Randburg – The Maraisburg Boys Orphanage (Jamiah Faqihul Ummah Orphanage) has been serving the community of Maraisburg for twenty years. Since 2003, it has been a safe and secure place for destitute boys to call home. The orphanage is currently looking to expand and help the needs of many more kids.
For the past 16 years Appa Sarah Madaran, Caretaker and House Mother, and her family have been involved in the upbringing of the kids at the orphanage. When it first started they had just three boys who completed their hifz (memorising the Quraan) in just two years. Now however, they look after 35 boys, a few if them as little as six-years-old.
“We take care of their school, their madressah, they have three meals here and we do their accommodation. We have some who are in grade R right up until matric. Plus, we have boys who have been with us for some time now. They are studying and they are learning different trades. We try our best for them.”
The projects being run
The orphanage has started a wonderful initiative of homeschooling the kids. What makes this a project close to home is that they are being helped by two youngsters who grew up at the orphanage. After finishing their studies, they have decided to give back to those who opened their doors for them.
“The new project which we are doing currently, is the homeschooling that started this year for the primary school children. Two of the boys who grew up at the orphanage are helping us with the teaching of these kids.”
The orphanage is also running a building project which is vital to their operations. As more and more young kids need a loving home, the orphanage needs to expand. This is their main project and focus.
“We are building new dormitories, toilets, bathrooms and we are revamping the eating rooms, kitchens. So that is our main project as well as homeschooling. The building needs to be done first. At the moment we are using our jamaat khana and two other rooms as our classrooms. We need a lot of help with the building materials.”
The orphanage has received 30 000 face bricks and while that is a good start, Appa Madaran stressed more is needed to create the home these kids need and deserve.
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Supporting the orphanage
Besides building materials, the orphanage requires additional support for the kids. With the new homeschooling project, they need teachers to help students. Also those in the medical profession such as doctors and dentists to help look after and treat the boys.
“Every Saturday morning we have a session where we have tuition for the boys. That is between 10 and 12 every Saturday morning. We have tutors who come to assist the children with assignments, projects and work. We even have a doctor who comes to us, who knows the orphanage for years and he will check up on the boys.”
Appa Madaran would also love to have someone who could provide recreational activities for the boys on the site. Even if the physical education lessons are twice a week, it would be extremely beneficial for the boys.
If one wishes to help the orphanage in any way, they can contact Appa Sarah Madaran on 073 5793 786.
Listen to Appa Sarah Madaran and Julie Alli discuss the goals of the orphanage and how to support them:
