Al Fitrah Foundation began its foodbank initiative during the pandemic, to support families in need of daily essentials. It was humbling to see the response on the ground and to be able to reach out to support the people. After seeing the progress gaining momentum, we decided that having a proper location would serve the folks better. We had been working with the team at Somali Refugee Centre (SRC) in Gombak, Kuala Lumpur on quite a few occasions with delivering and distributing food, hence, we decided that it was the most natural place to station our Foodbank.

Through one of Al Fitrah Foundation’s regular food programs, we reached out to 41 families both visually impaired as well as deserving local folks within Klang Valley this August. They received RM100 worth of grocery vouchers and food package consisting of rice, biscuits, flour, cooking oil, sugar, seasoning sauce and canned food.

Al Fitrah’s team headed to two mosques serving different communities and selected homes of the visually impaired to deliver the goodies while others collected their share of the food aid at Al Fitrah’s office.

After a two-year hiatus, Ustazah Halimah has resumed face-to-face braille Quran classes at Al Fitrah Foundation. Currently, there are three female students attending the twice weekly lessons on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 2:30 pm to 4:30pm.  

Al Fitrah Foundation sponsors these classes and engages transport to ferry these ladies to and from their homes for them to attend the classes.  They sell trinkets along Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, Kuala Lumpur to make ends meet almost daily. It is a tough job, but they persevere and still manages to find time to learn the Quran. Alhamdulillah for all their sacrifices.

In the meantime, we are working to get more students to enrol. We will keep the group to a minimum, to allow enough personal attention for the students. Should the numbers increase, more classes will be added.

Early this year, Al Fitrah Foundation sponsored one set of the Braille Quran and other literature to BJ, a sister in the US. She is new to Islam; observed her first Ramadan and celebrated Eid this year, Alhamdulillah.

Being the only Muslim in the family, it is a blessing to have a supportive mother and outside encouragement through an Islamic organisation – consisting of sisters and brothers in Islam. Being able to stay connected, share experiences, challenges and learn from each other, has helped in her journey, thus far.

After familiarising herself with Islam, learning the holy Quran, reading the materials, and consulting with her Ustazah (religious teacher), sister BJ requested more books to expand her knowledge.

Al Fitrah Foundation collaborates with REF on initiatives relating to the assistance of Muslim refugees in Malaysia, on a case-to-case basis. REF or Refugee Emergency Fund, is a non-profit initiative that crowdfunds for emergency cases faced by the refugee community in Malaysia.

Recently, REF was informed of a case of a 40-year-old refugee sister from Myanmar, who was diagnosed with bilateral hypermature white cataract that resulted in blindness.