The smallest gesture of kindness can make a huge difference
Ramadhan is a special time of the year when Muslims around the world take a step back from their daily routines and focus on community, charity, fasting, and prayer. Even the smallest gesture of kindness can make a huge difference in someone's life.
During Ramadhan, many charity groups come together in different ways with the aim of supporting the values associated with the holy month. Charity campaigns and teams vary and compete in providing the best possible to the needy in the society.
Al Rahma Group of Charity is one of the many non-government organisations founded in the Sultanate a few years ago. In the six days since the Ramadhan fasting began, the group was able to provide iftar for more than 2000 expatriate Muslims and passers-by during mass iftars organized in Seeb and Maabaila industrial area.
Mass iftars are held annually everyday during the holy month in an effort to help a large number of those who are less fortunate to arrange their own iftar, irrespective of their nationality and background.
The team accepts 'zakat' dues and charities of all kinds throughout the year. The donations are accepted at its headquarters in Al Khoudh and cash is received through bank accounts.
Prior to Ramadhan, the team members, who are mostly from families of social security and low-income group, come together to make preparations for this charity events. They coordinate with other charity organizations and prepare food-stuff, clothing, house wares, and other things to be distributed to the needy families.
Every year Al Rahma Group of Charity manages to get enough supplies for hundreds of needy families in the country during Ramadhan. Most of goods distributed are bought with charity money and other things donated by people. The team not only covers the wilayat of Seeb, but it sends trucks full of supplies to the other wilayats in the Sultanate.
According to a senior official in the team, the beneficiaries of this help is subjected to a case study before issuing the decision whether they deserve the charity support or not.
The Ramadhan supplies this year cover a wider category of beneficiaries who submitted their papers and received a visit earlier this year by the team members.
"More than 5000 packages distributed to the deserving families and more than 2000 people gathered at mass iftars in the past few days and we are looking for more," she added.
In addition to this, by the middle of the month, the team will distribute coupons and vouchers of RO20 each for 2300 families from social security and low income group and orphans to use in the mini supermarket set up inside its headquarter in al Khoudh. The supplies displayed are purchased with the money received from donations and charities worth RO 48,000.
In an effort to serve the needy the Group has cooperated with other institutions like Al Jisr Charity Association, Saud Bahwan Charitable Foundation, Islamic Banking and others. These groups support the team by continuously providing packages and necessities to be distributed to the needy. "Cash donations are also accepted but it is very difficult to tell the annual amount because it keeps changing. We have different sections here like orphan guardianship, floating charity, masjid restoration, endowment, Quran schools and others. Anyone can contribute by whatever they can with no conditions and by in the way they like whether in kind or cash" the official indicates.
Source : omanobserver.om/
Back To Top
|