Safa and Marwa, two young orphan sisters were among hundreds of children excitedly selecting dresses and shoes from brightly coloured racks at a shopping mall in Karachi, smiling as they prepared for Eid-ul-Fitr during the holy month of Ramaqzan.
The two girls were among the 2,500 orphan children who were facilitated by Alkhidmat Karachi for Eid shopping under its Orphan Care Program during a five-day activity that concluded on Saturday.
On the final day of the programme, children from Alkhidmat’s Aghosh Home in Gulshan e Maymar and girls from Aghosh Home PECHS were brought to a local shopping mall where they were given the opportunity to shop for Eid dresses, shoes, stationery and other items according to their own choice.
Administrators and caregivers from the Aghosh Homes accompanied the children as they moved through stores, selecting clothes and accessories for the upcoming festival.
Each child participating in the programme was given Rs6,000 for Eid shopping along with Rs500 as Eidi, allowing them to purchase items of their own preference. The five-day activity enabled 2,500 orphan children from different parts of Karachi to enjoy the experience of shopping for the Eid.
Chief Executive Officer Alkhidmat Karachi Naveed Ali Baig said the initiative was organised every year during Ramazan to bring happiness to children who have lost one or both parents.
Speaking to the media, he said Alkhidmat had facilitated Eid shopping for 2,500 children in five days. “These are courageous children whose families receive monthly financial sponsorship from Alkhidmat to support their education and other essential needs,” he said.
He added that about 200 of these children currently reside in Aghosh Homes run by Alkhidmat where they are provided boarding, education and care, while thousands of other children are supported through financial sponsorship programmes.
According to him, under the orphan support program Alkhidmat currently sponsors around 32,000 children across Pakistan, while 24 Aghosh Homes are providing residential facilities to many of them.
Naveed Ali Baig said that apart from financial sponsorship, Alkhidmat also organises training and development programs for both the children and their mothers to help improve education, skills and overall wellbeing of the families.
He said the total expenditure on Eid shopping for 2,500 children amounted to millions of rupees, which Alkhidmat undertakes every year with the support of donors and philanthropists.
“The smiles on these children’s faces are priceless,” he said, adding that the organisation was striving to spread happiness among orphan families and help secure a better future for them.
He appealed to philanthropists and members of the public to support the initiative so that more orphan children could benefit from such programs.
Renowned television anchor Farhana Owais, who attended the event, said she visits the Eid shopping activity every year to spend time with the children.
