Ndugu Mdogo Donates Foodstuffs to Families Living in Difficulties

Ndugu Mdogo Rescue Center on Monday 29 August offered bundles of assorted foodstuff donations to the deprived families of the Muslim community in Kibera ahead of the official mark of the end of the Ramadan fasting season.

The donated foodstuffs were targeting 20 most poor families, the disabled and the aged within Karanja Road neighborhood at the heart of Kibera Slums, Gatwekera, Lindi, Makina, Soweto and Fort Jesus among others areas in the outskirts of Kibera. Distribution of the foodstuffs was carried out in the evening at the rescue center coordinated by the Center’s Management and the area’s Salama Mosque.

In acknowledging the fact that Kibera’s Muslim Population is huge, the Rescue Center’s contribution was a show of solidarity and respect to the Muslim society within their vicinity during this time when they are celebrating the end of their month-long fasting season.

“The main aim of the donation was to offer the deprived Muslims in the area, who have been taking part in the fast, with something little to go and celebrate with,” says Jack Matika, the Rescue Center Project Manager. “The poor have been fasting like any other person, but they don’t have anything to celebrate with during this celebration. So it’s important to share with them the little we have during this festive season” he added.

Muslim children from the center were not left out in the program, where they were feted with presents ahead of the official celebrations. They were presented with new clothes and shoes as an expression of best wishes from Koinonia Community for their dedication. They were seven children observing the holy month actively taking part in the fast.

Asked about the significance of the fasting, nine year old Balsim Karim from Ndugu Mdogo said, “it’s a season we fast to repent and seek God’s mercies.” Karim together with the seven others Koinonia beneficiaries who are marking the celebrations thanked the entire Koinonia community and their fellow house-mates at the center for supporting them during the period, welcoming everyone else to share with them in the coming celebrations.

Head of the Salama Mosque Sheikh Amani Salim was at the center to witness the distribution and thanked Koinonia Community for their expression of gratitude towards the Muslim society, praising it for the desirable work it is doing in the area.

“We thank Koinonia for their donations during this festive season; this contribution is more than a day’s meal. We moreover thank Fr.Kizito for his work in this area of Karanja Rd and the entire Kibera”, said Mr. Salim.

Mr. Salim promised more cooperation between the Salama area and Koinonia Community in future projects, highlighting the need of such kind of partnership irrespective of societal diversities.

Elderly Abuba Fatuma Hassan who was among the beneficiaries of the foodstuffs expressed her joy saying that the much she received will help her mark the day like any other Muslim, something that had kept her worried since she couldn’t afford it owing to the high prices.

The Holy month of Ramadan for Muslims usually starts with sight of the new moon which marks the beginning of the 9th month of the Islamic calendar, and continues for a month until the first crescent of the new moon can be seen again.

Fasting is one of the pillars of Islam, which a Muslim has to observe during the month of Ramadan. They only have meals twice a day, one before the sunrise and the other after the sunsets. During this period, all able believers are called to fast as the best way to concentrate devotion to God “Allah”, praying for mercies and forgiveness.

The end of Ramadan is marked by the Eid-ul-Fitr festivities which signify spread of love and happiness through the sharing of celebrations among all Muslims especially with the poor.

The Kenyan government has declared August 31 as a National holiday when the Muslims all over will be marking end of the holy month. In his goodwill message and greetings, President Mwai Kibaki lauded the Muslim community for their dedication throughout the entire period, wishing them joy and blessings.