A Table Chosen by a Mother: Ramadan in Gaza

I am a mother of five. Since my husband was seriously injured and could no longer work, feeding our family of seven has become a daily struggle.

During Ramadan, the worry followed me everywhere. As sunset approached each day, I would ask myself what I could possibly prepare for iftar, all while trying to hide the fear from my children’s eyes.

Then one afternoon, a message arrived. Our family had been selected for FAJR Global’s Family Sponsorship Program – Ramadan Food Assistance.

The next day, I walked into a participating grocery store, and for the first time in a long while, I was the one choosing. Instead of receiving a pre-packed food parcel, I could pick what my family truly needed.

I filled my basket with rice, oil, chicken, vegetables, dates, and milk for my youngest. But what meant the most to me was something small: fruit. My children had asked for it so many times, and so many times I had to say no.

“My children kept asking me for fruit, but it had become too expensive. That day, I couldn’t wait to get home and see their faces when they saw what I had brought them.”

Every week throughout Ramadan, I returned to the store and chose what my family needed. The support did more than fill our table. It gave me back the dignity of providing for my own children, and it let us live the holy month with a little more peace in our hearts.

By the end of Ramadan, the worry about our next meal had given way to something I hadn’t seen in a long time: excitement. My children were looking forward to helping me bake Eid cookies, and laughter filled our kitchen again.

For the first time in months, our home finally felt like home.

Learn about FAJR’s food for Gaza campaign and the Emergency Food Aid for Gaza program, or read about the Ramadan grocery vouchers in Gaza.