Sponsor An Iftar with Soofeast

The holy month of Ramadan has dawned on us, and it is considered a good time for us to realign ourselves, count our blessings and to think of the less fortunate. For the duration of Ramadan, Sufiz Allatif and his team at Soofeast are doling out the goodwill by running a sponsorship drive known as “Sponsor an Iftar”. This is where you can contribute by donating a breaking fast meal, also known as buka puasa or iftar, to help feed the needy. Everything else is handled by them, from cooking to delivery, which you can request to attend as well. We speak to Sufiz to find out how this idea came about.

Tell us a bit about your culinary background.

I went to Kolej Damansara Utama to study Culinary Arts, and after, I was sent to Hamburg, Germany after graduating for my apprenticeship. Currently I’m with Teaffani Catering cooking for this project called “Dinner in the Sky”. On the side, I run Soofeast which is my own personal dining experience / private catering service.

What is “Sponsor an Iftar” and how did this idea come about?

Iftar is the breaking of fast during the holy month of Ramadhan which is after sunset. “Sponsor an Iftar” is a campaign to help the less fortunate in local orphanages by providing them a meal to break their fast. Last year I was given an opportunity to cook for a campaign called “feeding the needy”. This year with the support from my family and friends I decided to do my own contribution. There are people that would love to donate but are not sure how, because of that we have decided to provide this service to everyone whose interested in helping the needy.

What is Rumah Anak Yatim and Rumah Tahfiz what do they do?

Rumah anak yatim means “home for orphans” in Malay which is essentially an orphanage and is normally run by Non-Governmental Organisations. In short, Rumah Tahfidz or Tahfiz is traditionally similar to Rumah Anak Yatim. The word Tahfidz originated from Hafadzo which means to provide guidance through the teaching of the Al Quran. In these homes, the children are taught to memorize the Quran, the values of the Quran, and to embrace it. Rumah Tahfiz is an independent body normally run by a Non-Governmental Organisation.

How does this sponsorship work?

All meals will be served in an individual food box which includes an appetizer, main course, dessert, and beverage. This is how it works. You give us your budget and we will assign you a home suited to your budget. Our goal is to provide a wholesome meal to each child at the home. We will then confirm with the home on a date to deliver the food. We will then inform you of the assigned home, the proposed date, and also the menu. We can provide you photos of the food box, and the delivery to the home. We can also arrange for you to join the buka puasa / iftar at the home with the less fortunate if you are keen to do so. Payment can be made by cash or bank transfer after confirmation. 

How can people help or contribute if they want to?

Just send an email to soof3ast@gmail.com for more information and further enquiries. We can assist you from there.

If you’re thinking of what you can do to help the less fortunate this Ramadan, this would be a great time to remind ourselves of our blessings. Please help with whatever you can. Every little helps.

_{| PHOTOGRAPHY BY: SOOFEAST | WEBSITE: PUSAT JAGAAN RUMAH KESAYANGAN SS3 |}