Community fridge established in Govandi for Ramzan meals

A community fridge has been set up on the ground floor of Aventus Heights shopping mall in Govandi to help people in need during Ramzan. The fridge offers food primarily for iftaar and sehri, the two important meals of the fasting month. Anyone who needs food can help themselves without feeling embarrassed. Saif Alam, a lawyer and advocate, started this initiative through his Exa Educational Foundation. He wanted to create a space where people could access food without the stigma often associated with charity. Inspired by similar efforts in Dubai, he rented a fridge for a month and filled it with fruits and other essentials like dates, curd, and rice. Saif, who has been involved in social work since the Covid pandemic, aims to support the local community, especially those living in challenging conditions. His foundation also helps 50 widows who work as rag pickers at the Deonar garbage dump. The fridge is located in a busy area, accessible to many residents. While the initial response was slow, Saif and his team spread awareness through local corporates and social media. To encourage others to use the fridge, Ishtiyaq, a team member, took food from it to demonstrate that it is for everyone, regardless of their situation. The fridge only needs to be restocked every two days. Saif has noted that people have been respectful and have not taken more than they need, as they recognize the importance of sharing during Ramzan.