HELPING HAND PROJECTS
In Partnership with Fourah Bay Community Foundation

1. Sulaimania School

Sulaimania School, located in the heart of Faurah Bay, is one of the oldest Islamic institution in the capital of Sierra Leone. Almost every Islamic scholar in Freetown has attended this school. During rebel attacks, the school property was heavily damaged. The already deprived children were suffering even more with no school present.

Alhamdulillah, Helping Hand with the partnership of local organization, Fourah Bay Community Foundation, took the initiative to support the reconstruction project. Alhamdulillah, school reconstruction was completed during last Ramadan. School re-opened on 23rd of December 2001. It also marked the 100th Anniversary of the school. The school was first officially opened in 1901.

The total number of pupils in the school is at present 556 for grades 1 to 4. In the academic year 2003 when the school would be operating as a full primary school i.e. with all grades (1 thru 6), the number of pupils will be about 800, Insha Allah.

With the present number of 556, about 40% are orphans/single parent/needy children. About 156 are the most needy students. Their parents/guardians just cannot afford even to provide the basics for these kids.

This institution will help these deprived children to acquire the necessary skills to enable them to constructively contribute to the well being of the society in which they live. Insha Allah. The school, apart from its regular secular schooling in the mornings it also has evening school for the community children, youths and adults of various age groups. It holds regular community functions and serves as the center for different social activities

1.2 Other Areas of Focus

Curriculum:

Given that English is the primary language, Faurah Bay Community Foundation has agreed to explore the literature being developed in USA and UK. Some books published by Islamic Foundation, UK, are already part of their curriculum. More books from US publishers and writers have been added to the curriculum.

Furniture / School Supplies:

After Helping Hand’s contact’s visit to Sierra Leone, the school administration identified items which are needed. Alhamdulillah, we were able to ship them supplies for the whole year. Also shipped were some essential furniture like storage cabinets, teacher desks and chairs, etc.

Fourah Bay Community Foundation

The central mosque of the community (Jamiul Atiq), the second largest mosque, was also heavily damaged during the rebel attacks. Alhamdulillah, repairs to the central mosque are now complete. The mosque, with its huge and imposing structure, not only has regular daily and jummah prayers but also regular jamaat meetings, an evening school for the community children, youth and adults as part of their Dawa program.

2.1 Free literature distribution

Alhamdulillah, 1000 copies of the book “Etiquette of life in Islam” by Shaikh Yusuf Islahi were distributed free of charge to the community and all masajid in the area. Wide distribution of similar literature has helped to uplift the community morale, and further educate them about the basics of Islam. In addition, Arabic/English Qur'ans and basic books on Islam have also been provided.

2.2 Used clothes and shoes distribution

Alhamdulillah, to date three (3) containers have been shipped to Sierra Leone for free distribution among the community.

The first container had the following items [2002]:

*Sixty-eight (68) bales of sweaters

*Thirty-four (34) rice bags of sweaters

*Eight (8) cartoons of sweaters.

The second container had the following items [2002]:

*One hundred and twelve (112) cartoons and two (2) bags of used clothes (some of the used clothes were in bundles but were repacked into cartoons)

*Forty two (42) cartoons of new shoes

*Five (5) cartoons of used shoes

*One (1) bag of flip flop slippers

*Twelve (12) cartoons of tinned food items.The third container had the following items [2003]:

1:About 35,000 lbs of used clothing

2:School supplies

3:Islamic literature

4:School furniture

The items were distributed as follows:

(Does not include third container)

*Sheik Kanneh of International Islamic Youth League for the returnees from Guinea based at Lungi and Lokomassama: 35 bales of sweaters; 40 cartoons of used Clothes; 10 cartoons of new shoes and 2 cartoons of food items.

*UNHCR for the returnees from Guinea based at Kenema: 10 bales and 30 rice bags of sweaters; 20 cartoons of used clothes; 12 cartoons of new shoes; 2 cartoons of old shoes and 2 cartoons of food items.

*National Commission for Resettlement, Rehabilitation and Reintegration (NCRRR) for the war wounded at Grafton camps: 5 bales and 2 cartoons of sweaters; 12 cartoons of used clothes; 5 cartoons of new shoes and 3 cartoons of food items.

*Fourah Bay Community Foundation for the Fourah Bay Community and its environs, 18 bales, 4 rice bags and 6 cartoons of sweaters, 40 cartoons and 2 bags of used clothes; 15 cartoons of new shoes and 3 cartoons of old shoes, 1 bag flip flop sandals and 5 cartoons food items.

2.3 Helping Community Help itself

The violence over the years has affected the businesses and resulted in high unemployment. To uplift the situation, Helping Hand shipped recently a container of Used Clothing. Faurah Bay Community Foundation will be using part of the container for relief purposes. In addition, the Foundation will be setting up a store with the help of local community members with business background. This will Insha Allah not only create some new jobs but also generate revenue for the day to day operations for the school and masjid. Insha Allah, it is will slowly help establish business people.

2.4 Eid ul Adha Zabiha Program

Alhamdulillah, for the second straight year, the zabiha was performed on Eid ul Adha. All names for the zabiha were emailed and received in time for the zabiha ceremony. The Chief Imams of 9 different mosques within the Community and 3 others outside the community performed the zabiha. Speaker after speaker was full of praise for Helping Hand and those who contributed towards the zabiha, particular so when over 90% of the contributors are not Sierra Leoneans. Special prayers were offered for Helping Hand and all contributors towards the Zabiha and even those who may have liked to contribute but for one reason or another they were not able to do so.

2.5 Eid ul Fitr Fitra Program

This program benefited quite a few families.

2.6 Health Clinic and Counseling Center

Insha Allah, since the reconstruction of the school and the rehabilitation of Masjid are completed, the Fourah Bay Community Foundation had focused its attention on establishing a health clinic and counseling center for the community. Helping Hand has allocated $30,000 for this purpose. Fourah Bay Community Foundation is actively searching for such a facility to host a counseling center to help the children and young women deal with their nightmares of unimaginable horrors.

3.0 Summary

The brotherly relationship between Helping Hand and FBCF continue to grow from strength to strength, Alhamdulillah. The entire community is overwhelmed to see a group of people, most of whom they have no blood relationship, working to rebuild their society. This is indeed a manifestation of the depth of their faith and the fear of Allah (SWT). It is only Iman and Takwa and Islamic brotherhood that can make such things happen. Alhamdu lilllah is for this.

Statement from Alhaji Dr. Abdul B. Karim
Secretary, Fourah Bay Community Foundation

“The Fourah Bay Community Foundation would like to thank Helping Hand and their partners for this donation. We were particularly pleased with the donations because it was coming from a Muslim organization. You did us proud by this donation. Muslims form about 70% of the population, but only very few Muslim organizations (less than 5%) had made donations of relief items to the people of Sierra Leone.”

“ Nearly all the donations were being made by Christian/Church organizations. And because of this we Muslims always bow down our heads in shame. We are looking forward to more donations by Muslim Organizations to the country. We are also looking forward to continued good relationship with Helping Hand in all areas of cooperation.”