Aaghaz Foundation

Beginning Anew
We use education as a tool to effect socio-economic reforms in the minority community.

WHAT’S AAGHAZ FOUNDATION ALL ABOUT

A silent movement to eradicate illiteracy from the minority community. We are a one-of-its kind Lucknow-based organisation committed to the cause of providing education to underprivileged minority students. Unable to meet the high costs, every year hundreds, possibly thousands of minority children are forced to discontinue their education. A recent study suggests that the school drop out rate is the highest among Muslim children.
Aaghaz Foundation prevents these budding careers from being nipped in the bud by paying off their school and college fees directly to their institutions. Already, several hundred minority students are benefiting from the unique scholarship programmes initiated by the Foundation.

Aaghaz Foundation is registered with the Society of Registrar under the Societies Registration Act, 1860.

WHO ARE WE

People like you. A selfless group of individuals from different walks of life who are driven by a common agenda: Eradication of illiteracy from our community. Our members include men and women from diverse fields and different age groups.

HOW DO WE WORK

Smartly. As soon as someone recommends us a student who needs financial support,
Aaghaz asks its members to volunteer for a pre-scholarship survey. A minimum of three volunteers are needed. The volunteers visit the student’s house with a set of questionnaire based on objectively verifiable indicators to determine whether or not the student is eligible for scholarship.

The academic record of the student, his/her financial condition etc are among several key things that are taken into consideration by the volunteers. Priority is given to orphans and meritorious student.

Once it has been vetted, the case is discussed at our meetings (we meet once every month) and, subject to the findings of the survey, the scholarship is approved or rejected.

HOW DO WE RAISE FUNDS FOR THE STUDENTS

Take it from the community, give it back to the community. Aaghaz Foundation raises funds through generous contributions (minimum of Rs. 100/- or more per month) from members in India and abroad Thankfully, we have enough members to keep us running like a well-oiled machinery. And because the school/college fee of most of our students is sponsored either wholly or partially by some of our members, financial constraint has rarely been a problem.

When a student’s case is brought to our notice we raise it in our monthly meetings. Case details of students are send out to our members and patrons on email and posted on www.aaghazfoundation.blogspot and invariably someone steps in to sponsor the fee of the child for one year under our adopt-a-child scheme.

Aaghaz Foundation also accepts Zaka’at.

NOTE: Aaghaz Foundation doesn’t accept any grant/aid from the government.

HOW DO WE MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF STUDENTS

Scholarship is given for an academic session and subject to a student’s performance, extended or withdrawn for another year. Members visit various colleges periodically to monitor their progress. Students given scholarship for higher education are made to sign a moral bond wherein they promise to return the funds (without interest) when they are in a position to do so. The bond has no legal sanctity.

AND NOW FOR SOME FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Why education?
Because illiteracy is the single biggest factor for the problems bedeviling our community. It’s also responsible for unemployment and backwardness among Muslim.

What can we do?
Use education as a tool to effect socio-economic reforms in the community.
Provide financial assistance to deserving students who want to pursue their studies but don’t have the resources.

Capitalize on our numbers. One individual may not be able to help 10 others, but 10 individuals can certainly help one.

But why should I get involved? I am busy

If not you, then who? How long should we depend on the government. Isn’t this our social and moral responsibility to do something for our community.

How can I contribute?

Join Aaghaz by agreeing to contributing Rs 100 per month or more. Give suggestions. They are invaluable. Find us students who could benefit from Aaghaz.

Spread awareness about education and locate students who cannot pursue their studies because of lack of resources.

Sponsor a child. Details of students and there fee requirement is discussed in our monthly meetings and also posted on www.aaghazfoundation.blogspot.com from time to time. (We also have a website www.aaghazfoundation.com, but it’s not been updated so don’t bother looking at it. We are trying to revamp it and I will mail you the link when I am done).

What can we gain ?

Nothing materially. There are no tangible benefits for you, only Sawa'ab. Students availing our services will pass the baton to the next generation; even if they don’t at least their generation and hopefully, those after them would be educated.

Some clarifications

Aaghaz Foundation doesn’t have any political affiliations. No one has any vested interests in Aaghaz. Alhamdulillah, we all are doing fairly well in life.
Transparency is the key word. Accounts, records etc can be checked any time.
There are no personal gains to be made through Aaghaz.

The decision-making authority in Aaghaz Foundation is vested with an Executive Council comprising urban professionals. But this doesn’t imply that the Foundation belongs to an individual or group. We are all cogs in the machine. So you can be as much a part of Aaghaz as we are.

In keeping up with our guiding principles, not a single penny has been spent on the Foundation (all office expenditure, including stationary, postal expenses etc. are borne by the members voluntarily) nor was any grant accepted from any government/ private institution

WHERE DO WE STAND

From a small idea in October 2004, Aaghaz has now grown into a full fledged movement. At present Aaghaz is paying the fees of over 350 of students in various schools and colleges located throughout Lucknow. Unable to afford the high costs, most of these students would have been otherwise forced to discontinue their education.

Link:

www.aaghazfoundation.com

Aligarm Muslim University

Composition of Executive Council and AMU Court

submitted by Afzal Usmani