Passion projects and the people that fuel them continue to evolve into professions serving diverse populations in need across the globe. The Zakat Foundation of America recently celebrated 20 years of service, bringing relief to thousands. The 9-Pillar Program steeped in the basics of human necessity continues to evolve to meet an expanded menu of needs for global citizens of all ages in increasingly dire straits.
The Orphan Sponsorship Program illustrates both the challenge and the opportunity to radically alter historical approaches to match child, need, and sponsor together in a more balanced effort to realize sustainable results across gender and age of orphan.
On the heels of this reporter’s trip to the Sub-Saharan nation of Senegal, a deeper dive seemed appropriate to understand the business of education and offerings within the world of foundational support.
Purpose Driven Profession
Amna Mirza, the Chief Marketing Officer of the Zakat Foundation of America, spent time with this reporter representing a shift in generational and professional pursuits in the name of legacy building.
Like many in her generation, Mirza, an accomplished marketer in the private sector, found lackluster results in the professional ranks filling her ‘proverbial’ cup of meaning. The Zakat Foundation of America met her cultural and personal needs to utilize her professional muscle for good.
The humanitarian aid organization focuses on food insecurity, clean water, pumps, educational efforts, and orphan care. Operating in over 50 countries, the Muslim-run organization comprises a small team that maximizes efforts. Zakat infuses highly effective lean programs that utilize 94 cents for every dollar secured. In addition, emergency relief programs are provided with 100% of the funds allocated to programs. This remarkably giving ratio also applies to Zakat’s Orphan Sponsorship Program.
Zakat operates like the startup world, maintaining flexibility within the moment to meet on-demand and global needs. The orphan program embodies this approach as the definition and understanding of what an orphan is and the fluidity of its evolving meaning.
Mirza notes that with increasing global conflicts, many children may still physically have their parent(s), yet their parents are ill-equipped and in crisis. As a result, many offspring are hopelessly alone and inadequately prepared for independence of necessity. Zakat considers these youth as orphans clearing the way for an often marginalized group of children to experience the love and support of donors from across the planet.