Zam Zam foundation and its feed a family project.

-By Omer Mukhtar-

            For the last two years, Zam Zam foundation has been providing food parcels for more than 6000 thousand families in Nuwera-Eliya district. This is indeed, an innovative project of this organization. We are living as a second minority community in Sri Lanka. We cannot depend on government for all our community needs. We know well that a large majority of Muslim community people live below poverty line.  Many of them do not complain about it in public to protect their family name and dignity. 

          Many middle class families have become poor families in many Muslim villages recent time, due to many factors.  lack of education of education is primary reason for our backwardness.   Compared to other communities in Sri Lanka Muslim community is suffering extremely from poverty. There is no any scientific research on this issue and yet it is very much clear for any discerning person. 

      But al Hamdu lillah, our religion provides some solid solutions to this problem. Unlike other communities our religion has got some divinely revealed institutions to protect these poor families. Once a British Prime Minister told the media that Muslim community is the most charitable community in the world. Why, because divinely established institutions such as Zakat, sadaqa, fitra, hiba and waqf encourage each and very rich Muslim to spend money for poor and needy.

         Zam Zam foundation sets some good examples in this direct to encourage rich from us to spend money for poor in Sri Lanka. Specially, it asks our rich people to help them to distribute 8000 food parcels for poor Muslim families in Nuwara Eliya district. I think Zam Zam has begun this from this district and yet, it may expand this provide nationwide if Muslim community cooperates with it to distribute food parcels   nationally in Sri Lanka. 

       To distribute 8000 food parcels to 8000 thousand families is not a simple task. It needs a dedicated team of volunteers and a huge amount of money at least 5m Sri Lankan rupees. Therefore, rich people in our community should extend their hand to this noble project and help Zam Zam to take this project nationwide in future. 

         Moreover, I think that all Islamic movements without holding any grudge should support this noble project. Why not, Allah says (cooperate each other for good deeds) so, I think beyond our ideological differences we all should support this project whole heartedly.  

          Zam Zam foundation has been doing a lot of good works in social service sector such as school with a smile project.  Under this project it has been distributing school items for thousands of children. This includes   DSI, Trendy Bags, Maliban Traders, Nalaka Exercise Books and Ceylon Pencil Corporation (Atlas Stationers), among others items. Zam Zam foundation has included non-Muslim children too in this project to manifest kindness and compassion of Muslim community to humanity. That is a good precedent and example in Sri Lankan Muslim history to share our wealth and happiness with non-Muslim community

         May Allah bless and reward the members of Zam Zam foundation for this innovative initiatives. One of best qualities of Zam  Zam is that it works beyond all groups limitation and it works for humanity. All-inclusive approach. This is indeed, a new and innovative method to win the hearts and minds of non-Muslims in Sri Lanka.