Bridging the Divide of Poverty - Ramadan's Gift of Giving

For Muslims, Ramadan is a month of spiritual purity, filled with the glory of self-restraint, sacrifice, and charity. However, for many people, breaking the fast (Iftaar) in the evening may be a luxury due to poverty. They fast from dawn to dusk, unable to eat good food to fill their stomachs while breaking the fast.

The middle class or upper class of society who can afford good food should also buy the same food for the poor and neglected people. Because they are also part of society, they work hard and do many things for us that we can't do! As a result, we are living a good life. For example, a laborer, who has participated in constructing a beautiful building for several years, is paid very little! He may need more than this small wage to provide his family good food or education. So, we should behave well with them and share our happiness. By fasting during Ramadan, we can feel the pain of their hunger!

The outcome of our project

I took up my organization, A71's "Ramadan Project" to distribute Iftar to hundreds of helpless pedestrians. We have been able to feed more than 120 needy people.

We extended our efforts by providing Eid Bazaar to 30 poor families. This has been possible due to the enormous support we have received from our volunteers, who have collected funds from their families, friends, and relatives.

Iftar is the fast-breaking evening meal of Muslims in Ramadan at the time of Adhan (call to prayer) of the Maghrib prayer.

My Experience

Iftar is around 6 pm, after Maghrib prayer. My team and I meet at a specific place around 4:30 and discuss how we will complete the work. After the discussion, I split the whole group into 4 small groups and sent them to different parts of the city! All the groups had to endure the crowd during the distribution of Iftar! It was challenging to work!

Meanwhile, every volunteer was new to social work! Some of them were of other religions! They are also impressed with our work and come to volunteer! Then after the call to prayer, we all together with the poor and helpless and break the fast together! This is the beauty of Islam!

As a team, we feel grateful and honored to make a difference in these people's lives during the holy month of Ramadan. We must continue working towards a better and more just society for all.

Why do I love to do social work?

When I feel sad, I try to do something for the neglected poor of society; if I can't, I talk to them and smile, and they also give me a smile back! As a result, all my sorrows go away! There is no better pain reliever than this!

While distributing Iftar, I saw a helpless, poor mother by the park who was putting her children to sleep. I went to her and asked, "Are you fasting?" She said, "Yes, but I have not been able to feed my children all day; they have gone to sleep crying because they are hungry," she cried. I then gave some packets of various food as Iftaar to all of them! She hugged me happily, with a smile on her face! Seeing her smile, I also smiled; on the way back, I felt a tear in one of my eyes! My chest felt very light seeing so many smiling faces that day!