The Date Project dropped off 85 new toys and gifts to Bradford Royal Infirmary’s Children’s and Young Peoples Unit to mark the upcoming Eid al-Adha celebration. The giving of gifts and money during the Islamic celebration of Eid, is often called Eidee. Eidee was distributed to a cross-section of children and young people aged 0 to 18 years.
The Date Project has been operating since 2015 and is managed by SKT Welfare, a Dewsbury-based registered international humanitarian charity.
Each Ramadan the Date Project sells thousands of tins, of ethically sourced Jordania Medjool dates around the UK and parts of Europe. All profits go towards SKT Welfare’s projects around the world in Syria, Palestine, Yemen, Orphans, Rohingya, Somalia and the UK.
Projects which have benefited include food in Syria, water solutions in Palestine and emergency aid in Yemen. The charity concentrates on providing food and water to the homeless and refugees, as well as providing healthcare, and establishing sustainable projects.
After each Ramadan, the Date Project launches ‘Gift Back’ in which those who have purchased the Medjool dates can fill the empty tin with gifts and bring a smile to a little boy or girl in need. This year like last year they will go to children in Yemen and the UK.
These children have seen so much devastation, many have lost their homes and loved ones due to a conflict that they did not choose to be in. Millions are facing starvation, and their futures bleak.
In Britain, we know staying in hospital children’s wards can be lonely for the young people away from family and even more so during the Covid-19 pandemic despite the outstanding care the poorly children receive from the NHS staff.
With this in mind, the charity wanted to put smiles on their faces and show them that they are not alone and are in the thoughts and prayers of others.
Muzamal Hussain, the lead co-ordinator for Gift Back, said: “We are delighted to have dropped off 85 new toys and gifts for the poorly children at Bradford Royal Infirmary. At the Date Project, we very much believe as well as assisting the needy around the world, charity starts at home.
“We are grateful to all the donors. The response has been amazing and in the coming weeks we will also send thousands of the gift back tins for the children in war-ravaged Yemen.”
The items included in the tins tend to include small toys, hygiene items, accessories, arts and crafts, pens, pencils, crayons, yoyos, sunglasses, colouring books, puzzles, small toys, bouncy balls, notebooks, stationery, skipping ropes, T-shirts, socks, new packaged underwear, hijabs, dresses and kurtas, flipflops/slippers, sanitary towels, kiddie plasters, cards, jewellery, hairbands and Balloons. The charity also provided large toys and teddy bears as well as board games.
Nazim Ali, volunteer of The Date Project, friend of BRI and co-ordinator of the Creating Smiles Hospital Gifts Initiative said: “I was filled with happiness when approached by the Date Project to assist them with their acclaimed Gift Back Project.
“I was informed by BRI that all the children as in-patients have now been confined to their rooms for the past 17 months. It has been particularly difficult for parents and carers too who are not permitted to leave the rooms either due to Covid-19.
“We hope these Eid gifts will put a smile on the children’s innocent faces. These gifts are for all children irrespective of faith or ethnicity. Eid is a time of celebration but also a period to reflect and think about the vulnerable in society.”
Elaine Drake, Fundraising Assistant at Bradford Hospitals Charity said: “We are grateful to receive such a fantastic selection of gifts for our children and young people. Thank you to the Date Project, Muzamal Hussain and Nazim Ali for their support.”
