South Africa – As the Qurbani season approaches, the Africa Muslim Agency (AMA) is ready to implement a series of initiatives, such as the Qurbani program, that will profoundly impact aiding communities in dire need both locally and abroad.
Hussain Choonara, AMA’s Regional Manager, announced that the organisation has identified several communities in critical need across South Africa, Africa, and the Middle East, ensuring its program reaches the most vulnerable.
This includes areas such as Malawi, which is in a state of disaster, and the northern provinces of Mozambique, where millions of people lack access to nourishing meals. Additionally, Choonara stated that millions of widows and orphans in Afghanistan, as well as hundreds of thousands of Syrian and Palestinian refugees, are among those they provide aid to.
“Our teams are permanently based in these countries, so we get in touch and tune with the communities. We know the people by name, in their homes, huts, and mountaintops. This allows us to identify the needs of each and every family.”
The Qurbani Program: Empowering Communities
Though the time of Qurban is celebrated on the day of Eid, for AMA, it is a process that begins long before then. Choonara explained that extensive preparations ensure that aid gets delivered efficiently and effectively.
This includes sourcing livestock from local communities, organising logistics, and coordinating with regional partners to maximise the impact of their efforts. By doing so, they fulfil a fundamental aspect of the Qurbani program, which is to empower communities.
Their commitment to sourcing animals directly from local farms in rural areas is more than just a logistical choice. It’s a strategic decision that ensures the funds they invest in the Qurbani program are reinvested into the communities. This not only boosts their economic sustainability but also facilitates a sense of self-reliance.
“Through the process of Qurbani, we also include these communities—the widows, the orphans, the people in the communities—to be part and parcel of the process of empowerment. Because they’re getting funding for the goats, they can keep the funding and the goats for themselves, so it’s an empowerment tool as well. But because we have teams that are based 24/7 in these countries, we can identify needs and carry out the Nia [intentions] of the donor in these countries.”
