Members of the Darul Ihsan Centre’s Relief Team, in conjunction with members of the Ixopo Muslim community, distributed 324 blankets to pupils of the Kwa Mbingeleli Primary School in the Nokweja area near Ixopo this weekend.

The ‘Winter Warmth Campaign’ started at 10:00 am on Sunday, 21 April 2013 at the school and pupils,  parents, teaching staff and members of the school governing body attended the programme.

The principal, Mr Z W Keswa, gave the welcome and introductory speech.

The Kwa Mbingeleli School was established by a local elder of the community and built by the Nokweja community ‘with their own hands’ after observing the plight of their children.

Prior to the school being built, children - many as young as six years - had to walk six kilometres to a school and another six kilometres back to their homes - the children covered this distance through bush, swamps, hills and often in the most unpleasant weather.

Members of the Ixopo Muslim community and Ulama members of Darul Ihsan Centre assisted in the distribution of the blankets to the school children. Maulana Muhammad Kolabhai, the Imam of the Ixopo Masjid, gave some words of encouragement and spoke on Islam as a ‘way of life.’

The guest speaker on behalf of Darul Ihsan briefly explained the Greatness of God Almighty and the love and compassion towards all South Africans. He added that Darul Ihsan’s presence was not driven by the distribution of blankets but by the love shown to all human beings as ‘we are the creation of God Almighty.’

Darul Ihsan Centre pledged a donation of R10 000 towards the repair and maintenance of the school and also pledged a jersey for every pupil at the school in view of the prevailing weather and coming winter months.

In the spirit of the campaign in the area 30 blankets were distributed to orphans at the Ixopo State Aided School and another 46 blankets were distributed to needy children at the Little Flower School.

Zuhr Salah was performed in the courtyard of the school and perhaps the highlight of the day’s programme was when all members of the Nokweja community and school children present – silently and with respect - observed the Salah procedure.

A very welcome and eagerly awaited lunch was provided for a total of about 600 people after Zuhr Salah.

The children, staff and members of the Nokweja community expressed their deep appreciation of both the Ixopo Muslim community and Darul Ihsan Centre’s care and concern for their wellbeing and the principal also expressed this sentiment in his vote of thanks.

Darul Ihsan Media Desk