7,500 people from Asian communities benefit from QC’s Baraha

• 2,500,000 benefited from a huge water project; only 12% had access to drinking water before that.

Garut City in Indonesia suffered from dire shortage of drinking water; its people used to get only 12% of clean water. Now, however, thanks to QC things changed to the better.

QC and Mr. Rudy Gunawan, City Chief, signed an agreement in September 2014. As stated in the agreement, QC would provide 2,500,000 people living in Garut with clean water through digging 350 wells in one year. The project was implemented at a cost of 1,750,000 QR.

Goodbye Water Ponds

Mr. Gunawan said, “The water QC provided the city with entirely replaced the water ponds the people used to use for their wudu’ (ablution), their personal cleanliness and at schools. To be honest, when I signed this agreement last year, I did not expect the project to be this huge! I even told my colleagues that it would be great if they only dug 50 wells. We had met many institutions and I cannot begin to tell you the promises we’ve heard; however, QC did not make any promises. No, QC implemented. QC got the job done. I sincerely thank QC and the philanthropists who spent their money on this project so that our city would get clean water. It is a prevention project that will help protect us from diseases and will help the future of this city.”

The Fruit of Doing Good

Garut city has an area of 300 km2 and a population of 2,500,000 people. It basically depends on agriculture and is considered to be the neediest city for water in Indonesia.

The agreement, signed last year (2014) between QC and the Indonesian government, stated that by the end of September 2015 QC will have dug 350 wells.

The implementation of the project started immediately after the agreement was signed. QC, first, identified the neediest regions and villages for these wells; then started the implementation. Many schools, health centers and mosques benefited from this project.

The inauguration of this project was attended by many officials and senior figures. Each dug well had 5 water taps, and two toilets sometimes.

Mr. Karam Zeinhom, QC’s Office Director in Indonesia, said that such water projects were the fruit of QC’s good doing in Indonesia. “In fact, the services related to people’s lives and health conditions are always a priority,” said he.

QC, as Mr. Zeinhom clarified, does not spare an effort to help the needy in Indonesia; it is part of QC’s humanitarian message to the world. He also added that QC will not stop until it helps its brothers and sisters in Indonesia.

Thousands of Projects

It is worth mentioning that QC’s office has been working in Indonesia for 10 years. The total of the money spent in the past years reached 30,000,000$ (100,000,000 QR). QC had also signed an agreement with the Ministry of Religions and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs a while ago to renew the work in the humanitarian field for 3 years at a budget of 10,000,000$.

QC recently opened a big educational center after it had built and equipped it at a cost of 2,196,000QR. It was inaugurated in the presence of some officials, senior figures, a representative of the Qatari ambassador in Indonesia, a delegation from QC and the donors.  Mr. Rashidbin Fatis Al Mari, Deputy of QC’s CEO of Global Development, His Excellency Mr. Mohammed Al Badir, Representative of the Qatari Ambassador in Indonesia, and Mohammed Abdul Jaleel Abdul Ghani, Representative of Al Abdul Jaleel family, the donating philanthropists.

QC continues to implement income-generating projects for the benefit of the poor regions in Indonesia. These projects included handing the ownership of sewing machines, distributing dairy cows, and motorcycles to carry goods.

These projects are part of QC’s efforts in developing the targeted communities in Indonesia. It is a kind of support to the universal efforts to achieve the developmental goals for this millennium. In addition, QC seeks to contribute to the achievement of self-sufficiency projects that can get the poor families fixed-income to guarantee their dignity. 

You can donate to support such projects through the link:  Click here

QC delegation opened Ahbab Allah project 2 "Lovers of Allah 2" educational center dedicated for 800 female-orphaned students where a number of local officials attended the opening ceremony.

The center includes a school, a mosque, a well, an accommodation building for female students, administrative offices, as well as accommodation p  lace for teachers. All the center's units were furnished with a total cost of QR 1,850,000$ contributed by a generous Qatari philanthropist. This center was inaugurated in January 2015, with a cost of QR 2.196.000

Education and Development

This project is part of a series of large development projects inaugurated by QC delegation, which is headed by Khalid Abdullah Al Yafei, the Executive Director for Operations Department.  Al Yafei opened "Lovers of Allah 2" center during his tour to Indonesia, as part of the strategic plan targeting Indonesia and covering various areas including education, development and the improvement of male and female student's incubation environment.

The center's inauguration was attended by a group of key figures including Prof. Bambang Sodeao, the Chairman of the National Zakat Foundation, which is the project's partner institution, Mr. Roy Khairuddin, the representative of West Java Governor, Mr. Ahmed Alshatabori, the representative of the Minister of Religious Affairs, Bogor City deputy chairman, Ms. Hassnah Al Shijia, the official in charge of the land where the two centers were built by the two centers and a number of representatives of Senior Scholars (Ulema).

Continuous Efforts

Eng. Khalid Abdullah Al Yafei, the Executive Director for Operations Department, commended the cooperation with the central government and local authorities in Indonesia regarding the implementation of this project. He explained that this project is part of Qatar Charity's 6,500 projects implemented in Indonesia. This is in addition to sponsoring 3000-orphaned persons, most of them are orphaned.

Al-Yafei thanked the Qatari philanthropist who kindly donated in favor of establishing and furnishing this important educational center. He noted that the people of Qatar have always been known for their generosity and support for large and sustainable development projects. He also thanked the Indonesian philanthropist who donated the land where the two centers were built.

Continuous Good Deeds

The City Deputy Chairman hoped that the Center would be a beacon for education and part of “Lovers of Allah 1” project, praising the great efforts made by QC to open the center and provide the area with other projects such as wells that significantly contribute to the development of the city.

Mr.Bambang Sodeao, the Head of the National Zakat Foundation and the project's partner, said; “We, in cooperation with QC, have already implemented water projects to serve governmental schools and have held different workshops to raise the education level in Indonesia and have selected the best students to be taught in the center so that they could have a better future”.

Sodeao added that the members of the center are orphans who are helped and supported by QC; therefore, we present our sincere thanks to QC for their interest in achieving orphans’ dreams. Sodeao assured that the number of the center's members would be up to 800 students during the next four years.

Mutual Honoring

At the end of the opening ceremony, QC provided its trophy for the Chairman of the National Zakat Foundation, the City Deputy Chairman, the West Java Province Governor and the land donor. QC received a certificate of appreciation and a trophy from the National Zakat Foundation for its efforts in the project.

It is worth mentioning that QC has opened a considerable educational center at West Java in Indonesia supported by Qatari philanthropists for the benefit of orphans and students who are unable to complete their studies due to their bad financial conditions. The center was opened at the presence of the Minister of Religious Affairs at the Indonesian government, the mayor of Purwakarta city, the Executive Director for Operations Department at QC and the chairman of House of Quran schools and Institutes.

You can donate to support such projects through the link: Click here

By: Judy Al Asmar

But it is also Tripoli, "Mother of The Poor" where one can enjoy the best of what the city offers, especially in food and clothing, for a small price. Unfortunately, nowadays, it is "the Mother of Poverty " after recent studies revealed it to be the poorest city on the Mediterranean.

In this city, where 60% of the population live below the poverty line, the dominant Islamic identity shines in its most definite form during the holy month of Ramadan, when the benevolent hands gather for initiatives to feed the underprivileged.

Tripoli has well-established charity organizations that double their food aid in Ramadan. Thus, this city is witnessing the emergence of initiatives by the youth to provide food through purely voluntary efforts and individual donations.

To name but a few, the “Ambassadors of Good” initiative has, for eight years, been targeting orphans and disadvantaged people throughout the month by delivering hot and delicious food to their homes on a daily basis. This group of young men and women from various Lebanese regions is active in Tripoli and northern Lebanon. Their efforts are coordinated by Professor Nada Hamdash: "Our primary objective is not to make those whom we help feel embarrassed or humiliated, but to treat them as we would like to be treated. We are also concerned with doing an excellent job and providing quality food. " The activities of this group are diversified and include different age groups. Hence the "Iftar Ramadan" project has witnessed a significant development. In the first year, Iftar meals were distributed to 300 people. In the second year, there were 2000 beneficiaries. In the eighth year, this number reached 28,000 beneficiaries throughout Lebanon (Beirut, Tripoli, the north, Sidon and Wadi Al-Zayneh). Donations are usually raised through an annual charity Iftar, zakat funds, and individual contributions mostly collected from people of the middle class. The non-working university youth form the core of “Ambassadors of Good.”

The "We Love Tripoli" youth association is another example. This group, for the past 7 years, have been organizing Iftar meals for orphans in the most deprived areas. They began with one Iftar for orphans in the year, until it was able, during the last three years, to manage and organize three Iftars for orphaned children each year. The founder of "We Love Tripoli” Taha Naji's explains the concept of their work: “We take a group of orphan children to a restaurant, and every young volunteer is responsible for one child during Iftar. The activity concludes with leisure facilitated by the group". Through the association's relations with other credible local organizations and beneficiaries in the areas of Tebbaneh, Jabal Mohsen, Al-Tanak district in the port and others, children are referred to "We Love Tripoli" to participate in Iftar. As operators are aware that volunteering does not necessarily mean that a volunteer must donate for Iftar, the option to raise donations from outside the association is open for all.  

Social solidarity in Ramadan takes an integrated approach in the works of “Basma and Yasma” youth initiative. This initiative was launched by the efforts of two young men and a woman from the most marginalized areas of Jabal Mohsen and Bab El Tebbana in Tripoli, an area known for its sectarian rivalries. The group met a year ago to provide food supplies collected from small shops in the two regions as means to the revival of the local economy and sell to individuals and institutions that want to provide food support for families, especially during the month of Ramadan. Ms. Marwa Baker, a participant in the initiative, explained: “We have integrated unemployed youth and school dropouts into this effort to contribute to the preparation and transfer of supplies to needy families, and to take advantage of the financial benefits we derive from “Basma and Yasmeh” at competitive prices.” One of the founders of the initiative, Mr. Hassan Saleh, points out that their food contributions are provided to five local and international associations

The Tripoli historian, Professor Omar Tadmari, affirms that this social fabric in the Holy Month has not come as a result of a recent phenomenon. He claims that it is based on similar experiences that took place in the second half of the twentieth century, as in the school of Qadiriyah in the copper market before it became a mosque. This area, for 30 years, was occupied by a free restaurant based on contributions of the middle-class people who used to buy raw materials, prepare food, and deliver it to the deprived during Ramadan and throughout the year.

Note: The article expresses the opinion of the author solely and does not necessarily reflect the viewpoint of Qatar Charity.

Through its Ramadan Campaign “Giving is the Secret to Happiness”, Qatar Charity (QC) is expected to reach out to 630,000 fasting persons in Qatar during the holy month by implementing a number of projects and programmes at a cost of about QR16mn.

During the blessed month of Ramadan, Qatar Charity is implementing various types of projects, which include many Iftar projects for fasting persons, targeting workers and community gatherings in particular, and Iftar meals and Zakat Al Fitr projects for low-income families.

The charily also is organizing a number cultural programs, events and supporting voluntary initiatives, in partnership with others, which include Baraha, Humanitarian Action Event, Youth Initiatives Competition, Al-Siddiqiyoon, You're not alone and Moaayashah (Coexistence).

The most significant Ramadan projects are as follows:

Iftar Tables for Fasting Persons

This year, Qatar Charity is organizing 39 Iftar tables in several areas of the country such as Al Khor, Dhakhira, Simaisma, Kharttiyat, Al Gharafa, Al Rayyan, Al Shahaniya, Al Wakrah, Al Wukair, Muaither South and North, Al Sailiya, Bin Omran, Bin Mahmoud, Umm Salal Mohammed, Al Kabaan, Al Aziziyah,Izghawa, Old Al Ghanim, Al Montazah, Ain Khalid, Al Shamal, Freij Abdul Aziz, Al Hilal, Rawdat Rashid, Al Jamiliya, and Barzan.

During the whole month of Ramadan, these tables will target 225,000 fasting people with the focus on single workers, passers-by and low-income earners and provide them with ready Iftar meals to break their fast. 

Iftar Meals for Single Workers

The project focuses on single workers and serves ready Iftar meal to them with the focus on bachelor gatherings. This project is being implemented in Al Ghuwariyah, Simaisma, Al Khor, Al Khuraib, Al Shahaniya, Abū Nakẖlah, and Al Wakrah. Around 18,000 people are expected to benefit from the project.

From Home to Home

As part of this project, Qatari families prepare and serve Iftar meals to low-income families with the aim of meeting some of their needs in Ramadan. As many as 6,000 people are expected to benefit from the project.

Iftar Meals for Industrial Zone workers:

This project distributes Iftar meals to workers through special vehicles at the various locations of the Industrial Area, which are daily changed to cover the largest number of workers during the month. This project will reach out to 12,000 beneficiaries throughout the month of Ramadan.

Ramadan Supply

This project provides parcels containing essential foodstuffs for the month of Ramadan, which are distributed to families with limited incomes via coupons gifted by Qatar Charity at the beginning of the holy month. About 2000 families are expected to be beneficiaries of this project this Ramadan.

Mobile Iftar

This involves the distribution of snacks prepared by Qatari productive families to motorists who were not able to reach their homes for Iftar. This Ramadan, it is expected that 15,000 drivers will benefit from the project.

Providing Water to Congregations

The project is underway in 43 mosques in cooperation with the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs in order to distribute water bottles to congregations while they are performing Taraweeh and night prayers. As many as 242,000 people are expected to benefit from this water project during this Ramadan.

Ramadan Gift

This is financial aid provided to low-income families registered with Qatar Charity before the beginning of Ramadan to meet the living needs in the holy month. The number of beneficiaries reached as many as 1,000 families this year. 

Al-Aqraboon

This is an initiative implemented by Qatar Charity for the third consecutive year with start of Ramadan, in which a number of media figures and social media influencers will participate, with the aim of providing financial aid to the needy families, who may not visit charities for help as well as supporting difficult cases within the country.

Zakat ul Fitr

It is given to low-income families on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr. The number of beneficiaries is expected to reach 1,000 families.

Eidi (Gift) for Orphans

It is a gift distributed to the Orphans Sponsored by Qatar Charity, before Eid al-Fitr, to bring pleasure to them. This year, Eidi will be gifted to 324 orphans.

"Every year, we eagerly wait for the holy month of Ramadan so that we can eat together at Iftar Tables. Our feeling of happiness is indiscernible when we break the fast with our family members in a euphoric spiritual atmosphere”.

This is how Sami Ahmed, a 14-year-old boy, expressed his pleasure at attending Iftar tables organized by Qatar Charity in the Gaza Strip for orphan and their families.

"We are happy with the programs implemented with the support of philanthropists in Qatar, which always carry love and familiarity for us, and let us feel that we are not less fortunate than our peers," added Sami Ahmed.

The mother of the child, Mohammed Abdullah, expressed her happiness at attending these events that contribute to easing the economic burden on the families of orphans. "We are happy that with time, we and Qatar Charity have become one family”, the mother said. She stressed that the cash aid provided to orphans, significantly help them, especially in the difficult economic conditions of the Gaza Strip under the siege.

Qatar charity is organizing a number of Iftar tables in various governorates of the Gaza Strip at a cost of QR 824,274, in cooperation with NGOs as part of its Ramadan project for the year 1439/ 2018.

Since the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan, Qatar Charity has implemented three Iftar Projects for Orphans and Poor Families in various parts of the Gaza Strip. Other Iftar projects will be implemented throughout the blessed month.

At the beginning of the blessed month, QC’s office in the Gaza Strip has implemented a clothing project, benefiting 2000 poor children.