For the past 10 years, my mum has been feeding the poor and needy in her community by providing them with ready-made iftar in the form of Hausa Koko (also known as millet porridge, Akamu and Eko mumu) and Kose (also called beans cake and Akara). In 2020, we began offering Jollof rice food packs as well and we are planning to continue to provide this annually. During last year's campaign, we were able to raise £1287, all thanks to your support and we fed over 50 people each day.

There are many young and vulnerable people including “almajiri” - orphans who rely on the food packs for Iftar and even Suhoor and with your support, you’ll enable my mum to continue the project this year and provide an initial meal for iftar and food packs with Jollof rice for diner.

The Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said: “Whoever feeds a person who is breaking his fast will earn the same reward as him without anything being lessened from the reward of the fasting person”. (Tirmidhi)

And Allah (swt) says in the holy Quran "By no means shall you attain righteousness unless you give freely of that which you love, and whatever you give, Allah knows it well.” [Qur’an 3:92]

Here is the breakdown of the budget;

Bags of Rice - 8 x 36,000 = 288,000

Bags of Sugar - 2 x 33,000 = 66,000

Bags of Millet - 3 x 25,000 = 50,000

Bags of Beans - 2 x 45,000 = 90,000

25kg Keg of Vegetable Oil - 2 x 36,000 = 72,000

12.5kg of Cooking Gas - 7 x 10,500 = 73,500

Wages for 2 assistants* - 2 x 30,000 = 60,000

Seasoning and spices = 80,000

Vegetables - Fresh Tomatoes, Onions & Pepper - 100,000

Tupperware for packaging - 70,000

Total = 949,500.

Based on the conversion rate of £1 to 850.26, the cost in pounds is 1,170.

Glossary of words

Koko is made of millet that is processed and cooked into a form of custard which we call “pap”

Kose is made of beans, pepper and seasoning that has been blended together and fried using oil.

Together they make a combo of staple food used traditionally by Muslims in Nigeria to break their fast during Iftar.

Suhoor is the dawn meal used to start the fast.

Iftar is the evening meal used to break the fast.

*My mum is in her 50s and due to her old age, she is unable to do all the chores herself. My sisters and I used to be the ones helping my mum with making the food but since the two of us are currently away in university, the entire workload has shifted to her.

With extra hands and help, she will be able to expand the project and create more food packs to help more people.