Stories of hopes in Ramadhan
Beyond achieving the goal for one project are the stories captured from people who benefited and are thankful of the assistance extended to them; stories of how the project helped and changed people’s daily lives, for better, even temporarily.
Allow us to share these stories from the implementation of the Ramadhan 2016, an annual program of the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA) supported by the Insani Yardim Vakfi (IHH) and Turkiye Diyanet Vakfi (TDV).
A mother’s story
Leizle Palalisan, 38, is a mother of eight. She is among the hundreds of beneficiaries who received food packs from the program. Leizle is thankful as she considered it as blessing from Allah (s.w.t.) through BDA-IHH.
Accordingly, she was happy that despite the long wait during the distribution, she went home with pack of foods for her family.
“If BDA have this project always, many Bangsamoro families can be saved from hunger”, Leizle said.
With her husband earning 150 pesos per day from working in nearby Papaya plantation with three working days in a week, Leizle shared that it is not enough to sustain their daily needs. Asked on how the food packs will be consumed by their family, she told that it can sustain their daily meals for few numbers of days. Then, they can save their family’s income for the schooling of the children, not to worry, for a meantime, food to fill their stomach.
For families in the Philippines especially in rural areas, rice is a major meal but Leizle’s would only have bread and coffee during breakfast (non-Ramadhan days). She said that their children have become used to it.
Out of 8 children, only five go to schooling. Older children have stopped since the family cannot afford to provide the needs in school. The family has no properties, even land to plant any crops.
Leizle together with her family lives in Barangay Lumakil, Polomolok, South Cotabato.
His story
Anuar F. Baude, 25, of Brgy. Muricay, Pagadian City, Zamboanga Del Sur has one daughter. He earns living from farming. Sometimes, he would do volunteer works at BDA particularly Zamboanga Peninsula Region.
According to him, the assistance provided to them was a very big help to their family’s daily lives. It supplements to their daily needs.
“Alhamdulillah (praises to Allah), we are thankful for this blessing through the BDA and the IHH”, Anuar stated.
Leizle’s and Anuar’s families, through the Ramadhan 2016 program, received 10 kilos of rice, canned goods, noodles, cooking oil, coffee and sugar intended to sustain families’ meals even in few numbers of days during this holy month.
The program also serves free Iftar (breaking of fast) to poor families in selected communities across the regions and provinces of BDA.
Ramadhan 2016 is implemented annually by the BDA with support from two Turkish foundations mentioned above since 2014 benefiting thousands of families. The program is implemented as act of generosity which is encouraged to every Muslim individual especially during Ramadhan as this month offers multiple rewards to every good deed performed.
BDA Communication Group: Elsie Salah (Southern Mindanano Region); Sittie Maira Adas (Zamboanga Peninsula Region)