Sunday, August 15, 2010

Finding Aunty Fatima

Aunty Fatima
A street lined by trees quickly turns to one lined by 4 storey flats and low cost housing as we cautiously meander our way through a neighborhood not too far from ours.  Houses covered in barbed wire, broken windows and bars, evidently not keeping out criminals which this neighborhood infests.  We reach the flat where Aunty Fatima lives and are overcome with  a sense of apprehension while we are met with a few guys sharing bottles of their afternoon beer and chatting whilst little kids donned with fez’s are playing in their midst.
We are greeted by Aunty Fatima, grateful for the very little things we were able to bring. She houses 25 children some orphans, others mostly foster, saved from either abusive parents or left by ones that have abandoned them at birth.  We sit in the lounge of a tiny three bed roomed flat chatting to this remarkable lady who tells us the story of how she has been doing this for the last 35 years and that she cant imagine her life being any different.
It is the 4th day of Ramadaan and I sit there thinking that I had ready made pies and other delicacies in my freezer and that this lady housing 25 children was wondering what to make for supper for their choices were so limited. It is the 4th day of Ramadaan and I sat there thinking that Allah has given us this great opportunity to help and He Hehhas brought us here to show us that all this planning and requests for appeals is worth every ounce of work, as people like Aunty Fatima will benefit
It is the 4th day of Ramadaan and once again the streets turns to those lined with trees. Overwhelmed,  we drive back home wondering how many others  there are like Aunty Fatima who have unselfishly given up their own lives to look after other children and it is then that we realize that they are all Allah’s children. That we are just instruments, that good only comes through His mercy.

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Fundraising starts

As the dawn of Ramadaan draws nearer and the excitement for another gained opportunity, for mercy, closeness, forgiveness and spiritual upliftment mounts. We embark on the start of our fundraising.

We send out communication to every social network and electronic media at our disposal in the anticipation that the beauty of this month will open up hearts and minds with generosity and kindness.

We call on everyone who is able to contribute in any small way to assist us in making the lives of those less fortunate much more comfortable, that they too can have a Ramadaan Kareem. That they only need to focus on their spiritual upliftment and not worry about what how they will break their fast.

Already our fig network is growing with so many wanting to assist, wanting to make a difference. And we are ready to show you how to do just that! So join us and lets make a difference together insha-Allah.

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Creating fig

Sometimes it takes just a thought followed by an action to put the wheels of charity in motion. 

Every year we meet up with individuals who cross our paths and as random as we think they are, they are planned by the best of Planners! It is up to us to turn what we think is just another random meeting in to a meaningful one.

And this was how we begun to create fig, discarding the names we called ourselves by, to one that captures what we have become. A few nights spent in meetings, strategising, networking and planning. We combine our efforts, skills and passions to help those less fortunate and form a small but dynamic team.

We add to our team some young individuals, enthusiastic to make a difference in their world and that of others.

And we become the friends in giving network