Z’bar first VP wife calls community to support orphans

ZANZIBAR: THE wife of Zanzibar’s First Vice-President, Ms Zainab Kombo Shaib on Monday called on communities, particularly those which are stable financially to actively support organisations and institutions that provide essential needs to orphans.

She highlighted that such acts are considered in religion, a form of worship with great rewards from God.

She was speaking at Saateni Nursery School during a ceremony organised by the Association of Islamic Economy, Education and Development in Zanzibar (UKUEM) to distribute gifts to orphans.

She expressed that orphans face numerous and significant needs, and volunteering to assist them alleviates some of their hardships, allowing them to live comfortably despite the loss of their parents.

Mama Zainab further encouraged the community and participants saying: “aiding orphans draws you closer to God, therefore, I urge you to engage in a beneficial trade with God, yielding great returns both in this world and the hereafter.”

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She urged believers to give wholeheartedly to help the orphans and others who are in need, ensuring a positive outcome in the hereafter – the eternal life, noting that across the islands of Unguja and Pemba, many orphans endure harsh living conditions.

She said that orphans lack basic necessities such as clothing, shelter and food, emphasising that it is the responsibility of people/communities including Muslims to contribute towards fulfilling these needs.

During the event, Mama Zainab, who also serves as the Chairperson of the Nuru Foundation, which supports orphans, donated school uniforms for 50 children, shoes for 50 children and school bags. The donations are valued at more than 2.2m/-.

The UKUEM Chairperson, Biarous Masheko stated that her organisation has been operating or implementing its activities with support from various donors to support parents/guardians taking care of the orphans in reducing the challenges they face in accessing education.

She further announced that the organisation plans to expand its activities to reach more orphans than it currently does. Masheko said that over 25m/- will be allocated to provide school uniforms, bags and other educational needs for orphans.