Ramadan 2018 | #PledgeYourLunch: We Just Need Decent Food

By Imran Abdul Haqiim | 22, May, 2018
Ramadan 2018 | #PledgeYourLunch: We Just Need Decent Food

This Ramadan 2022, we turn our attention to the refugees and displaced families. Where in these current times, they are faced with increased challenges. So join us in our effort to help them with these challenges. Together we can make their Ramadans, a better one!

Find out more about #PledgeYourLunch 2022 here or click on the banner to go straight to the donation page!

Visit our LaunchGood campaign to #PledgeYourLunch

 

Thank You For Your Support in Ramadan 2018!

 

The Story of a Mother's Sacrifice for Her Family

‘It might be peanuts to others, but it’s a huge thing to us,’ said Siti Nurhafizah Anwar when she talked about how buying a pack of croissants got her thinking twice before purchasing. The 36-year-old explained how it is a struggle sometimes being financially strapped with 5 children dependent on her and her husband. The $5 croissant at her local supermarket may seem like a snack to others, but for her, she thinks about how that one piece of croissant would feed her children.

Recently, we went down to Jalan Bukit Merah to witness how a typical food distribution organized by Free Food For All (FFFA) would operate. We also got the opportunity to interview a volunteer and beneficiary from the charity organization -  Nurhafizah. Nurhafizah shared her personal story, how the FFFA works and how the organization has helped her family. She also opened up about her children and the challenges she faced along the way.

Nurhafizah, also known as Kak Fizah, revolves her life around her children and social work with FFFA. As a volunteer and beneficiary, Kak Fizah spends her weekends helping out food distributions organized by FFFA together with her children while on weekdays she is a full-time housewife of 3 special kids and 2 secondary and primary schoolers. A typical food drive sees Kak Fizah and the rest of the volunteers going to four HDB blocks around Jalan Bukit Merah to distribute food such as groceries, pastries, and packets of Chicken Briyani to the less fortunate. FFFA serves areas with higher percentages of low-income families, namely around Toa Payoh, Jurong West, Bukit Merah, and Tampines. Every so often, Kak Fizah will try to bring her children along with her to volunteer at the food distribution in hopes of educating them that low-income families do not only receive. In fact, there are many other ways to give back to society other than contributing financially. As such, we can all help by giving out groceries or going door-to-door to distribute food to those who are less fortunate through charity drives organized by NGOs such as FFFA.

‘We don’t ask for much, but the little (we get) is actually a lot for us.  We don’t expect someone to actually give us money. We’re not into that. But at least something like a decent meal especially for the kids.’

Meals are not a luxury in this home of 7. In addition to making sure that the children receive the education they deserve, Kak Fizah and her husband still have to ensure that a decent and balanced meal is served on the table for their children. The family normally has rice and vegetables as their staple food. When it comes to having poultry, ‘kalau ada, ada, kalau takde, takde,’ said Kak Fizah. In other words, if there is meat, fish, or chicken for the day, then all is well but if there isn’t, they’re fine without it.

Alhamdulillah says Kak Fizah as she talked about her children. Being classified as a low-income family has never stopped her from striving to give the best to her children. As for her daughter, it was through tough times that pushed her towards being the best for her parents and siblings. The 14-year-old leaped and exceeded expectations when she managed to claim a spot in an Express class after her PSLE (Primary School Leaving Examination) despite being in a foundation class prior to the examination.

‘She did suffer a bit when I lost one of my sons and I went through depression,’ said Kak Fizah when she got reminded of the time when she faced the loss of her child 3 years ago.

Currently, her eldest daughter is a secondary school student and a dancer at a local Malay performing arts group, Sri Wana. At the age of 14, Kak Fizah no longer worries over her daughter as she believes that she is independent and will definitely be an inspiration to her siblings. Just like his sister, Kak Fizah’s 10-year old son is also self-managing his studies in primary school.

However, the case is different for her 3 special kids. Kak Fizah explained how it can be difficult sometimes to have people understand her children’s situation. Having born with dyslexia, ADHD, and with a hearing impairment on one side, her 11-year-old son often faces difficulty from his peers in school. Despite having medical histories and reports, Kak Fizah still finds herself yearning for additional assistance from the school. Apart from that, Kak Fizah is also used to doing runs to hospitals for her son’s therapy during the day after sending off her 3-year-old twin girls at the Rainbow Centre.

‘Can, you look after my kids while I go and look for a job!’

She has gotten accustomed to people suggesting for her to look for a job to ease her financial status. However, with kids that require special attention from her every day, it is no easy task. In all, Kak Fizah and her husband are grateful for the assistance they have received from FFFA which allows them to be able to manage the family.

FFFA has not only helped her lighten her burden but is also a platform for her to find social support from fellow mothers volunteering with the FFFA. Through this organization, they are able to contribute to society by distributing food to residents from low-income families living in rental flats. FFFA takes the extra mile to go door-to-door to deliver the groceries to residents who are unable to leave the house due to reasons such as being wheelchair-bound. At the end of the day, Kak Fizah emphasized that these families are not expecting hearty meals every day but at least a balanced meal for the children. Hence, it is important that we contribute to those who are less fortunate.

Let's do our part to solve hunger in our communities.

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Imran loves to read and travel, to explore new ideas and new places. He has studied a little Arabic, French and Spanish to hopefully, travel the world some day.

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