Founded through a partnership between Muslim Family Services of Ottawa (MFSO), the Children’s Aid Society of Ottawa (CASO), The Friends of CAS and the Children’s Aid Foundation of Ottawa (CAFO), the second annual Lamb Project was held. This project aims to provide the Muslim youth living in Foster Care in the Ottawa and surrounding regions the opportunity to stay connected to their religion and participate in the celebration of Eid Al Adha. This year’s project received overwhelming support from both community members and organizations surpassing the set goal of $2880. We would like to thank everyone who contributed to making this event a success. A special thank you The Ottawa Muslim Association (OMA), As-Sunnah Muslim Association (AMA), CAS Friends, the Children’s Aid Foundation, CAS Staff and the Pinecrest Queensway Community Health Centre for their generous donations.

Muslim Family Services of Ottawa (MFSO) in partnership with the Children’s Aid Society of Ottawa (CASO) and CAS Friends is once again hoping to raise funds from local Muslims for their annual Eid al Adha Lamb Project.

This Eid al Adha was special for a group of Muslim children in our city that our community sometimes forgets. The Children’s Aid Society of Ottawa (CASO), Children’s Aid Foundation of Ottawa (CAFO), Muslim Family Services of Ottawa (MFSO), and CAS Friends collaborated to ensure that Muslim children living in foster care still got to participate in the blessings of this special holiday. Through proceeds raised through fundraising within the wider Muslim community and volunteer efforts, children not only received Eid gifts, including calligraphy of their name by local artist Chaker Zouari, but they also received qurbani meat to share with the support of Al Furat Meat Shop. CASO paid for 1/3 of the lamb, CAFO paid for another 1/3, and the rest of the cost was covered by fundraising in the Muslim community.

Muslim Link interviewed Cindy R. Perron, the Communications Supervisor for CASO, Karim Mekki, MFSO’s Community Liaison Worker, and Sawsane El Khatib, a volunteer with CAS Friends, about how this initiative came together.