KUALA LUMPUR: Over the last 30 years, Sabariah Hussein has focussed on doing all she can to enrich the lives of the less fortunate.
The 70-year-old lives by the Islamic saying “Do not let your neighbours go hungry”, which strengthens her resolve on a daily basis as she prepares food for the needy and homeless in Montreal, Canada.
Having moved to the North American country in 1985 following her marriage to a French-Canadian, Sabariah has extended her initial generosity to the Muslim community to others in her adopted city.
She now serves people from all walks of life by cooking thousands of meals per week for the homeless, asylum seekers, residents from low-income communities and other people in need of a hot meal.
Her good works and deeds in Canada have not gone unnoticed. They have captured the attention of many, including none other than Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The country’s chief executive wanted to meet her, but was unable to do so, as she was busy.
“I was busy cooking for Ramadhan and it was a last-minute arrangement. I was unable to meet Prime Minister Trudeau,” she said, sounding disappointed.
“My regular activities involve cooking meals to serve the River’s Edge Community Church, Unity Church, Anglican Church, and also provide meals to the homeless through a peace initiative in collaboration with other organisations,” she told the New Straits Times in an exclusive phone interview.
Besides providing meals for the less fortunate, her door is also always open to people who need shelter. This led her to establish the Our Second Home Shelter in Nov, 2001.
The initiative came about after foreign students asked her for temporary lodging before they could find suitable accommodation due to their financial constraints.
“Before the shelter was set up, I allowed them to stay at my home.
“For a more sustainable practice, I decided to rent a four-room apartment to allow the students to stay there temporarily. I let them stay for up to a year.
Sabariah said most of the students come from France, Europe and Saudi Arabia.
“The high cost of living in Canada and their low-income backgrounds saw them take longer to find affordable accommodation,” she said.
Her door is also open to asylum seekers and women who need a safe place to stay.
As she is running her voluntary activities on a pro bono basis and without the assistance of government grants, she generates income through selling spring rolls, curry puff, samosas and other snacks and savouries at Concordia University, McGill University and Al-Ummah Mosque every Friday.
“I cook these savouries and snacks with volunteers. Most of them are students and they also help me to sell the snacks every week,” she said.
As her charity work gained the trust and appreciation of the local Muslim community, she turns to them when she needs financial assistance to further her cause.
“At every mosque, there is a special box for charity. When I am running short of money, I will ask from the mosque. Thank God, I have dedicated people who provide monthly contributions of around C$100 to C$200,” she said.
Sabariah said she asks donors to contribute to the good cause, especially during the two months that she returns to Malaysia every year.
“For the two months that I am away, I ask them to contribute to the fund. They will write me a cheque beforehand. Then I would be able to prepare everything to continue my work,” she said.
Sabariah’s motivation and generosity to help other’s stems from her love for people, and the kindness shown to the less fortunate by her late parents.
“I know my clock is ticking and I have to face Allah one day. Every day I ask myself who did I help?” she said.
Sabariah was born in Johor Baru and for 22 years lived in Singapore, where her parents were teachers at the Singapore Vocational Institute.
“Every week, I would follow them to go back to Johor Baru to help out the villagers there. We would buy groceries and staple items for the needy in the village
. In return, they would give us coconuts, durian and other produce from the village.
“Apart from that, my parents helped rebuild roads, repair houses and fix other things within their capability,” she revealed.
She added that her parents’ good deeds were not limited to Johor Baru, but also Singapore.
“In Singapore, they organised gotong-royong at the school they worked in. They helped people, regardless of their background. The values of helping others are deeply ingrained in the purpose of my life.
“As the Islamic verse goes - “‘I made you from different tribes so that you will understand one another” – which means we have to learn about and love one another,” she said.
Although Sabariah has spent most of her life in Canada, she has not forgotten her roots and is also extending charity to her motherland.
“I am raising funds to build orphanages at Klang, Kuala Lumpur and Kota Tinggi, Johor Baru. The orphanages will be built for the Rohingya children.
“I have visited the one in Klang. It was congested, but I hope I can give these children a proper home with sufficient space to grow up in,” she said.
Visit https://www.facebook.com/SisterSabriaFoundation/ for more information on Sabariah’s charitable works.