As the month of Ramadan is considered to be a month of blessing it is also believed to be a period when rewards are given to those who offer to others.
One of the mobile operators in Sierra Leone, Orange Sierra Leone, on Wednesday 22nd May 2019 put smiles on the faces of Muslims by dishing out ten bags of rice, onions, two bags of milk, sugar, two cartons of tin tomatoes and three containers of cooking oil as Iftar to the Masjid Attawabeen at Brima Lane Kissy, in the east end of Freetown.
The donation of food items to Muslims across the country by Orange-SL is estimated to be worth over hundreds of million Leones. It is an annual gesture by Orange.
The Corporate Affairs Manager, Desmond Spaine said one cannot go to Heaven without passing through the house of God and fasting being one of the five pillars of Islam, it is obligatory for every Muslim, but that most of them find it hard to fulfil this sacred obligation of fasting during the month of Ramadan; the reason why Orange SL thought it wise to distribute assorted food items needed during this holy month of Ramadan to every Muslim across the country.
“Some of you are Orange subscribers while others are not but some will join us today after this donation. We have the onus to reach out to everyone which is why we are not only limiting our donation to mosques, but also to the less privileged such as the handicapped and the blind as they are also important in society,’ Spaine said.
He stated that this is one way the company honours its Corporate Social Responsibility, adding that Orange is considered to be a Sierra Leone company because 98% of its staff are Sierra Leoneans.
Presenting the items Ndiach Aram Ndaw, Commercial Director Orange SL said the holy month of Ramadan is one of giving and receiving underscoring that the company saw the need to give out as a tradition and culture to give back to Sierra Leoneans at a time when most of the Muslims cannot afford to break their fast with the required food.
“It might be small but we are doing it from the bottom of our hearts and as a company. Our doors are always open and we will continue to give back to society,” he noted.
Sheik Alieu Kamara, Deputy Imam of Masjid Attawabeen said they were surprised to over the gesture from Orange saying since the establishment of the mosque this is the first time they are receiving such gifts from Orange.
“It is a memorable day for us as worshipers of the Attawabeen Masjid and Brima Lane community as a whole. We want Orange SL to adopt this masjid,” he appealed.
The event was climaxed with songs of praise and prayers for Orange SL.
