Saturday Star

All the ingredient­s to make a difference

- STAFF REPORTER

A FINAL drive is under way across South Africa this weekend to raise funds for the #SAveSyria initiative.

#OperationS­A started the nationwide campaign last month and it has raised R12.45 million for humanitari­an efforts so far.

Cake sales are taking place across 30 venues today to “raise more money. Every rand collected is going to people in need in Syria,” said one of the organisers, Zaheera Bham-Ismail.

The South African National Muslim Women’s Forum (SANMWF) has rallied together across towns and cities countrywid­e to lend support to #OperationS­A #SAveSyria.

“Communitie­s are invited to attend the various cake and bake sales. All funds raised are being donated to organisati­ons working on the ground in Syria via #OperationS­A,” said Bham-Ismail.

“South Africans are lending a hand to help.

This united effort shows families and communitie­s who are walking the talk of kindness, generosity and selflessne­ss of spirit,” she added.

Nasreen Chamda from Joburg, a finalist in the Great South African Bake Off 2016, has whipped up a special cake in the shape of Syria and South Africa.

“In additional, I have made 300 cupcakes, 400 Syrian biscuits and lots of cookie dough,” said Chamda. “I will be in Mayfair and Greenside selling the goodies and I am happy to be contributi­ng to a cause which is very close to my heart.”

The amateur baker has been busy for the past two days preparing her cakes,

biscuits and dough. “My heart breaks when I see what is happening in Syria and I decided to join the humanitari­an fund raising drive led by #OperationS­A,” she said.

#OperationS­A co-founder and social activist Yusuf Abramjee said R10.8m has been paid to seven charities and final payments will be made next week.

“The response from across the country has been fantastic and we will raise a few hundred thousand rand this weekend through the cake sales,” he told the Saturday Star.

“We have a 100% donation policy and will make sure that every rand donated goes directly to people in need. We have told the NGOs that money is allowed to go towards salaries, travel, commission­s, etc.

“People are still suffering in Syria. The refugees, widows and orphans need more help. The millions of rand we collected will go a long way to ease the suffering,” Abramjee, who recently visited Syria said.

He said organisati­ons such as the Al-Imdaad Foundation, Islamic Relief SA and Africa Muslims Agency have already channelled aid to refugees.

“I hope to return to the Turkish/ Syrian border soon to ensure that the humanitari­an aid reaches the people on the ground,” said Abramjee.

He thanked South Africans for opening their hearts and donating “so generously. The #SAveSyria drive has again showed we are a caring nation and we always make a difference.” On his return from the region, Abramjee said he witnessed “suffering of epic proportion­s and it broke my heart.”

#OperationS­A will start focusing on emergency humanitari­an assistance locally in the coming months.

“We launched the #SAveSyria drive in response to urgent calls for help. We managed to mobilise in a very short space of time. We will now slowly start focusing on needs right here in South Africa,” said #OperationS­A activist Yaseen Theba.

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 ??  ?? Shaheda Denath, Hawa Patel and Zaheera BhamIsmail of the SA National Muslim Women’s Forum with Nasreen Chamda, right, who has baked a cake for the #SAveSyria #OperationS­A fundraisin­g initiative.
Shaheda Denath, Hawa Patel and Zaheera BhamIsmail of the SA National Muslim Women’s Forum with Nasreen Chamda, right, who has baked a cake for the #SAveSyria #OperationS­A fundraisin­g initiative.

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