Let’s Do Something Great for South Africa

Interviewed By: Jarette Petzer on ImStayingMedia

Dr. Imtiaz Sooliman, founder of Gift of the Givers, chats to Jarette Petzer about the astounding R1.7 Million which has been raised on the BackaBuddy platform alone. The organisation’s Covid-19 fund-raising efforts have reached close to R100 million, if not more, over all their fundraising sites.

He has never seen a reaction like this

This has been the best response from corporate South Africa, ever. He compared the floods, the fires, the ongoing drought and notes that he has never seen a reaction like this. Typically the turn-around time for such donations takes far longer, but with this initiative it is averaging 24-48 hours. Something he has never seen from corporate before.

At Jarette’s urging that we, as a nation, need to stand together, Dr. Sooliman is in total agreement. South Africa is a circular economy.

“We are totally dependent on the success of each other. This should be the formula for us to go forward.”

Going back to how Gift of the Givers came about, Dr. Sooliman took us back to a spiritual experience in August 1991, which saw him return to Turkey on 6 August 1992. It was 10pm on a Thursday night and his life changed forever. His spiritual teacher looks at him and said,

“My son, you will form an organisation. The name will be Waqful Waqifin, and that name is translated into ‘Gift of the Givers’. You will serve all people of all races, of all religions, of all colours, of all classes, of all political affiliations and of any geographical location. You will serve them unconditionally. Expect nothing in return, you may even get a kick up the bum. Go back and do what you have to do.”

Which is exactly what he has been doing, very successfully, for the past 28 years.

HOW we can help

Asked on the advice for HOW we can help, Dr. Sooliman says,

“Share whatever you have. Start close, your neighbour, next door or down the street. Do whatever you can.”

Gift of the Givers is focussed on supplying the public and private sector personal protective equipment (PPE). Free of charge to the public sector and at cost to the private sector. The delivery of food and water never stops.

They deliver Monday to Sunday 5am to 9pm EVERY DAY, NO EXCEPTIONS.

WHERE can we help

Answering the WHERE can we help, he advises that only his staff, who are recognised by their branded shirts and vehicles can do the nitty gritty. He talks of children, recently, in Stellenbosch who showed much excitement, when they recognised a small logo, on recently-donated Ford and Isuzu bakkies.

But, there is nothing stopping us from going to BackaBuddy, with whom he has partnered. He also speaks of his 0800 786 911 call centre number, their website- giftofthegivers.org, and if you want to see exactly where your money is being utilised, he invites you to visit their Facebook page.

He adds on a closing note,

“I am very proud of the #ImStaying members. We are pushing our country to something greater. Let us do something great for the country.”