Madam Faraliza Zainal and her son Mohd Ashraf Mohd Ali have been through a lot together. Ashraf, now 23 years old, was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder at a young age, and his mother had a difficult time accepting the news. After taking courses to learn more about how to care for children with special needs, she eventually founded My Inspiring Journey (MIJ) Special Education Hub, a non-profit organization aimed at helping children like Ashraf.
In recent years, Madam Faraliza and her team have expanded their charitable efforts to providing home-cooked meals for families in need, many of whom have children with special needs. This campaign, called The Takeout Campaign, is now in its fourth year and has ramped up during Ramadan, providing freshly cooked iftar meals to families in need around Singapore.
Raising a Child with Special Needs
Madam Faraliza’s journey in raising her son with special needs was not easy. When Ashraf was diagnosed, Madam Faraliza was in denial and had a difficult time accepting the news. She recalls the early years as a “rollercoaster” emotionally, with daily meltdowns and a lack of understanding of what was happening with her son. Her husband, Mohammad Ali Dawood, worked full-time in the aviation industry, and the couple had already been through a tough period when he was retrenched during the 1997 financial crisis. The financial strain of caring for a child with special needs added to the pressure, with costly therapy sessions for autism and frequent hospital trips for Ashraf’s epileptic fits.
Starting My Inspiring Journey (MIJ) Special Education Hub
After taking courses to learn more about how to care for children with special needs, Madam Faraliza began to accept her son for who he was. She also founded MIJ Special Education Hub to help children like Ashraf. In recent years, MIJ has expanded its charitable efforts to provide home-cooked meals for families in need, many of whom have children with special needs. The Takeout Campaign is now in its fourth year and has been ramped up during Ramadan to provide freshly cooked iftar meals to families in need around Singapore. Madam Faraliza and her team prepare about 170 meals each day for eight days, providing some much-needed relief for families facing financial issues.
The Takeout Campaign
The Takeout Campaign has been a success for the past four years, providing food and support to families in need. However, a lack of funds last year led Madam Faraliza and her team to reduce their weekly food deliveries to once a month. This year, during Ramadan, they have returned to delivering freshly made iftar meals every weekend to families around the island.
Madam Faraliza’s story is one of strength and perseverance in the face of adversity. Her son’s autism diagnosis was a turning point in her life, and she has since dedicated herself to helping children with special needs and their families. The Takeout Campaign is just one of the ways she and her team are making a positive impact in Singapore.
