Situated in the heart of Joburg’s inner-city on the border of Hillbrow and Braamfontein, the Malaika Orphanage Centre provides a safe space for children living in the building. Taking the inspiration for its name from the Swahili and Arabic word for angel, the centre provides a safe space for underprivileged and underserved children.
For several months with the help of a donor, Salaam Foundation has been facilitating a monthly donation of vegetables for the centre. These allow Sheikh Jumaa and his dedicated group of volunteers to provide hearty meals to the 85 children who form part of the centre as well as others who are in need in the community. The childrens’ ages range from one year old to eighteen years old.
Sheikh Jumaa, the person behind the project saw a need in the community almost 16 years ago and decided to start the project in 2008. Living in the community meant he could not separate himself from the challenges being faced around him which included children not having enough to eat and children being unable to go to school because they did not have school supplies or anyone around to even wake them up. The children were either growing up in homes without any adults or they had elderly caregivers who could not provide adequately.
He therefore started the project in order to help the most vulnerable in the community: the children. Sheikh Jumaa was motivated by the question of what he and the community could do to ensure the children felt safe, were provided with food and security and shelter and were educated by being taken to school and provided with supplies.
The entire centre is run by volunteers and they are entirely reliant on donations and is based in a building in Hillbrow.
Through the help of an important donor, every month, Salaam Foundation facilitates the donation of a huge collection of vegetables. These range from potatoes, spinach, butternut, kale, tomatoes and cabbage amongst others. The donations have been taking place since the beginning of 2024. “They really make a difference in our kitchen,” said Sheikh Jumaa. The different vegetables which are donated ensure the children being fed get a variety in their meals. It has also taken some of the stress away from the volunteers as to what they are going to feed the children everyday. Alhamdulillah, what we receive has really covered a huge part of what we need.”
However, even with the major difference that the vegetable donations make, the centre is still in need of many other products including basic household groceries like rice, sugar, flour and so forth along with female sanitary products for the young girls, bedding, clothes and cleaning materials.
Despite all the challenges facing the centre, Sheikh Jumaa is determined to continue with the work. He said the biggest reward is the love and bond that has been created between the caregivers, volunteers and the children and between the children themselves. “The smile we receive from them comforts us,” he said. Knowing they have helped save many of the children from difficult situations gives him great joy.
