Four Tafelsig youth had a hand in cooking and sharing two 100 litre pots of akni to hundreds of children following a street iftaar, breaking of fast, on Saturday April 23.
Sufyaan Davids, 21, a member of Lace up for Change, a non-profit company (NPC), led his friends Uzair Woolf, Nathan Muller and Adenaan Abassin in cooking food at his home, in the middle of Fir Street. Mr Abassin, who is also Sufyaan’s neighbour has been cooking every day since Ramadaan started.
They were supported by the organisation, which raises funds primarily through sporting activities, to uplift and enhance the lives of socially disadvantaged communities.
Sufyaan met Lace up for Change co-founder and teacher Irafaan Abrahams, who taught at Al Azhar High School, in Athlone, where he matriculated four years ago.
“Mr Abrahams has been an inspiration to me since 2018. I’ve been inspired by the things that he has been doing in people’s lives, feeding, raising funds and many different thing,” he said.
The following year Sufyaan started cooking for people in his community because he saw a need, and tries to cook at least once a week. He previously worked as a courier and is currently an intern at the Western Cape police ombudsman’s office.
The road was cordoned off on either end – Fernwood and Leeukop Street – with neighbourhood watch members and cars blocking entry and exit – in the middle were about 300 children sat on mats, waiting for the call to prayer (athaan) before they broke their fast.
The street was lined with sweet and savoury treats and each of them received a cup of boeber, which is made with warm sweet milk, spices and vermicelli.
After magrib (evening prayers) the children were each given little containers of food to take home.
Mr Abrahams, who dished out the boeber, said the youth had been trained to work with large ingredient quantities and manage crowds.
