ZACADIA ANSWERS THE CALL!

• TZS 1 Million Donated for Orphans in Zanzibar This Ramadhan!
• From across the ocean, love for home continues to find its way back!

                   

The Zanzibar-Canadian Diaspora Association (ZACADIA) has announced a contribution of one million Tanzanian Shillings (TZS 1,000,000) in support of orphans in Zanzibar, responding to the call issued by the Diaspora Department in Zanzibar ahead of the holy month of Ramadan.

The announcement was made in Toronto, Canada, by ZACADIA’s Deputy President, Mr. H. S. Othman, while talking to this blog.  Mr Othman described the donation as both a moral responsibility and a reflection of the association’s enduring bond with Zanzibar.

“Wherever we reside, our hearts remain in Zanzibar. Supporting our most vulnerable children, especially during Ramadan, is not only an obligation—it is an expression of who we Zanzibaris are,” he stated.

ZACADIA is a Toronto-based Zanzibar-Canadian Diaspora organization, bringing together Zanzibaris living across Canada under a shared mission: to give back, uplift communities, and remain actively engaged in Zanzibar’s social, economic, and humanitarian development. Through coordinated action, the association mobilizes financial resources, professional skills, and goodwill to support those most in need.

"Previously, ZACADIA has facilitated the shipment of containers of textbooks to the Ministry of Education in Zanzibar, the delivery of wheelchairs to the Ministry of Social Welfare in the Isles, etc. etc. These accomplishments stand as powerful proof and living testimony of what unity and shared purpose can achieve", stated Mr. Othman.

Over the years, much of ZACADIA’s impact has been directed toward Zanzibar and Pemba from Toronto, Canada. In pursuit of greater effectiveness, transparency, and accountability, the association has taken a strategic decision this year to move to Zanzibar in order to strengthen and expand its operational presence on the ground, ensuring closer engagement with beneficiaries and more responsive delivery of support.

Zacadia's donation aligns with the Diaspora Department’s annual Ramadan initiative, which mobilizes funds, food, and clothing for orphans in Unguja and Pemba. For the 2026 cycle, the initiative commenced earlier, in January, to ensure that assistance reaches beneficiaries by mid-Ramadan.

In an official statement, the Diaspora Office noted with pride that last year’s campaign raised over TZS 8,000,000, which was distributed equally between Unguja and Pemba, with additional support extended to an orphanage in Dar es Salaam—demonstrating the collective strength and unity of the Zanzibari Diaspora.

Reflecting on the deeper meaning of the initiative, Mr. Othman emphasized to this blog the spiritual and social significance of giving during Ramadan:

“This contribution reflects our shared belief in the profound importance of supporting orphans during Ramadan—a sacred period when acts of charity carry multiplied reward, restore dignity, and strengthen the bonds of compassion within our society.”

Mr. Othman commended the Diaspora Department for its capable leadership and coordination and called upon Zanzibaris in the Diaspora, development partners, and friends of Zanzibar worldwide to participate generously in the ongoing campaign.

“Together, we can ensure that no child is left without care, warmth, or hope during this blessed month,” Mr. Othman concluded.