Saturday, 24 August 2013 00:00
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The annual Ramadan Relief Program, organised by the Azizah Foundation and sponsored by Muslime Helfen, Germany, was an immaculate success with the Islamic holy month of Ramadan coming to an end.
Ramadan Relief is an annual program, which aims to distribute dry rations and “fitrah” during the holy month of Ramadan. This year the foundation organised the providing of over 12,500 packs of dry rations and fitrah by the help and grace of its massive donor Muslime Helfen to the needy families of the area. Each pack included basic food items such as rice, flour, lentils, sugar, tea, dried fish and dates. As part of the Ramadan Relief program, the foundation also organised “Iftar” in mosques to allow the poor to break fast in these areas.
Azizah Foundation is a charitable organisation established in 1996 by its founder and present Chairman Moulavi S.L.M. Hassan (Azhari) with a view to serve the under privileged community of the Trincomalee District. For close to two decades, the foundation has initiated and carried out a number of projects to succumb and benefit the local community.
Muslim Helfen, a Germany-based organisation is involved in charity work in nearly 30 countries in Africa and Asia, has been amicably supporting the Azizah Foundation on a number of projects since the aftermath of the 2004 tsunami disaster which hit and caused colossal damage to the coastal regions of the Island. The partnership was initiated during the visit of Muslime Helfen’s Chairman, Herr. Ahmed Von Denfer in Sri Lanka, who after then took active interest in monitoring the progress of Muslime Helfen’s work through Azizah Foundation.
Moulavi Hassan, who is also a Member of the Eastern Provincial Council, with the help of Muslime Helfen established the Hassanath Boy’s and Girl’s Orphanages, which provide shelter and education to the children in its care, this took place soon after the tsunami disaster where two permanent residences that could accommodate 200 orphans was donated by Muslime Helfen that aimed at fostering orphaned children to give them a solution to the predicament they were going through for a better tomorrow.
Hassanath Orphanages have been running for over 25 years without any permanent income and therefore considering this plight, Muslime Helfen, helped to plant young coconut trees on a 10 acre land as income generating program to benefit the orphanages.
Since more than 75% families are living below the poverty line in the Trincomalee District, Muslime Helfen has been responsible for granting five goats to each family to uplift their earnings and life and therefore over 200 families have been benefitted by this project.
Azizah Foundation coordinated along with Muslime Helfen on a self employment project and provided necessary equipments and tools to the local masons and carpenters to enhance their lives.
After the tsunami catastrophe, much of the natural habitats and buildings were destroyed and one such venue was the Kinniya Base Hospital where medical attention was scarce for patients. With regard to this, the Azizah Foundation promptly acted by starting a temporary hospital facility with the help of its donors Muslime Helfen- Germany and Discover Islam- Bahrain which was able to sort out immediate necessities of the deprived and challenged. Thereafter the foundation provided free medical service to the people of remote and backward areas and provided emergency medical kits for their welfare. Muslim Helfen also provided 1000 disaster management kits, which are to be used in the event of such occurrences similar to the 2004 tsunami. Projects involving the enhancement of local public facilities are also carried out by Azizah Foundation. One such recent project was installing air-conditioners to the ICU and the operating theatre at the Kinniya Base Hospital. With the aim of socio- economic development of the local community, the foundation also conducts career development and skills training programs to school leavers and job seekers. Participants of such educational programs are given training in the field of English language, IT, Islamic studies and personal development. A number of scholarships are also offered to deserving students hailing from needy families. At a time of economical hardship and escalating cost of living, relief measures such as this are a critical need of the hour in our society. Recognising this, the Azizah Foundation aims to carry out as many relief programs throughout the year, in partnership with Muslime Helfen and its numerous other donors.
