|
Orphan and Needy Children Sponsorship Program |
|
|
|
 “They ask you (O Muhammad Sallallâhu ‘alayhi wasallam what they should spend. Say: Whatever you spend of good must be for parents and kindred and orphans and Al Masakin [the poor] and the wayfarer, and whatever you do of good deeds, truly Allah knows it well.” (Surah Al Baqarah: 215)
The occupation of Palestine coupled with the Al Aqsa Intifada [uprising] has seen practically the entire Palestinian population being affected, either directly or indirectly. As is the case in all conflict regions, the weaker within the society tend to feel the major brunt of the difficulty and this is clearly evident within the lives of the children of Palestine. The Palestinian Ministry of Health reports that children under the age of fourteen make up almost half (46%) of the total population of the West Bank, Gaza and Al-Quds (Jerusalem) Many of these children, who come from large families, have little or no source of income. This may be due either to death sustained by the breadwinner or the crippling of the Palestinian economy that has increased unemployment. Such families are entirely dependent on food aid provided by local aid agencies and NGO’s on behalf of donors from other countries.
Currently, by the grace of Allâh, AFSA is managing more than 800 orphans on behalf of generous Southern African donors. These monthly donations assist in the provision of basic necessities such as food, clothing and education.
Muhammad Sallallâhu ‘alayhi wasallam is reported to have said: “I and the sponsor of the orphan are in Jannah like this (showing his index and middle fingers and separating them).” (Sahih Bukharî)
Needy Children Sponsorship Program
The Needy Children Sponsorship Programme is a new project that AFSA has embarked upon. The need for this assistance has arisen largely due to the fact that most Palestinian children who are not even orphans are in need of assistance. This is primarily due to parents having sustained serious injuries as well as the high levels of unemployment that are being experienced.
How the programs are run:
Both programs operate on two levels:
- Sponsorship of a specific orphan/needy child at a fixed minimum monthly donation of R350.00 or
- A contribution of any amount to general orphan/needy child programme
Upon becoming a sponsor, you receive the following:
- Basic information (living conditions, education, health, etc) as well as a photograph of the orphan/needy child;
- Regular follow-up reports from field workers on the well being and educational progress of the orphan/needy child. We strive to give to feedback on an annual basis; and,
- Correspondence from the orphan/needy child or his/her guardian. These are normally received in Arabic and translated into English for the sponsor by AFSA
Additionally, we strive to ensure that all correspondence between the sponsor and child (additional gifts and letters) are received by both parties. |
