Anzal Begum Foundation, a charity based in Birmingham, has raised an amazing £10,000 for worthy causes. The charity is based in Priory Road, Aston, and was set up by the grandchildren of Anzal Begum, who died in 2008 at the age of 60….reports Asian Lite News
The Anzal Begum Foundation was launched at the prestigious Tipu Sultan Restaurant in Moseley, an event attended by Shabana Mahmood MP, along with local councillors and other dignitaries.
The evening included the presentation of a special award given to Jasbir Wouhra of East End Foods, who helped and supported Anzal Begum by giving her credit to start her corner shop business 31 years ago.
John Saddiq said: “Our mother was a woman of substance a woman of character a woman of dignity and respect. A woman that faced many struggles throughout her life, battling between culture and living in a western country with us two brothers as a single mother.
“Fending for herself and her two young boys she faced discrimination. But this did not stop my mother, she kept striving forward, not allowing anything to become an obstacle in her path and her journey to achieve, putting all her pain and sorrows aside and moving forward gracefully.
“Our mother was always the first one to help a person in need, either financially or emotionally and was admired by many for her righteous ways and charitable work.
“The Foundation will raise funds for causes that were very close to our mothers heart – providing food and water, helping the sick and empowering women both in the UK and abroad.”
Anzal Begum’s story began when her husband suddenly left her in the early 70s, leaving her to support herself and her young children, by taking jobs in sewing factories, where she was forced to work long and difficult hours.
Eventually, in an effort to provide a more stable future for her children, she became the owner of a small corner shop.
Amazingly, she somehow found the time to help others who had been subjected to domestic abuse and violence.
According to her family, she actively supported people in poverty, and would regularly provide clothing and food parcels to more than 200 families.
She also provided financial support to parents who simply could not afford to get their daughters married.
Sadly, Anzal died in 2008, at the age of 60, and her sons Bob and John Saddiq have founded the Anzal Begum Foundation, to honour her lifetime contribution to alleviating poverty and also continue her charitable work.
The two brothers are the founders of the Big John’s business, which is a chain of takeaway shops, of which there are now 17.