HELPING HANDS OUTREACH PROGRAMME

The HELPING HANDS OUTREACH PROGRAMME is a non-denominational initiative managed under the auspices of the Islamic Educational & Religious Trust.  This Institution has a proud history of serving the communities of Sydenham, Mayville, Overport and Sherwood with distinction for over 30 years.

We have expanded our endeavors to include seeking out needy institutions in the remote surrounding communities, regardless of religion, race, colour or creed and also to inculcate a sense of community and empathy amongst our youth in order to ensure sustainability of this initiative.

We try to inspire and make a difference in peoples lives, through bringing Hope, Love and a Smile to those needing a brighter day in their battle for survival

This is done through establishing feeding schemes, soup kitchens, and medium to long term sustainable solutions to the problems, through the involvement of the “circle of influence” of each individual, driven off the philosophy, “If each man helps his neighbour, who would need help?”   

The goal is to create an empathetic community that “Seeks for mankind, that which you seek for yourself”.

We have adopted over 20 institutions since inception in February 2011, comprising more than 2,500 orphans in addition to over 1,000 caregivers, senior citizens and disadvantaged adults. We have distributed more than 16,000 loaves of bread with a variety of spreads, beverages, food parcels, beds, toys, stationery, seedlings, blankets and clothing.

Our main focus has been providing interactive fun days for each institution where the Helping Hands volunteers feed, entertain and play with these special children as if it were a family picnic, by providing a personal touch. We recently had a “Mothers’ Day” fun day on 12^th May, 2013 for 450 orphans and disadvantaged children in Kwa Mashu, fed them breakfast and lunch and provided them with a day of fun and games and sporting activities and a bag of toys and sweets for each child. A similar fun day was held on Fathers’ Day on 17^th June, 2012 in Shongweni for 200 orphans, as well as many more throughout the year.

We have had over 90 functions since inception just over 2 years ago.

We aim to embark on training and job creation initiatives through empowering our youth, the institutions as well as the communities we serve. We are in the process of taking over a training centre in Umkomaas which we hope to use as our self-sustaining pilot project. We will be looking to source the necessary expertise and funding to ensure the success of this initiative.

In addition to the rehabilitation of the agricultural aspect of the project, we are establishing other skills training as well. We have embarked on training the trainers baking, cake decorating and cooking to start the process, as well as starting a library and a media centre.

We thank you for your interest and pray for your continued success and well being of your company and your loved ones, by the grace of The Almighty.

Thanking You

Warm regards

Fekrey Baderoon

Chairperson

Email: fekrey_baderoon@yahoo.com

082 463 6868   /     031 – 564 8122

To live life with satisfaction is to live twice.

Kahlil Gibran