Hundreds of needy Muslims thronged the foundation’s offices in Churchill’s Town to receive a package containing two kilos of beef, a loaf of bread, dates and sugar. Mr Darboe said helping Muslims is a patrimony he inherited from his late father Turo Darboe.
VDF board chairman, Lamin Dibba, said such intervention has become part of the foundation’s strategic plan to support economically-challenged Muslims in Ramadan. Similar packages have been given out as iftar gifts on daily basis throughout the month of Ramadan, and the mass slaughter of bulls are done mainly during the feast days, Dibba explained.
Speaking to reporters at their offices on Sunday, Mr Dibba said the gesture is a strong prophetic tradition in Islam. “We are merely trying to emulate the Prophet Muhammad by supporting Muslims who are in need. The overall goal of the foundation is to complement the efforts of the government in national development endeavours. The activity is solely financed by Modou Turo Darboe.”
Saihou Fofana, the public relations officer of VDF, explained that the overall cost of the beef runs into hundreds of thousands of dalasis, as each of the 78 bull costs at least D16, 000. Fofana explained that beneficiaries varied and the Ramadan package includes 600 loaves of bread daily, and transport refund of D10 for each recipient.
Meanwhile, the recipients were overwhelmed with joy and prayers for Modou Darboe and the VDF: “At a time that a kilo of beef has gone up by almost 100 percent, this will help ease the difficulties for us. It helps a lot as Turo Darboe has been doing this throughout Ramadan,” said Binta Njie, a beneficiary from Tallinding.
Alieu Mbye, who hails from Niamina but resides in Sinchu Alagi, said: “This is a reflection of sympathy on the side of the benefactor to stand for needy people in such a time of need. It is only possible through God’s help… We all cannot provide these items for our families during the feast, so it is good that he has stepped in and helped.”
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