The recent donation of a 22-seater school bus, valued at some R1 100 000, to the Islaah Foundation in Sydenham, Durban, has provided a vital bridge between home and school for its learners, whilst also opening the door to the centre’s future scalability.
The South African Muslim Charitable Trust (SAMCT) provided the financial assistance, ensuring learners’ continued access to education and spiritual development. With only one operational taxi at its disposal, the Islaah Centre was finding it increasingly difficult to transport all its learners safely and efficiently to and from school daily.
Commenting on the provision of the new school bus, SAMCT representative, Mr Gaff Osman, said: “Safe and reliable transport forms an integral part of the South African educational value chain and is vital for ensuring learners’ right to education. Safe and consistent access to school protects learners – considered vulnerable road-users – from accidents, reduced absenteeism and the threat of crime.”
The Islaah Foundation is an aligned initiative that effectively nurtures balanced Muslim leaders through integrated spiritual and academic education. It currently supports more than 30 learners from diverse and, often, disadvantaged backgrounds. The centre’s proven model and growth – from 24 to in excess of 30 learners currently – demonstrates a tangible impact and expansion potential.
“Upon learning of the Islaah Foundation’s transport issue, the SAMCT was quick to act, financing the purchase of a 22-seater bus to replace its logistically unsustainable and critical barrier to the safe daily transport for all its learners. Our strategic intervention resolves this pressing challenge, so ensuring programme continuity whilst simultaneously facilitating future growth.”
“We are pleased that our financial support of the centre contributes towards directly empowering the youth in the centre’s charge, helping to foster South Africa’s future community leader needs and giving effect to a high-impact opportunity for the Trust to enable meaningful and lasting change,” Mr Osman added.
The SAMCT was created in 2008, the result of a partnership between Old Mutual Unit Trusts and Al Baraka Bank, for the creation, marketing and distribution of a suite of Shariah Funds. The organisation provides funding, services and other resources to improve the lives of the vulnerable, deprived and disadvantaged. It has successfully delivered sizeable assistance solutions throughout South Africa – irrespective of race or religion – and continues to work to support needy organisations in the fields of healthcare, social development, poverty alleviation and education.
The organisation has long served as a pivotal conduit for the channelling of funding, vital services, and resources to approved public benefit organisations, and remains committed to catalysing positive change and creating a lasting impact on the development and upliftment of, especially,
disadvantaged individuals and communities. Its funds are distributed to help improve the health and development of deserving people and organisations, irrespective of race or religion.
Mr Osman stressed: “In recognising that safe, secure school transport is an integral facet of ensuring learners have access to education and social interaction, we, of the SAMCT, were pleased to partner with the Islaah Centre, contributing towards empowering young South Africans in its charge to reach their full potential. It is our fervent hope that these young people go on to become South Africa’s leaders, professionals and community-builders of the next generation.”
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For media queries, please contact:
Rasheeda Motala
Social Responsibility Officer Tel: 084 506 2280
Email: samct@samct.co.za
www.samct.co.za