Development Projects
83,000 families had their lives transformed from destitution to production
Microfinance Program … inspiring success stories in 32 countries around the world
393,000 beneficiaries from 54,000 projects in 32 countries with a total value of about $81 million
IICO’s program provides opportunities for self-employment and protects vulnerable groups from resorting to usurious financing formulas
Beneficiaries look at their stories and talk about the role of IICO in empowering them economically and enhancing their self-abilities
Those in need have moved from a life of despair, search and waiting to the field of work, diligence, perseverance and the realization of dreams
Beneficiaries who have received the Qard Hassan (Benevolent Loan) more than once after their success and prove their seriousness and repay the loan on time
With a $1,300 loan that transforms the life of an entire family and possibly neighboring families from poverty to living stability.
Fatima Khalif Abdullah, a Somali pharmacist, ambitious and persistent, suffered a lot and is looking for a job opportunity, as she worked early in her life in one of her country’s hospitals, but this hospital closed its doors and stopped working, so she searched other hospitals, but to no avail.
Fatima says: “I felt that life darkened in my face, but I did not despair, and I kept looking until Allah helped me get a Qard Hassan (Benevolent Loan) worth $ 2,000 from the International Islamic Charitable Organization through the Zamzam Foundation This loan was a good opening for me and my family, where I opened a private pharmacy.
She continued: The pharmacy project was a great success, and thanks to Allah I was able to secure the needs of my family, and I am optimistic about a better future after my success in repaying the Qard Hassan.
This successful story is one of 54,436 stories made true by the International Islamic Charitable Organization in more than 32 Arab, African and Asian countries since the nineties of the last century, by providing their owners with Qard Hassan (Benevolent Loan), and these have succeeded in launching various “developmental, productive, commercial, service, agricultural, shelter, educational, industrial and social” projects that generate a steady return.
As part of IICO’s efforts to combat poverty, ignorance and disease, the microfinance program has achieved great successes, with the total value of its projects after rotating Qard Hassan (Benevolent Loan) many times about $ 81 million, for the benefit of 83,000 families, equivalent to 393,000 beneficiaries.
In cooperation with its field partners and guarantors of beneficiaries, IICO was able to reach the target groups to empower them economically, improve the quality of life of those in need, transfer the deserving groups from destitution and relief to production and sufficiency, create opportunities for self-employment, and protect these groups from resorting to usurious financing formulas in transactions.
With an average of US$1,300 per project, IICO succeeded in making and building tens of thousands of success stories, moving them out of the circle of destitution and the need for work and production, so they were able to rely on themselves and develop their projects.
Barbershop
Mohammed Abu Hamda, from Nablus, a young man who started his life dreamily and ambitiously, but the difficult reality of his society did not help him to achieve his aspirations, so he turned to self-employment to support his family of 7 and provide the value of medicines to his sick father. He opened a small barbershop, but his dreams of developing it continued to improve his income and meet the needs of his family.
Abu Hamda said: “I learned from an acquaintance that IICO gives Qard Hassan (Benevolent Loan) to the Wafa Foundation in the West Bank, so I went to the latter in a hurry with great hope of getting a loan, and it did not take long until I received this loan and developed the salon and improved its activities.
Thanks to the improvement of income, the number of customers has increased and I have been able to provide for the needs of my family and my father’s medicines. I thank IICO for this program, which has helped many of those in need and provided them with a decent living.
Business Project
From Palestine to Burkina Faso, where the impoverished Ouagadougou region lies, Tewende Arsene Toghma was forced to drop out of school after receiving his primary school diploma due to his family’s poor financial situation, as his father could not enroll him to pursue his studies, thus he found no choice but to turn to the market in search of work.
“At first I worked as an assistant to the merchants in carrying their goods for a small amount of money, and every evening I saved 500 CFA (One dollar). I saved it with my mother, and over time I collected a sum of money, and started a business in children’s toys.
He pointed out that he opened a shop selling household items and bicycles after receiving a loan from IICO’s office, which contributed to increasing his income and employing two young people in this project.
Cultural Library
We stay in Burkina Faso with Abdelaziz Souroa, who was able to continue his university studies. After graduating, he sought work in government departments and the private sector, but was unsuccessful, and then resorted to trading in the sale of Islamic books.
Souroa tells his story: Because of the lack of capital, I went to the office of the International Islamic Charitable Organization to get a loan to develop the book trading project, and indeed I got it, and Allah helped me reach this goal. I was able to repay the amount of the loan before the end of its term, and I even applied for a second loan in a larger amount, and also it was approved, and Allah blessed him with what he borrowed, and I was able to repay it as well without delay.
“I became self-reliant and got married, my goods were in vogue, and I don’t need to borrow again or ask for my family’s help.
Store
A new story with a woman named Adamasinfo, who is also from Burkina Faso, where she received a loan from IICO’s office and managed to open a shop selling clothes.
“After my husband’s death I lived alone with my children without a breadwinner, and I didn’t know where the fate was and what to do to feed them?” While I was in this situation someone guided me to the office of IICO to borrow, so I went and I didn’t know, if my application would be accepted or not? Thanks to Allah after a short time I got a loan, employed it in the clothing trade, got a plentiful living, and paid my children’s tuition fees without the need or help of others.
Food Grocery
From Somalia, Qasim Ali Mohammed, 31, a father of two, recounts his experience, saying: “After I graduated from university, I tried repeatedly to win a job opportunity, but to no avail, and with the pressure of need I wondered, why not create a private project instead of working for others? The idea kept haunting me, and despite the difficulty of reality I did not give up, and thanks to Allah I succeeded in establishing a small shop to sell foodstuffs, and this project was the source of my livelihood and my family, but the income was not enough, and prayed Allah willing, to guide me. One of my friends turned to Zamzam Foundation, which provides Qard Hassan (Benevolent Loan) to small and micro enterprises with funding from IICO.
He continued: And it is only days, I submitted my application, and I did not wait long, and thanks to Allah I got a loan of $ 2,000, and worked on the development of the shop. The growth of the project and the increase of income improved my living conditions, and I was able to spend on my children and family better. Thanks are due to the International Islamic Charitable Organization for its efforts in the development of poor communities, and the empowerment of young people economically and socially.
Computer Shop
Among these successful people is Abdelwahab Traoré from Burkina Faso, who says that he started his own business with one computer, two color printers and another B&W. In order to improve his capital, he went to the office of IICO in Burkina Faso, borrowed 50,000 CFA ($ 1,000), where he bought new devices to develop his project, and with time he was able with the blessing of Allah to make a good profit, enabling him to repay the loan without delay, and this is what prompted him to request a new loan, which has been approved.
He added: After obtaining the second loan, he opened another shop under the supervision of his wife, and so he has two computer shops containing at least 10 devices, and Allah even pleased him to buy a motorcycle for about ($ 1500) Today he seeks to develop his activity, and is considering opening a third shop to sell men’s and women’s clothing under the management of his brother.
Power Tools Shop
Regarding his experience with IICO, Nidal Badrsawi from Palestine said: “I am 51 years old from Balata camp, I support a family of 6 members, including a son studying at university and two at school.
I have been working in the field of electrical wiring for 30 years, and I dreamed of creating a project in my field of work that would generate income for me and not cause me fatigue, especially after I got older.
He continued: A friend advised me to apply for a loan from IICO through the Wafa Foundation, so I went to it, and got a loan. It helped me rent a shop and equip it with the necessary goods of electrical wiring supplies. Thankfully I repaid the loan, and my income improved a lot and the number of my customers increased, and I am thinking in the future about developing the project by selling electrical supplies in bulk, and thanks to Allah and then to IICO for its good efforts.
Dairy Shop
One of the beneficiaries of the program says: My husband worked as a simple employee, and his income did not meet the needs of the family, due to the large number of its members, and the fact that all children needed school seats, so it was necessary to look for a source of income that contributes to meeting our requirements.
She continued: So we asked for funding from IICO to establish a project for the production of dairy and cheese milk biproducts, and indeed we got it. Our business was popular, and it achieved a good economic return, the effects of which were reflected on our living situation, and even extended to neighboring families through the employment of women from neighbors, all thanks to Allah and then the support of IICO for needy families.
Nursery
Haneen Abu Najm from Palestine recounts her experience: “I am a divorced woman who is 30 years old from the city of Al-Bireh, I support my 9-year-old son, I help my family of 5, I had a nursery project that I started with a small amount. I had no more registered children than 10, and I did not have a license for nursery because the project site did not meet the official standards.
She added: “When I heard from a friend about the Qard Hassan (Benevolent Loan) provided by IICO, I contacted the concerned people by phone, visited their office, applied to finance my project, and after studying my file, I got the necessary funding.
She continued: Thanks to Allah, today I have a licensed nursery recognized by the official authorities, which led to an increase in the number of children registered with me, and also increased the number of workers in the project Thanks to Allah, there is an improvement in income, but it is simple. I hope with Allah willing that my project will develop in the future, and I hope that IICO will continue to provide this Qard Hassan (Benevolent Loan) to help those in need and provide them with a decent living.
Power Tools Shop
Mahmoud Kabbouri is a 42-year-old Burkini young man, who graduated from the Islamic University of Niger, who tried to join government departments and other institutions, but to no avail. A year after graduating, he worked as a teacher in an Arab school, but the salary was very little, and did not cover his monthly expenses, so he resorted to the office of IICO and asked for a loan, which was a good opening for him.
He said “Then I opened a small shop to sell electrical appliances and then the shop developed, and I was able to repay the loan on time, and I got another loan to continue the development, and thank Allah I achieved what I wanted, and currently I am working with 3 young people, who were unemployed.
Buttons and Sewing Shop
Hammam Belbeisi from Palestine says: “I am 28 years old from the town of Anabta, Tulkarm District. I support my mother and two sisters, and since my income from my job in the Ministry of Public Works is very simple and not enough for our needs, I thought about improving my income, and I was guided to the project of Qard al-Hassan from IICO.
He added: Thanks to Allah, I got the loan, and I bought the machines for installing buttons and sewing and I started this work after I finish my day job. Through the loan I provided job opportunities for my sister, where she helps me work on the project, and thankfully the income improved a lot and I contracted with many workshops, and I am thinking in the future about developing my project further.
