When Project Rahmah answered a call to help 81-year-old Aunty Gadija with a replacement wheelchair, a simple act of kindness grew into a community effort to restore her comfort and dignity – and perhaps help fulfil one more sacred dream.
Cape Town, South Africa (19 June 2026) – A few weeks ago, the founder of Project Rahmah, Zaakirah Mohamed, and her team were privileged to answer a call for a wheelchair replacement for 81-year-old Aunty Gadija, a resident of Mandolin Independent Frailcare Centre in Steenberg.
A former table tennis champion, Aunty Gadija had become bedridden and relied heavily on the care of her beloved husband, Boeta Hajji, a former VOC host.
“Despite his devotion and commitment to seeing to her every need, there is only so far that two pensions can stretch,” shares Zaakirah.
“When we visited their home to assist with the wheelchair, we couldn’t help but notice the condition of their bed. It was immediately clear that this was another need that deserved our attention.”
And so, a new movement began within the community and among the organisation’s supporters to raise the funds needed for a brand-new bed. And in just a little over a week, Project Rahmah returned to deliver the new bed to Aunty Gadija’s home.
“For someone who spends every day in bed, comfort is not a luxury; it’s a necessity. It is dignity, relief and quality of life,” says Zaakirah.
Project Rahmah hopes to rally support towards making this dream a reality for the elderly couple.
With a new wheelchair and bed, Aunty Gadija can look forward to moving around her home far better than she has in a while and resting comfortably.
As the Muslim community enters a new Islamic year, Zaakirah hopes people will be reminded that sometimes the greatest acts of service are not grand gestures but the simple things that restore comfort, dignity, and hope to another human being.
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