Every six weeks, Salaam Foundation delivers 10 000 meat and veggies packs to families around Gauteng. The meat packs supplanted by healthy organic vegetables are delivered to various communities helping to fight the huge issue of food insecurity. Around eleven communities receive the packs and 15 areas are visited for home deliveries. We are going to be introducing some of these communities and the impact these meal packs have.
This week, the focus turns to Protea South.
Protea South is an informal settlement in the City of Johannesburg. It is one of the suburbs of Soweto. The community has been plagued by many different issues from poverty, unemployment, crime and other social ills which has caused many problems for the people living there. There is a complete lack of political will in the area to fix the issues facing residents and this has led to a huge trust deficit between the community members and the politicians. According to a report from The Daily Maverick in 2024, there has been a complete breakdown of trust between the police and community members. The report says that the community now puts its trust in the local Community Policing Forum (CPF) or they resort to mob justice in order to solve the crime issues they face.
However, despite the many issues facing the community, there are certain pockets of development happening in the community. One of those is at the local madrassah being run by Sheikh Suliman which around fifty children attend in the afternoon. The madrassah is supported by Salaam Foundation in several ways. The main one being the delivery of meat and grocery parcels every six weeks. These groceries and meat are used to cook meals for the children who attend the madrassah. For a lot of the children, the meal is important not for themselves but also for their families as they take the cooked meals home to share with the rest of their families. Many of the children come to the madrassah hungry, Sheikh Suliman said and the meals mean they get to eat fresh, cooked food.
Salaam Foundation found the madrassah when it was another location which was not in a good condition. When it rained or the weather was too hot, the structure was very uncomfortable for the children. With the intervention of Salaam Foundation, another structure was found for the madrassah which improved the learning situation of the children.
After Asr salah, around 16 boys come to the madrassah to attend classes. Sheikh Suliman said they want the children who attend madrassa to learn about their religion and how to worship Allah.
Another impact of the work that Salaam Foundation has been doing in the area is that Islam is being recognised in the community and at the local schools. In 2024, Salaam Foundation took part in a learner outreach programme at the Protea South school which was aimed at educating learners about the harms of drugs. Food punnets and sanitary packs were distributed to the learners who participated in the programme. It is programmes like this which has made the schools aware of Salaam Foundation and this has assisted the learners. The schools have become aware of Ramadan and even allow the girls attending school to wear a headscarf.
Salaam Foundation takes part in Protea South learner outreach
Sheikh Suliman said the assistance of Salaam Foundation does not only extend to the madrassah but to the community as a whole and this is making a huge difference.
You can support this work by donating:
Salaam Foundation
FNB 6266 914 7665
Branch 250 737
Ref: South Africa + your name (zakat/lillah/sadaqa)
Section 18a certificates available on request
Fatima@salaamfoundation.com
