VDF Day 7: Offers Food Items as Chairity for observant of Lailatul Khadiri (The Night of Worshipping- Better than 1000 nights of Worshipping)

Friday, 5 March 2024 marked Vision Development Foundation's (VDF) 7th day of Ramadan Sugar and food items Charities for needy Muslims, this time coinciding the Lailatoul- the Holly Night of Worshipping, which is better than Worshipping Allah 1000 nights. Lailatoul Khadiri / night of Worshipping is in observant of the night in which the Holly Quran was revealed to Muslims' Prophet - Muhammad (SAW), targetted in the last 10 days of the Month of Ramadan. The food items are geared towards helping beneficiaries have something to break their Fasts, and have good meals to prepare for the night long Worshipping, in which Muslims gather in Mosques and various recommended social gathering places to reflect on Allah's Name, virtues and the Concepts of Islamic norms, moral values and best practices. The food items given include rice, sugar, chicken, oil, dates, milk, tea and bread, cash, etc. The National Assembly Members for Latrikunda Sabiji, Bundung- and Kiang West, Tallinding Islamic Institute, among others also received bags of Sugar in 10 kilos for onward distribution to their communities.

Mr Saihou Fofana - VDF PRO in his remarks said on behalf of VDF CEO Mr Momodou Turo Darboe 6 Institutions will be given 275 bags of Sugar all in 10 Kilos, which was done for some other Members of Parliament (MPs), Mosques and representatives of other Villages. "Today we are not wrapping up, but the Sugar we are giving is meant for underprivileged people in the society (that is those who cannot afford Sugar in the month of Ramadan). It's to our happiness, to see to it that when you collect on behalf of the underprivileged, you go and distribute it to them. "The happiness of our CEO Mr Momodou Turo Darboe is to see to it that when you receive something on behalf of your people please don't personalise it, give it to target beneficiaries, and give us feedbacks. The gesture will go around and will benefit all of us. On that note we call on the Bundung MP- to give him 50 Bags of Sugar, Hon. Kebba Touray Kanifing MP- 25 Bags, Latrikunda Sabiji MP- 50 Bags, Tallinding Islamic Institute- 50 Bags, Sitahuma Jarra Central- 50 Bags of Sugar, Macca Bala Manneh 50 Bags, Brikama Health Centre -50 Bags of Sugar all in 10 kilos.

Hon. Sulayman Jammeh of Bundung in his remarks thank VDF for embracing the spirit of sharing and caring, especially in this Holly Month of Ramadan. We all know today is Lailatoul Khadiri, so we want to thank them [Mr Darboe and team] and pray for Allah to guide the organisation, and give them strength to continue doing this Annually. The Sugar given to us will be given to the needy families in our area," Hon. Jammeh said. He thank VDF CEO- Momodou Turo Darboe and his entire VDF management for the gesture; and prayed for Allah to help the organisation with more strength and financial muscles to maintain doing it on annual basis. On that note I thank VDF for the great and laudable gestures they are rendering to humanity.

Hon. Lamin Ceesay, Kiang West MP for his part thank Allah for the opportunity, and expressed happiness that annually VDF under the leadership of Mr. Momodou Turo Darboe is supporting the needy annually with sugar and other food items. "Today I also come to be part of those beneficiaries, to help my people who cannot make it to this place. I come here to get something for t to help themselves. That is what brought me here today, and I am given 50 bags to take it to my people. May Allah replace more of it where it is from, and give them more VDF progress," he said, and assured that the donated items will be put into good use.

Abdoulie Ceesay President of Macca Balamanneh Development Association in Lower Nuimi District, North Bank Region thanked VDF for the support they have been rendering to Macca Balamanneh, and people in that region. He said the support will help their community a lot. Pray for Allah to help them continue the gestures nationwide every year, from Banjul to Fatoto. Hon. Yaya Sanyang MP for Latrikunda Sabiji said this has been going on for years. Adding that fortunately Mr Darboe is from his constituency, saying "I am his MP," noting that the distributions are very fair... He further pointed out that for one to be philanthropist is a National obligation for everybody. Everyone can emulate VDF in maintaining the spirit of caring and sharing to others to make so all Muslims are happy especially during Ramadan. He assured that the donated items will be distributed accordingly. He expressed happiness, and on behalf of his constituency prayed for Allah to enable VDF increase and maintain their supports annually Alieu Saja Sanyang - Tallinding Islamic Institute representative thank Allah who Create everything, including human beings, give them the Quran and Prophet Muhammad (SAW) - the Muslims Prophet, who conveyed Allah's Message through Prophet- Muhammed for Muslims to keep Fast during this Holly Month. He further said Allah entrusted some people with wealth to help other Muslims during this Holly Month of Ramadan. He described VDF CEO- Momodou Turo Darboe as part of those Allah entrusted with wealth, and as a result has been offering charity to the needy people for long. "Every year people will come here from morning, queuing to receive support from Mr Darboe, who usually give food items such as sugar, flour, etc. He is doing this to support the needy people. "We are praying for Allah to ensure continued development and success of the Foundation, help them achieve their desired goals, to realise their dreams and aspirations. We are in the last 10 days, so we pray that anything they doing be rewarded Allah's blessing We at the Gambia Islamic Union at Tallinding Islamic Institute are happy and thanking Mr Darboe for favouring Muslims, because he gave us last year and this year too we benefit. We pray that Allah make this gesture rewards of blessing and forgival of sins for Mr Darboe and team. "I am delegated by our leaders of the Gambia Islamc Union namely: Sheikh Cherno Darboe, Sheikh Landing Gassama and Ayub Senghore, Alhagie Ceesay and Baba Ceesay to come and offer prayers and collect the gifts for the target beneficiaries.