Hilal Afrika Cherishes Needy Communities

Over 5000 families have benefited from the Qurban distribution program organized by Hilal Afrika in the districts of Balaka, Machinga and Mangochi. The distribution starts on the day of Eid al-Adhuha and lasts for three days. In Malawi it started on 10 July 2022.

Qurban means bringing oneself closer to the Creator through animal sacrifice. Every year during the month of Dhul Hijjah, Muslims around the world slaughter animals (goats, sheep, cattle, or camels) to reflect the Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son Ismail as per his vow to Allah.

The Germany-based charity organization, which is funded by German well-wishers, slaughtered over 100 cows and 60 goats to share with the needy in various communities of the country.

Speaking with Insight Magazine, the Chairman of Hilal Afrika, Umut Turan, said their organization’s core objective is to change the livelihoods of Malawians for the better.

“Our organization strives to deliver the German people’s donations in a transparent and reliable manner to the             people of Malawi,” he stated.

Turan also said that the Qurban program serves as a springboard for bringing more advanced projects to Malawi.

“Since last year, Hilal Afrika did Qurban programs, delivering food parcels and  many other necessities to vulnerable
people throughout Malawi. For many, it could be the only time they eat meat in the entire year,” he said.

He further said that the 2022 Qurban program was aimed at reaching as many people as ever before. Last year, Hilal Afrika initiated its first activities, and they did not reach a number of people, but this year the organization has
reached out to several more families.

Group village woman Kantande from Traditional Authority Lulanga in Mangochi district, Mariam Hasssan who was overjoyed and delighted by Hilal Afrika, said the Qurban distributed by the organization has given the community assurance that not all hopes are gone.

“Our community is very far from accessing a number of social amenities. Look at us now, we are getting visitors from Germany with a mission of bringing positive change to our lives,” she said.

Another beneficiary from Chisopi, Chief Nkawaga Traditional Authority Bwananyambi, Mussa Lasimu, asked the organization to always remember people of Chisopi and continue assisting them with support to improve their standards of living.

“This is the first time we have ever received international guests who happen to share with us some meat in such large quantities. It has never happened before in the history of the Chisopi community. We ask Allah to bless the people that have contributed to the joy that we hold now,” Mussa articulated.

The Qurban period involves more than just providing meat to the less privileged. Hilal Afrika illustrates this by offering several community development initiatives.

In line with our strategies, we intend to implement long term projects that will impact a lot of people’s lives for an extended period of time, as such funding will be required to help uplift communities in Malawi out of poverty,” said Turan.

Currently, Hilal Afrika covers the cost of tuition fees for students in need as a means of promoting better education in Malawi. The group has also constructed boreholes in the districts of Nkhotakota, Salima, Balaka, and Mangochi.

The organization’s Country Director Abdularazaq Telera said they were working with various community leaders
to identify kinds of projects urgently required in their respective areas.

“Our organization visits sites that are hard to reach and interacts with the chiefs to come up with the kind of development that they require. So far potable water, food, access to better education and household necessities are the needs that visited communities requested,” said Telera.

“As the Chairman of the organization earlier indicated, the organization has just started, so it will be doing the
projects in phases depending on the availability of funds,” he said.

The Hilal Afrika corroborates with Islamic Foundation for Development-IFFD in its operations in the country.