Updated 26 January 2010

Every minute, every day, the cries of the people of Haiti move our souls. 

The crippled infrastructure on the island is compounding the complexity of pulling people out from the rubble, providing emergency medical help and coordinating the distribution of food and water.

Whilst the world looks to Haiti with worry and distress, every child, every humanitarian and every organisation is doing whatever it possibly can to reach out and help.

Upon learning that there were Shia Muslims in Haiti who were seriously affected by the catastrophic earthquake, The World Federation asked our contact for more information on the community there. We were moved to learn about their struggles, their determination and their triumphs in their great journey to Allah (SWT). 

The building that housed the Al Mahdi Islamic Centre in Haiti was crushed to rubble during the earthquake. However, it is the true spirit of the people that has made this Centre what it is today.

ABOUT THE AL MAHDI ISLAMIC CENTRE
The Al Mahdi Islamic Centre was founded in September 2000. Located on the south side of Port au Prince, this modest establishment is run by a staff of 11 people who comprise the Principal, Vice Principal, secretary, six teachers and two maids. The Centre consists of a:

• School - which has 200 resident and non-resident students
• Masjid
• Library
• Farm

THE CENTRE’S MISSION
The goals and objectives of the Centre are:

• To promote the religion of Islam
• To provide the island’s orphaned children and the less fortunate children a safe alternative to living in the streets.

HISTORY OF THE CENTRE – FROM THE GROUND UP

Brother Shu’ayb, the founder of the Al-Mahdi Islamic Centre has been working hard to promote Islam in Haiti. An English and Math teacher by profession, he spent over 5 years studying Islam under the guidance of a scholar, and in January 2009, he completed an Islamic seminary program.
 
Brother Shu’ayb was all too familiar with the extreme hardships that the people, especially the children of Haiti were facing each and every day. There was a time during his own secondary school years when he found himself no longer able to afford the required books and uniforms and was almost unable to complete his last two years. With the help of his uncle, he was able to finish school in Haiti.

Br. Shu’ayb made his way to America to attend University with a full scholarship and earned his Associate Degree in Science of Education. Unfortunately, upon returning to Haiti, he found that his degree was not going to be as useful as he had hoped and found himself working as a teacher for different colleges and universities.

It was while working as a teacher, that Brother Shu’ayb became increasingly concerned with the necessity of preaching Islam in Haiti. There were so many children living in the streets of this small island, suffering day in and day out. Witnessing such heartbreaking scenes, he began exploring the idea of an Islamic Centre that would bring about reformation in the Haitian society.

With the guidance of the Almighty, Br. Shu’ayb met a woman whose husband had just died, leaving behind two boys. Unable to feed them, Brother Shu’ayb offered to take them and care for them with the condition that he would teach them his religion, Islam. With her blessings, he decided to start a Centre with the two boys along with three other boys who he found on the streets.

In September 2000, Brother Shu’ayb acquired a loan of $1,300 and officially opened the Al Mahdi Islamic Centre in a four room house with a very small yard. The Centre began with a school which was free for the children. It was not long after opening the Centre that Brother Shu’ayb found himself feeding, clothing, and educating nine young children. Knowing he could not possibly continue do this alone, he married and rounded up a staff who now help him care for nearly 200 resident and non resident children at the Centre.

Shan-E-Abbas Hassam, the Executive Councillor with the portfolio of Relief & Economic Development stated: 'We are in contact with Brother Shuayb and in addition will work with him and the South Florida Shia Community to create a plan of action, which can maximise the help that we can give. All funds collected will be prioritised based on the needs and recommendations of Brother Shuayb and the South Florida officials. We shall shortly be releasing this plan of action, and will add it to the newswire.'

TO DONATE TO THE HAITI EARTHQUAKE RELIEF FUND:

Click here to Donate on The World Federation Website 

Click here to Donate in Canada or USA, (via NASIMCO)

Click here to Donate in Europe (via CoEJ)

For more information, please email relief@world-federation.org