A sewing school establishment sponsorship has recently come to the rescue of the Al-Fidaa Foundation and The Knead Academy in Pretoria, enabling the provision of vocational skills training for local participants.
The South African Muslim Charitable Trust (SAMCT) was quick to answer an appeal for help by the Al-Fidaa Foundation, providing the finance to turn the organisation’s long held dream into reality. Commenting on the sponsorship, SAMCT representative, Gaff Osman, said: “In a country where so many lack access to skills, there is a great need to provide vocational training programmes as a means of unlocking a brighter future for, especially, our embattled young people.”
He said that upon learning of the Al-Fidaa Foundation’s critical need, the SAMCT was pleased to be in the position to assist. The Al-Fidaa Foundation was initially created to assist the needy in the Eastern Cape to assist those living below the breadline. By focusing on three elements, namely, feeding schemes, skills development and social welfare projects, the Al-Fidaa Foundation has worked tirelessly towards giving effect to meaningful change in the communities it serves.
In light of its success, the organisation has expanded its operations to create a national footprint and has been involved in the development of skills training for the unemployed since 2012.
“Spreading its developmental wings in the Pretoria area has given effect to the creation of an invaluable new training asset here. The facility will assist significantly in empowering the local community with beneficial life and income-earning skills. It is ideally positioned to assist the unemployed and historically disadvantaged youth in Greater Pretoria to now pursue educational and self-development opportunities by acquiring marketable skills, so enabling participants to earn an income after completing the sewing programme,” Mr Boltman added.
The SAMCT was created in 2008, the result of a partnership between Old Mutual Unit Trusts and Al Baraka Bank, for the creation, marketing and distribution of a suite of Shariah Funds. The organisation provides funding, services and other resources to improve the lives of the vulnerable, deprived and disadvantaged. It has successfully delivered sizeable assistance solutions throughout South Africa – irrespective of race or religion – and continues to work to support needy organisations in the fields of healthcare, social development, poverty alleviation and education. The organisation has long served as a pivotal conduit for the channeling of funding, vital services, and resources to approved public benefit organisations, and remains commited to catalysing positive change and creating a lasting impact on the development and upliftment of, especially, disadvantaged individuals and communities. Its funds are distributed to help improve the health and development of deserving people and organisations, irrespective of race or religion.
The SAMCT is acclaimed for its transformative role, directing substantial donations towards multi-faceted initiatives, spanning education, poverty alleviation, empowerment, community upliftment,and sustainability programmes in its quest to foster social equity and ensure the well-being of the needy.
Osman stressed: “The new sewing studio has the potential to give realisation to a future where sustainable growth, development and a level of prosperity are within reach of under-served individuals and communities in Pretoria and surrounds. In view of this country’s unacceptable unemployment rate the establishment of such facilities is vital if we are to bring about sustainable change, providing our young people with the tools to build a more prosperous future for themselves. Accordingly, we of the SAMCT, are proud to have been able to partner with the Al Fidaa Foundation, assisting to create the platform necessary to transform the lives of our country’s historically disadvantaged youth.”
For more information about the SAMCT or it’s Al-Fidaa Foundation sewing studio donation, please contact: Rasheeda Motala, Social Responsibility Executive
Tel: 084 506 2280
Email: samct@samct.co.za
www.samct.co.za