This year’s Eid of Sacrifice was celebrated in mid-October. For many in comfortable homes, Eid is a day of family festivity and is celebrated with good food and lots of treats. The Eid of Hajj, however, is a time of global solidarity. At Mustadafin Foundation, as always, we know that this solidarity must start in our own back yard. This is why we are committed to ensuring that the hungriest and poorest get to celebrate too.
On the 15th October teams of volunteers took shifts cleaning 800kg of potatoes, 1000 kg of chicken, 200kg of onions, 150 bunches of dhania and 1000kg of rice in preparation for a night of cooking that would lead to feeding almost 15000 people the following day. Armed with potato peelers, it was difficult to tell the engineers, doctors, housewives, accountants, cleaners and events managers apart. Everyone was simply an extraordinary human being, willing to make a difference.
By 10pm when preparation entered the cook off phase, the atmosphere was abuzz as visitors from the American Institute of Foreign students, the Bluebells Cricket club and Mustadafin Family and Friends got their pots sizzling to the harmonious rhythm created by three Nasheed groups. With the collective efforts of approximately 50 volunteers throughout the day, we were able to cook 4000 litres of food.
“When can we do this again?” asked a science teacher who brought his two brothers along with him to cook. “I feel my time spent here makes my Eid meaningful!” His sentiment was shared by other volunteers who only left their stoves at 1.30am on Eid morning.
Food was distributed across the Cape flats on Eid morning to areas including Delft, Khayelitsha, Crossroads, Kewtown, Hanover Park, Mitchells Plain, Bonteheuwel, Belhar, Netreg, Brooklyn to name a few.
With your support, Mustadfin Foundation can continue to serve these communities and ensure that every time you celebrate, they get to smile too. Click our Volunteer link to sign up for the next event.