initiatives this Ramadan to assist disadvantaged Muslim communities with food and clothing.  


The initiatives are called the Iftaar, which is named after the main meal eaten when the fast is broken at around 18:30, while the other is called the Clothing Drive. The Iftaar, is usually proceeded with a hearty meal encouraged by large congregations or shared with family.  


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MSA Member Wits kneeling to interact with the children - Photo: Aatika Bhikha

Ramadan is the 9th special month of the Islamic lunar calendar in which Muslims are obligated to fast from sunrise to sunset for 30 days. Just like most religions, Muslims have certain times of the year to celebrate their faith and Ramadan is one of them. 


The drives are made possible through community donors who support these initiatives. The first one happened on the 16 March 2024 at Maraisburg Boys Orphanage, which is one of the five targeted locations the group plans to visit.  


On Saturday, the MSA Committee visited its second location in Kibler Park, the United Souls Organization, a children’s home in Johannesburg. During this pop-in, the committee interacted with the children and distributed food packages.   


The MSA Wits Med & Edu head of projects and events Aatika Bhikha said, “this is not the first time the committee has visited a children’s home” she said that they have visited multiple children's homes before in the previous years. Most of the children in the United Souls Organization are a bit older, there is one who is a female barber, there is two others who are working.


“The significance of these drives is that they are happening in Ramadan, this is the month of giving, we try as much to give back to the community, we try to make people’s lives easier so we can gain thawab (rewards)”, said Bhikha. 


The United Souls Organization has become a home for these children, as most of them

came in when they were young. 


Aunty Nadia is their mom, who tries to advise them not to leave, she fears they may be abandoned.


The committee’s chairperson Huzaifah Basheer said that before the end of this fasting month, the committee plans to host its biggest event in Lenasia. On this day, three places will be visited on the target list, and this will possibly be the closing of their 2024 Ramadan initiatives.

 
 
 

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