AYV News, June 11, 2025
In a remarkable gesture to mark the Eid al-Adha celebration, the Emirates Red Crescent donated ten cows to the Darul BiriCharitable Foundation.
The Foundation is an Islamic organisation whose primary objectives are philanthropy and social well-being, such as educational, religious, and other activities serving the public interest and common good.
The Emirates Red Crescent is the UAE’s branch of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
The cows were donated to be slaughtered and distributed among community members as part of the traditional Eid al-Adha sacrifice, or Qurbani. At a time when the price of meat continues to rise sharply, this donation offers more than just charitable relief—it provides families with access to meat, something many haven’t enjoyed in a long while.
As the Darul Biri Charitable Foundation distributes the meat to over 100 beneficiaries, gratitude flows from the local community.
As Muslims around the world celebrate Eid al-Adha, a time marked by sacrifice and generosity, one charitable gesture is making a big impact here at home. The Emirates Red Crescent has partnered with the Darul Biri Charitable Foundation to bring joy—and much-needed relief—to dozens of families.
“All praise to Allah for the kind of support we received today from these donors, we highly appreciate the concerns they have for us. We are happy we have this beef today, since my husband died, I have not been finding it difficult to buy such beef, because of its price”. Mabinty conteh, one of the beneficiaries, explained in an interview.
According to Sheikh Ismail Koroma, the Deputy Director for the Darul Biri Charitable Foundation, “these donations occur every year by the same Emirate Red Crescent Foundation, and they have been working hand-in-hand with the government of Sierra Leone for making this possible”.
He said for the past five years they’ve been slaughtering cows and with them to Muslims at Yams Farm in the East End part of Freetown, and that the community people are the beneficiaries. He further stated that the Charity they gave to Muslims is based on the support they received from their donors.
Sheikh Koroma went on to say that their aim and ambition areto give support to the less privileged and deprived communities. He further stated that after receiving this support from their donors, their duties are to ensure this charity reaches the actual beneficiaries, adding that their work is not only based on slaughtering cows and sharing with Muslims.
One of the beneficiaries, Sheikh Ibrahim Vandy Sheriff Koroma said some of us are unable to go to cow yards to buy meat, but his kind of gesture will help us to prepare a meal that will serve us for two to three days. Due to the hardship in the country, we are unable to buy pounds of meat, but with the support from Darul Biri Charitable Foundation, some of ushave received up to five to six pounds of meat”.
He expressed gratitude for the gesture, saying: “We are happy for the gesture, as we all know things are hard in the country. For me to buy a pound of meat for a day is not easy, but with such charitable support, I pray that Allah will continue to bless and provide for them and that all of us to witness next year’s program again.”
Other beneficiaries pleaded to the donors to continue with their support every year as the needs of the less privileged keep arising. Muslims therefore believe that the act of sacrifice is something that helps them grow closer to God and strengthens their faith.
