Al Baraka Bank SA undertook a national initiative to Feed the Poor and Support Local NGOs this Mandela Day
All over the world, the 18th of July represents a day that commemorates the Father of our Rainbow Nation, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela.
His legacy is echoed across the globe, as an ambassador of equality, justice, and peace. In 2005, Mandela delivered an inspiring speech at London’s Trafalgar Square, about one of his life’s continuous endeavours, (i.e., poverty alleviation), in which he said:
“Do not look the other way; do not hesitate. Recognise that the world is hungry for action, not words. Act with courage and vision.”
Each year, the late former president would invite children to his rural home in Qunu, where they would be fed and provided with gifts.
This year's Nelson Mandela International Day was commemorated under the theme: “It is in Your Hands.”
Al Baraka Bank, South Africa, a leading Islamic financial institution, chooses to uphold this sentiment on Mandela Day. The Bank partnered with NGOs in Kwa-Zulu Natal, Gauteng, and Western Cape, to facilitate the handing out of meals to underprivileged people as well as providing required equipment and appliances.
Al Baraka Bank's Sustainability and Social Responsibility Officer, Ms Fathima Mohamed, said:
“Nelson Mandela proclaimed that poverty is not natural, it is manmade. He believed that it can be overcome and even eradicated by our actions. In honour of Madiba’s legacy, we at Al Baraka Bank, SA, believe that it is our responsibility to act upon this regularly, as well as support the local NGOs who strive to ameliorate the conditions of the underprivileged in our beloved country.”
The Bank’s staff were all hands-on in the various regions, actively participating in the preparation and distribution of the freshly prepared meals. The recipients who were enlightened by the interactions of the staff shared their plights and challenges which was an overwhelming experience.
In the Kwa-Zulu Natal region, the Bank has partnered with WeFEED SA to provide the Aryan Benevolent Home in Chatsworth with an Industrial Toaster and Air Pot Flasks valued at R20 000.
The ABH is a registered NPO and PBO offering care and shelter to a variety of groups which include the aged and frail, victims of violence & abuse, children in need and the mentally & physically challenged. The work they do spans over the care for the elderly, children, abused women, mentally challenged, paraplegics and quadriplegics.
In the Gauteng Region, the Bank provided desks to the value of R 22 000 for the Sultan Bahu Centre’s, ECD (early childhood development) centre.
The Sultan Bahu Centre covers a spectrum of human needs ranging from hunger alleviation with feeding programme and a home for vulnerable children to successful drug rehabilitation centres and specialised medical care.
In Cape Town, the Bank provided Invisible Hands with Aluminium Pots valued at R 20 000 for preparing meals, assisting in their feeding schemes, as well as upgrading their security cameras.
Invisible Hands is an organisation that feeds the indigent and impoverished communities; having just started a few years ago, they have fed almost 2 million people, and have 100 distributors who collect food from them and feed their communities.
“Our small, though important, gesture is to ensure that at least some of our country’s citizens enjoy a warm meal, as well as assisting a few NGOs to do their incredible work. We would encourage families and businesses to also use this annual opportunity to visit homes, spend time with the elderly or infirm, feed the poor, and assist your local NGOs in any way you can.” said Ms Mohamed.
Media Enquiries: For information about Al Baraka Bank and its national Mandela Day Initiative,
please contact:
Ms Fathima Mohamed, Sustainability and Social Responsibility Officer
Mobile : 079 754 1551
Email : fmohamed@albaraka.co.za