Food for Fadimata
Fadimata, 25, belongs to group of Tuareg nomads living in the south east of Gourma Rharous in Mali. As an ethnic group, Tuaregs have settled across the Sahara and the Sahel, with many living in Niger and Mali.
Nomadic way of life
Fadimata lives in a camp for nomads. Parents and their children usually live in one tent but, eventually, grandparents will also come and stay under the same shelter. One tent therefore becomes a home for three generations of the same family.
Fadimata has three children and she provides for them by breeding small animals, like sheep and goats.
As well as looking after animals, Tuaregs also cultivate crops to eat, such as fonio and cram-cram (types of seed). This makes them less dependent on buying food from local markets.
Ramadhan
Islamic Relief distributed over 13,300 food packs in Mali in 2006. The distribution coincided with the country’s ‘national month of solidarity’, a time when people remember the poor.
Each food pack contained 5kg rice, 5kg millet, 3kg sugar, 2 litres oil and over ½kg macaroni.
“This is the first time I received a food pack for the fasting month of Ramadhan,” says Fadimata, “I am very pleased with the donation and I hope it will not be the last time.
“The act is a testimony that somewhere there are people who feel concerned about our plight. I wish Allah’s reward for the donors and Islamic Relief , both in this world and the hereafter.May Allah help you to be successful in all your endeavours.”
IR’s projects in Mali include water, sanitation, health, education and orphans support.
