Ramadan is an auspicious month known for caring and giving, among many other humble deeds`.
It is also a time of personal sacrifice, a time for self-reflection and giving among Muslims. In addition to fasting and prayers, individuals are encouraged to be charitable for those who are less fortunate locally and even for those across borders.
In taking heed to these religious obligations, many take the opportunity to reach out to welfare homes to give alms and carry out charitable work.
Therefore, it’s during this month when one can witness many events carried out by non-governmental organisations, corporate bodies as well as individuals through giving donations, feeding the less fortunate, and buying new festive clothes for the needy among many various acts of kindness.
Among the events that took place in Perak where the underprivileged were treated to Ramadan meals is the #dapurjalanan event by a volunteer called Zeti Shuhaila Mustafa Kamal.
For this project, Zeti had raised funds to feed the poor and homeless on the streets around Ipoh city. It was the sixth consecutive year she had done this during Ramadan.
“This year I managed to feed around 500 homeless people,” said the 44-year-old woman from Hulu Kinta who started the project by collecting money from her close friends.
She said she is glad that her noble effort is slowly getting public recognition and attention.
“When I first started, we only managed to feed a small number of people but now since it is getting known many have come forward to support this project,” she said.
She is determined to keep the project going and hope that more people would generously chip in to help her prepare the food.
“I undertake this task because I believe the homeless people are the most neglected lot. Broken families are the main reasons that cause them to live on the streets,” she said.