Creating a better future for the poor
WHO WE ARE
Our Motto
The Abdul Aziz Islamic Foundation for the Poor and Needy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in the United States and registered with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS, the State Corporation Commission of Virginia(SCC), and also a registered nongovernmental organization in Sierra Leone with offices located at 2401 Merrybrook Drive, Herndon, Virginia, 20171 and an International office at 25F Black Hall Road, Upper Benz Garage, Freetown, Sierra Leone.
Our motto seeks the welfare of the poor and needy and strives to the will of Allah. We have been impacting the lives of communities and people across Sierra Leone through our many projects funded primarily by generous donations from everyday people. This iftar project for Ramadan 2021 was no exception. Due to charitable donations, we distributed 100 bags of rice to the less advantaged so they could practice the sunnah iftar of Prophet Muhammad and celebrate Eidul-fitra with abundance.
How We Started
The idea to establish this foundation began during the 2012 Ramadan when we saw the imperative need to undertake our very first project to feed Muslims observing the month of Ramadan in Sierra Leone. This landmark project dedicates our foundation to help our Muslim brothers and sisters in Sierra Leone, who continue to look forward to our arrival every Ramadan.
Like other countries in the world, Sierra Leone was affected by the worldwide pandemic that hit other nations of different economies. Supply stoppages perpetuated increases in hunger coupled with untold hardship and suffering. The challenges of Ramadan 2020 caused many Muslims to ponder over whether to fast or not because food for their iftar was limited. The Abdul Aziz Islamic Foundation thought it fit to intervene by raising the necessary funds to alleviate the hunger of the Muslim janmmat.
Our Integrity
The Abdul Aziz Islamic Foundation is a faith-inspired humanitarian aid and nonprofit foundation working to save and transform the lives of some of the world’s most vulnerable people. We work in the two countries of the United States and Sierra Leone. We assist needy people of any faith according to their needs and do not discriminate in any way. We work close to the communities we serve. We work hard to understand their culture and gain their trust. We often respond swiftly to emergencies and work in areas that other organizations cannot access.
Our humanitarian and development projects typically help over one million people every year, contributing directly to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. We help communities better protect themselves against recurrent challenges such as drought and floods, and we deliver lifesaving emergency aid when disaster strikes. We provide vital services such as healthcare, water, sanitation, and hygiene. Further, our livelihood and education projects empower people to escape poverty and build bright futures.
To maximize our impact and build community resilience, the Abdul Aziz Islamic Foundation for the Poor and Needy develops the capacity of local partners to work alongside us in delivering effective aid and development programs. We push for positive change through global advocacy, particularly climate change, gender justice, and forced displacement. We develop Islamic perspectives that combine spiritual and practical insights to provide distinctive, impactful approaches to some of the biggest challenges facing our world.
Based on our high-quality programs and the impactful nature of our work, we are the only Muslim charity to be awarded the Best Humanitarian Organization in Sierra Leone for the calendar year 2020 by the Association of nongovernmental organizations in Sierra Leone (SLANGO). An umbrella agency, SLANGO governs all nongovernmental organizations in the country. As full members of the Sierra Leone Association of nongovernmental organizations, our excellence in community development, humanitarian interventions, transparency, good governance, and social responsibility are favorably recognized.
We are signatories to the Red Cross Code of Conduct in Sierra Leone, which sets ethical standards for organizations involved in humanitarian work and commits us to the essential principles of impartiality, neutrality, and independence. We are also firmly committed to the People in Aid code of best practices as we strive to become one of the world’s most significant relief and development charities. To date, we have helped over ten million vulnerable people in Sierra Leone.
Our values and faith perspective
The Abdul Aziz Islamic Foundation for the Poor and Needy Inc. adheres to the timeless values and teachings of the Qur’an and Sunnah (the lived example of Prophet Muhammad). In particular, our organization is committed to five fundamental values:
- Sincerity (Ikhlas) – We are driven and motivated by sincerity to God and our duty to humanity.
- Excellence (Ihsan) – A commitment to excellence is a hallmark of our operations, programs, and conduct towards the vulnerable people we serve.
- Compassion (Rahma) – Every life is precious. We join other humanitarian actors in easing the suffering caused by disasters, poverty, and injustice.
- Social Justice (Adl) – We empower poor and vulnerable people to have their rights fulfilled and achieve their God-given potential.
- Custodianship (Amana) – We value and protect the Earth and its resources, including its people, and we aim to honor the trust people place in us to be transparent and accountable.
We are policy leaders in the arena of Islamic humanitarianism. We develop distinctive and practical approaches to the key issues that affect our world today – including climate change, gender justice, forced migration, peacebuilding, child protection, and inclusion.
Our Islamic values and insights influence all aspects of our work and sit alongside our decade of development experience in helping to shape humanitarian and social justice approaches in the broader sector.
Our global strategy
From 2015 to 2021, our bold international strategy focuses our expertise and resources on the service of the world’s most vulnerable people. Our four broad goals are:
- Reduce the humanitarian impact of conflicts and natural disasters. We are increasing our capacity to respond rapidly to disasters by building a global reputation for delivering emergency aid. In addition, we prepare at-risk communities to reduce the impact of disasters.
- Empower communities to emerge from poverty and vulnerability. Building on our expertise in integrated development, we develop multi-year funding to support much-needed long-term development programs. We also seek to prioritize inclusion for people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities.
- Mobilize people and funds to support our work. We advocate on the issues that matter most to the world’s most vulnerable people, influence decision-makers to act, and motivate the support, funds, and partnerships that power our vital efforts.
- Strengthen the Islamic Relief Federation. Ambitious governance reforms build a platform for more significant impact and efficiency by increasing collaboration across the Islamic Relief family. We help cement our reputation as the leading international Islamic aid agency by being known for transparency, neutrality, and sincerity.
Our Strategic Partnerships
Each member of our Board of Trustees is a volunteer. Volunteers choose this organization to contribute diverse skills, knowledge, and experience that will help us respond to critical challenges. The Board of Trustees oversees the strategic direction of Abdul Aziz Islamic Foundation Worldwide, working closely with the CEO (Abdul Aziz Sahid Kamara) and the Board of Directors to provide oversight, advice, and guidance.
Our governance structure means that the first seven people elected to the Board of Trustees represent partner offices in Sierra Leone. Throughout 2021, the Board’s scope is enabling it to double in size as more partners elected representatives become trustees. Trustees, in turn, elect Board members, and the international family selects trusted independent officers from outside the Abdul Aziz Islamic Foundation.
Trustees for the Abdul Aziz Islamic Foundation are limited to two four-year terms. Elections occur at the end of each four-year term or when a Board member vacates a position.
Key responsibilities of the Board of Trustees
- To oversee the organization under its statutory obligations by making sure that we satisfy our regulatory requirements as a charity.
- To support the organization in meeting its aims and objectives as outlined in our governing documents and ensure our long-term security.
- To focus on strategic planning and governance when setting our priorities and objectives
- To evaluate performance and progress and approve relevant new policies and procedures
- To appraise the executive management team and be involved in appointments and dismissals from the team.