Orphans ready to meet their ‘angels’
CARING FOR and sharing with orphans is an essential aspect of the Islamic ethos for many reasons, including that the Prophet Mohammed was an orphan for most of his life, says Gatesville Mosque Board of Trust spokesperson Sataar Parker.
In keeping with the spirit of giving, the Mosque will adopt 112 children as part of its Eid Angels campaign. The initiative will culminate in the distribution of personalised boxes tomorrow.
The project was the brainchild of the assistant secretary of the Mosque’s executive committee, Laila Parker, who spends time with orphans, aged between 3 and 14, to ascertain their likes and dislikes, favourite colours, fashion preferences, and sizes.
Donors are then given a fixed budget to spend, to fill the Eid box, and are encouraged to personally shop for requested items. Tomorrow the donors will meet their orphans and hand over the Eid boxes.
“Every year, Christmas would come around, and there would be so many great initiatives run and the whole community could get involved… I sat back and thought, we should do something along these lines for Eid, and with this Eid Angels was born. It comprises a personalised Eid outfit, as well as essential items for each child,” Parker said.
This is the second year Gatesville Mosque is hosting the event, which has grown from 52 children last year.
“A moment that stood out for me last year was when one of the children came up to me, so excited for their new toothbrush. A toothbrush! I couldn’t help but think we take so much for granted, just being able to go out and purchase the simplest items,” Laila Parker said.
The project is still in its infancy, and needs the help of the broader community to make it an annual event at the Mosque.
Parker said the campaign was in line with the mosque’s “Charity with Dignity towards Parity” motto.
“Members of the public are invited to experience this culmination of all the varied activities at the mosque for Ramadaan.
“The function commences at 1.30pm. This campaign is wonderful in the sense that it gets people personally involved in goodwill. It’s different to just offloading money – the donors spend time thinking about what they buy for the children, and they get to meet the orphans,” Sataar Parker said.
To get involved in next year’s event, e-mail info@masjidulquds.co.za