Normah, or Alia as she is lovingly known among her village, is a 41 year old who lives in Babong Sering Village, Pengkalan Chepa in the state of Kelantan. Originally from the state of Pahang, Normah’s father is a Chinese whilst her mother is an aborigine.

From a tender age, she had to go through immense difficulties due to poverty. She had to leave her studies and drop out of school in Standard 2 due to her family’s financial condition. Soon, her father passed away as well and she was raised by her aunt.

Down the line, she met her husband to be and embraced Islam. Alhamdulilah! They got married on 10 November 1991 at the PERKIM (Malaysia Muslim Welfare Association), Kelantan Branch. They were blessed with seven (7) children in their marriage.

Just as things were starting to look good for Normah, tragedy struck her family. Normah was attending a program with PERKIM because of which she could not pick her kids from school. 2 of her children got involved in an accident and died on the spot, a mere few steps away from her house.

Her husband, who used to work as a construction labourer was also laid off from work due to a severe chronic skin condition. The frequent medication intake had a heavy negative impact on his kidneys.

Trying to face these testing times Normah frantically searched for a job and knocked door to door but without an education certificate, alas, all doors remained closed to her.

Still determined to save her family, Normah learned how to make traditional cakes. She started producing and selling these traditional cake everyday which earns her around RM 60 – RM 80 a day.  

Despite all her efforts, her current income falls short by a large margin to meet her husband’s medical costs, basic home supplies, utilities and balance of a 2 years motorcycle (for business use) instalment payment. Along with this, she has to support her 5 children, who are 21 years old (IKBM), 18 years old (STPM), 16 years old, 11 years old and 9 years old, all of whom are still studying in their respective grades and levels.

Through your donations, Normah will have the opportunity to expand her business to fulfil the basic needs of her family. Your donations will help her to buy better tools and equipment to increase her daily output as well as get more raw material.

Normah wants to grow her business with the assistance of her daughter who is currently attending pastry course at IKBM. Through your donations, she plans to add kitchen equipment such as oven and grinder to improve the quantity and quality of the traditional cakes she produces.

To make sure that your donations reach their maximum potential, Normah will undergo a special training course that will help teach and enhance her skills in running a business. Our aim at GlobalSadaqah is to turn people like Normah from beneficiaries to benefactors by circulating good in the Ummah.

Knowledge Development  

• – Basic Accounting
• – Book-keeping Skills Course
• – Marketing Course

Machineries / Equipment

• – Proper oven
• – Large Pans
• – Grinding Machine
• – Mixing Machine
• – Various Molds.

Raw Materials

• – Cooking Oi
• – Flour
• – Colouring
• – Salt
• – Sugar
• – Coconut Milk
• – Other Required Items

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: It is better for one among you to bring a load of firewood on his back and give charity out of it (and satisfy his own need) and be independent of people, than that he should beg from people, whether they give him anything or refuse him. Verily the upper hand is better than the lower hand, and begin (charity) with your dependants. [Muslim]

Normah is a living example of the hadith of the Prophet ﷺ regarding those who try to work to earn a Halal and respectable income instead of begging others. At GlobalSadaqah our mission is to empower such people so that they go from becoming beneficiaries to benefactors themselves. This is the core of our mission to Circulate Good.

Even the smallest of donations count. The donations from this campaign not only help Normah set up a decent business but will also help stabilize a family going through a very tough time  Don’t let the numbers stop you for Allah loves all those who give and help remove a difficulty of a fellow Muslim.