Foundation of Ashraful Aid
- Founders: Mohammed Luqman Wadee and his wife Rehana Wadee
- Location: Marlboro, Johannesburg
- Purpose: They started Ashraful Uloom, now Ashraful Aid, with a heart for helping those in need, assisting impoverished community members.
Early Days: Initial Community Projects
- First Initiatives: They began by helping underprivileged children and families, launching a school and later a children’s home in Marlboro.
- Self-Funding: The Wadee family initially funded their community-based projects with their own resources.
Expansion and Growth
- Increased Donations: As the community saw the impact of their efforts, donations began to flow in, allowing the organization to expand its operations.
- Food Relief: Ashraful Aid scaled up its efforts, providing food parcels to those in need in Marlboro and neighbouring areas like Alexandra Township.
International Relief Efforts
- Mozambique Floods: Ashraful Aid mobilized quickly to provide immediate food relief after catastrophic floods in Mozambique, and later assisted in rebuilding homes and schools.
Tragic Loss and Continuation of Legacy
- Passing of Mohammed Luqman Wadee: After the sudden passing of Mohammed Luqman Wadee, his wife Rehana and their son Suhail, aged 19, were faced with the decision to continue his work.
- Initial Scaling Down: * In the early days after his passing, they scaled down operations to stabilize, but with growing donor support, they continued their work.
Ongoing Growth: Scaling Up Operations
- Expansion and Impact: Ashraful Aid’s operations grew significantly with formal structures and dedicated volunteers.
- Global Reach: They began working with other NGOs and expanded their humanitarian work beyond South Africa’s borders, including providing disaster relief to 17 countries in the past year.
Current Operations: Core Focus Areas and Projects
- Focus Areas: Ashraful Aid operates in five main areas: education, food relief, water relief, disaster relief, and social development.
- Mass Food Relief: One of the organization’s largest ongoing projects is a mass food relief drive, delivering food parcels to over 60 communities in South Africa.
- Zakat Contributions: Ashraful Aid relies on both zakat and non-zakat donations to fund their relief efforts.
Today: Commitment to Preserving Dignity
Despite its growth, Suhail Wadee emphasizes that Ashraful Aid remains committed to helping humanity with dignity, staying focused on the real people behind the numbers.
Financial & Logistics
Q: Costs?
A. Volunteers will be responsible for covering their own expenses, including flights, accommodation, visas and travel. You may book through your own agent or request Ashraful Aid to facilitate these arrangements.
Q: Whats required for fundraising?
A. Volunteers are required to fundraise. A personal fundraising page will be setup for you to share with family, friends and community.
Q: Is there a registration fee?
A: No! Ashraful Aid believes humanitarian work should be accessible to all. We have a zero registration fee policy.
Q: How long do I have to fundraise?
A: You have as much time as you need to raise the funds. We encourage volunteers to start early and fundraise at their own pace.
Q: Criteria?
A: Due to the sensitive nature of our work, Ashraful Aid carefully screens all potential volunteers and reserves the right, at its discretion, to approve or decline any volunteer’s participation in travel programmes.
Deployment Safety & Suitability
Q: Are deployments safe?
A: Safety is our top priority. We conduct thorough risk assessments, provide comprehensive safety briefings, and maintain constant communication during deployments. However, you will be traveling to crisis and conflict affected areas, which carry inherent risks. All volunteers must acknowledge and accept these risks.
Q: Can I bring children with me?
A: No. Deployments are not suitable for children due to the challenging conditions, potential security risks, and the possible intensive nature of humanitarian work.
Q: Can I bring family members?
A: Adult family members may apply as separate volunteers if they meet all requirements and complete the full registration, training, and
Q: Can sisters join?
A: Yes, with a maḥram.
Preparation & Training
Q: What training do I receive?
A: All volunteers receive: Humanitarian context briefing, Cultural sensitivity training, Mandatory safeguarding training, Health and safety protocols, Practical preparation guidance
Q: What should I pack?
A: You’ll receive a detailed packing list during your pre-deployment briefing, customized for your destination’s climate and cultural requirements.
Q: Do I need any vaccinations?
A: Yes, specific vaccinations are required depending on your destination. We’ll provide a comprehensive health checklist during registration.
During Deployment
Q: What will I actually be doing?
A: Volunteers assist with distributing food, water, medical supplies, supporting education initiatives, and providing direct aid to families in crisis. Specific activities depend on the location and current humanitarian needs.
Q: How long is the deployment?
A: Standard deployments range from 5-10 days, depending on the destination and program requirements.
Q: Will I have internet access?
A: Internet availability varies by location. Some areas have limited or no connectivity. We’ll brief you on communication expectations for your specific deployment.
Q: What if I need to leave early?
A: Emergency early departure arrangements can be made if absolutely necessary, but additional costs may apply and are the volunteer’s responsibility.
After Deployment
Q: Can I do multiple deployments?
A: Absolutely! Many volunteers return for multiple deployments. Your experience and training make you even more valuable for future missions.
Q: How can I stay involved after returning?
A: You can become an Ashraful Aid ambassador, share your story, continue fundraising, or help recruit and mentor new volunteers.
Q: Can sisters join?
A: Yes, with a maḥram.
1. Indicative travel costs per volunteer per destination including flights, accommodation etc
SOUTH AFRICAN OFFICE (ZAR)
| Month | Destination | Approximate Cost |
|---|---|---|
| January | India | 22,000 |
| February | Türkiye | 30,000 |
| March | Jordan | 29,000 |
| March | Zanzibar | 21,000 |
| April | Lebanon | 30,000 |
| May | Türkiye | 25,000 |
| June | Kenya | 20,000 |
| July | Mozambique | 15,000 |
| August | Malawi | 20,000 |
| October | Yemen | 35,000 |
| November | Pakistan | 27,000 |
AUSTRALIA OFFICE (AUD DOLLARS)
| Month | Destination | Approximate Cost |
|---|---|---|
| February | Türkiye | 3,500 |
| March | Jordan | 3,500 |
| March | Zanzibar | 3,000 |
| April | Lebanon | 3,600 |
| November | Pakistan | 3,000 |
CANADA OFFICE (CAD DOLLARS)
| Month | Destination | Approximate Cost |
|---|---|---|
| February | Türkiye | 4,120 |
| March | Jordan | 3,000 |
| April | Lebanon | 4,050 |
| November | Pakistan | 3,000 |
NEW ZEALAND OFFICE (NZD DOLLARS)
| Month | Destination | Approximate Cost |
|---|---|---|
| February | Türkiye | 4,310 |
| March | Zanzibar | 3,500 |
| November | Pakistan | 3,500 |
“This is not a vacation. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to witness real humanitarian crisis, deliver tangible aid, and understand the challenges faced by those living in the world’s harshest conditions.”