Members of Asa Majeed LearnershipCentre (AMLC) and the Jumu’a Mosque, in Cape Town central business district (CBD) as well as volunteers joined hands to distribute 600 food parcels in Tafelsig on Sunday May 19, in honour of Ramadaan, the Muslim month of fasting.
The mosque congregation raised R160 000, which was used to fill each parcel with about a two-week supply of maize, flour, salt, rice, cereal, fresh vegetables and bread.
The AMLC, on the corner of Olifantshoek and Du Toit Kloof streets, which has been operating in Tafelsig for seven years, is open every day.
They have hifz (Qur’an memorisation) and Arabic classes from 8.30am until 2pm; between 3pm and 5.45pm they have Madrassa (Muslim school); and twice a week they have classes for adults between 7pm and 9pm.
The centre is open to all children, from the area, for free.
Pupils can also access computer and internet facilities, to complete their school assignments, projects and research. They also feed pupils, who frequent the centre.
Businessman, founder and chairperson of the AMLC trust, Zane Rinquest, named the centre after his grandparents.
“At the AMLC we have and continue to strive to bring a sense of hope and security not only to our pupils, but also the community at large,” he said.
“Everything done in this aid, is at no cost at all to the pupils or their parents but sponsored by generous people and organisations,” said Mr Rinquest.
They also have movie nights pupils go on an annual excursion; compete in a soccer competition on Saturdays; and they have reinstituted their soup kitchen every Friday, which is open to the community.
Mr Rinquest said they intend building a second centre.
To donate, sponsor a teacher’s salary or portion thereof, call Liesl Fellows on 084 903 0718.