Eid shopping brings joy to orphaned children

PESHAWAR: The sight of smiling orphaned children shopping for Eid at a major shopping mall in the provincial metropolis was truly heartwarming.The event, organized by the Alkhidmat Foundation, allowed these children to experience the joy of Eid festivities through an unforgettable shopping spree.

For many of the young faces, the shopping mall was a new and exciting place to visit. They were each given funds to choose their Eid essentials, ranging from clothes and shoes to accessories like bangles, allowing them to express their personal choices.

Some children were a bit unsure at first, struggling to pick the right items. However, the volunteers from Alkhidmat Foundation were on hand to guide and support them.

In particular, the female volunteers and women reporters from mainstream media played a key role in helping the orphaned girls select their items.Khalid Waqas Chamkani, the provincial president of the Alkhidmat Foundation, along with General Secretary Shakir Siddiqui and other office-bearers, attended the event and shared in the excitement of the children.

This initiative is part of the Foundation’s Orphan Care Programme, which has so far assisted 6,300 orphaned children across the province with Eid shopping.

In Peshawar alone, 580 orphaned children had the chance to shop for their Eid essentials. With joyful faces, they selected new clothes, shoes, bangles, and other festive items, embracing the spirit of the holiday.

Talking to reporters, Khalid Waqas highlighted the importance of the annual initiative. He said that the event was meant to ensure that the orphaned children were not left out of the celebration of the Eid. “We want these children to feel included and experience the joy of Eid just like other children,” he said.

Khalid Waqas said despite operating with limited resources, the Alkhidmat Foundation remains committed to spreading joy to thousands of orphaned children every year. However, he pointed out that many orphaned children across the province were still unable to participate in such activities.

He urged philanthropists to come forward and support the Foundation’s mission so that more children can experience the happiness that comes with Eid.

In addition to the Eid shopping initiative, the Foundation is also actively engaged in broader relief efforts during Ramazan, providing ration packs, Iftar meals and subsidized bread to hundreds of thousands in need.

Through these efforts, Alkhidmat Foundation was trying to make a meaningful difference in the lives of orphans and other vulnerable individuals in the region and develop a sense of community and support during the holy month of Ramazan, Khalid Waqas remarked.

Apart from the Eid shopping event, Iftar dinners were arranged almost daily at the Alkhidmat Aghosh Homes, the orphanages operated by the Alkhidmat Foundation across the province. The foundation runs nine orphanages where hundreds of orphaned children are enrolled and cared for.

Leading figures from various sectors participated in these Iftar dinners, taking the time to spend quality moments with the orphaned children.One such dinner was attended by Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, accompanied by a group of ministers and other senior officials. Senior bureaucrats from the provincial government also set aside an evening to share Iftar with the children.

The officers included: Zariful Maani, managing director of KP Education Foundation, Abidullah Kakahhel, special secretary finance, Syed Fazle Akbar from Federal Investigating Agency, Sarmad Saleem and others.

Similarly, businesspeople, politicians, and other well-off individuals joined the orphaned children for their Iftar dinners, fostering a sense of community and solidarity during the holy month of Ramazan.