Inaaya

In paradise there is love without seperation..
في الجنة حب بلا فراق

Grief, in this world is inescapable, because reality in this life is temporary.
At some point in everyone's life, you will lose someone very dear to you. A day will come that someone will grieve the loss of losing you too.
It is that silent language that is universal, yet can only truly be understood by those who have lost.

What grief has taught me is that time does not heal, but it's something you learn to carry in you eternally. Our journey compared to others may just be the beginning as it marks the two-year anniversary for our loss. However each journey in grief is unique and every individual finds a way to a level of acceptance. Our acceptance is believing the beautiful words of our beloved Prophet pbuh - 'In paradise there is love without seperation'. In this longing of being reunited to never be separated, is what gives us hope.

Our first-born daughter, Inaaya was born still on 23rd February, 2019. With a healthy pregnancy Alhamdulillah, her beautiful heart stopped beating at 40 weeks by the will of Allah SWT.

There is nothing in this world that can be said or done to prepare any parent to lose a child and embark this journey of child loss.

We chose to build a well in Kamatana Village in Rwanda, in her memory with the help of family, friends and well wishers. We knew that nothing was going to bring our daughter back, so the least was to honor her memory and do as much good by giving back to the community, and helping those people who do not have basic resources such as water.

We all know that by giving in the path of Allah does not decrease our wealth, and the best of charities is ongoing charity (sadaqah jaariya) as it does not cease upon our death. But we are also in need of any goodness that could benefit us in this life and the hereafter.

All thanks and praise to Allah, without him this was not possible. But we also wanted to send our heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to all our donors who contributed and supported us by making it a reality, and remembering our Inaaya in the most beautiful of ways by creating a better quality of life for those in need. The building of this well could not have been achieved without the help of Zam Zam Water, Yusuf Nessary, Nadia Ramin and the entire Zamily (Zam Zam Family), who supported us in every step of the process to completion. We thank Allah for choosing Zam Zam Water to be a means for our hope in this world and the hereafter.

~Umme Inaaya, Abu Inaaya

Yasir

HE IS HOME

On the evening of March 19th, our dearest YASAR DAVID BARAKZAI left class and got on his bike as he decided to make his way back home to continue studying for his midterms before heading to visit his older sisters in San Francisco for Spring Break. Just as he was making his way out of school, a car quickly struck his last breath out of him. He was pronounced dead at the scene with strangers gathered around him placing blankets on him and providing prayers. Yasar did not make it back home that night in this dunya, but he was graciously invited to his permanent home with Allah SWT in paradise. Yasar went home. 

YASAR: A KIND SOUL

Yasar's life was a testament to his strength and his contentment with the blessings and trials that he was dealt with. Labeling him as a kind soul is an understatement. Carrying himself as an amazing storyteller, hungry for real and raw human connections, he left his mark on every single person he came across. Yasar was someone who cared about people and was always seeking self-improvement. He was a beautiful and sweet soul--always concerned for the well-being of others and their happiness, and always willing to help.

Wise beyond his age with always something hilarious to say is the Yasar we all got to see. Beyond his goofiness and charismatic smile though, was a poetic soul majority of us weren't privileged enough to see. The night of his tragic accident, he had a backpack strapped to his back that carried his perfectly organized schedule, a notebook filled with beautifully written notes, a pen that barely survived the impact, and a journal from his English class. The first page of his journal carried an assignment where he had five minutes to freely write about intolerance and tolerance. This is what he wrote: 

I show this to you because no matter how many adjectives we use to describe Yasar, there are not enough words in the dictionary beside his own that will beautifully reveal the man he was. His writing confesses an ounce of his kind heart. This is the side of Yasar many of us didn't get to see. With aspiration in wanting to finish school and becoming the man his parents could depend on, to wanting to learn how to fly planes and travel to places unknown, this is the side we weren't privileged to see.

If there's one thing his mother did know however, it was that Yasar was good. So good that he carried the intention to someday build water wells for places that need it most..

Continuing His Legacy

“When a person dies, his deeds come to an end, except for three: ongoing charity (Sadaqah Jariyah), knowledge that is benefited from, and a righteous child who prays for him.”

— The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)

Help us honor Yasar's legacy by building two water wells as an ongoing charity in his name in Rwanda and Afghanistan. While his life came to an abrupt end, it was a life lived with purpose. His family and friends believe the best tribute to his life is to help others. Please give in Yasar's name so we can bring clean water to those who need it most.

May Allah (SWT) have mercy on Yasar Jaan and grant him the company of the messengers and the righteous in the highest level of Jannah. Ameen. 

Our World is Alive with Zam Zam

‘Doonya ba omeed zenda ast’ - The world is alive with hope

‘Doonyaie ma ba Zam Zam zenda ast’ - Our world is alive with Zam Zam

When I say that Zam Zam is changing peoples’ lives and their world, I am not saying this lightly.

This past year my mother, Farzana Nawabi, became one of the first recipients of Zam Zam’s scholarship in partnership with the Afghan American Conference (AAC). I recall that very moment when the scholarship recipient was described without her name being mentioned. The recipient was not able to attend the conference, but they asked for her daughter to come up on stage. I was sitting in the crowd and telling myself, “There is no way that they are referring to me.” All of a sudden the AAC Organizing Team stared at me and right there and then I realized – IT WAS MY MOM. She won the scholarship!

Tears were running down my face and I lost all control. The reason being is that my family and I really needed this break; especially my mother. This scholarship enabled her to continue working towards obtaining her Bachelors in Nursing and become a Registered Nurse. This year, our budget was tight and we were short in covering her tuition. Being the selfless person my mother is, she was willing to take a pause on her education. She was used to a life where a miracle was just a concept, but not something that she would benefit herself from. Life has not been easy for her and there was no such thing as a break when it came to my mother having to pause her education. She had to support her husband’s endeavors and family in another country; Germany - where she didn’t know the language or the culture. However, she has not once complained or asked for anything. When it came time for her two daughters to attend college, she patiently waited for us to finish here in the United States. Not a mention of resentment has ever come out of her. She continued her selfless ways to better the lives of her loved ones. So it was a foreign feeling for her when she received something to help her reach her dreams and aspirations.

I kept on pressing my hands and thanking the One, the most high. And I couldn’t stop saying thank you to Yusuf Nessary and his Zam Zam Team. With overwhelming emotions, all I could do is cry and hug the person who delivered the news. This is so not like me, but if the world only knew what obstacles my mother had to overcome to resume her studies after almost 25 years, the world would cry with me too.  

This woman lost her father as a three-month infant and was displaced in the United States during the Cold War with her family when she was eight years old. She witnessed war, poverty, the loss of her mother, and yet still stepped up as an incredible mother and wife. She is the definition of ‘self-made’. No one taught her. No one spoon-fed her. But somehow she speaks three languages fluently, has worked full-time in multiple countries, raised three successful children and up-kept any social and cultural duties as a wife. All of this without any complaints. She rose from adversity and set her own path towards success.

Fast forward to our current lives – My mother is one of the top students in her cohort. She is a leader in her program and even hosts nightly study sessions at our house to help her peers bring their grades up. That is the person my mother is. She believes that if other women rise with her that everyone wins! And just like that, she was able to pass all her pre-requisites that enabled her to be part of the college’s white coat ceremony. This has been a dream of hers that she never thought would come to fruition. All of her hard work and sleepless nights of studying while working full-time has finally paid off. The white coat ceremony was a very emotional one for her and our family. Among many young students were a handful of elder working mothers; one of them was mine. You could tell the difference between her face and her colleagues. She was emotional with glossy eyes. She had a smile from ear to ear. This day was HER day and ONLY about her. No more waiting, no more pausing, and no more “what if’s”. This meant something much more than just a white coat ceremony. This was validation. Validation that she belonged in the nursing cohort. Validation that she DESERVED the scholarship that was given to her. Validation that SHE did THIS. I felt more proud that day than my own graduation. All my success was because of her sacrifices. I owed her everything and I finally was able to witness the world giving this fierce and powerful woman what she deserved.

Zam Zam might be known as an organization that provides clean and sustainable water in various parts of the country, which is extraordinary. However, this initiative of giving Afghan Americans or non-traditional students a path to pursue their education is another example of the great work that Zam Zam and the generosity of Ray Youssef from Paxful, who contributed towards the scholarship in Bitcoin, is instilling in our communities. Scholarships as this one are unheard of. I hope more scholarships like continue to exist and benefit our communities. Our story is not unique and it can be echoed within our community. The need is very real.  

I feel like both my mother and I have joined a family; a family that is cheering us on from all parts of the country. And for that we will forever be grateful.

With Gratitude, 

Sofia Schersei

Proud daughter of Farzana Nawabi

An Opportunity to Thrive

This past October, we embarked upon another Zam Zam trip to our beloved Rwanda. Prior to leaving, a few of us had notified our friends that we’d be collecting funds to be donated directly to the villagers. We expected a few hundred dollars, but then magic happened. 

The donations poured in. Especially, after our supporters saw our content on social media. We realized that the key was building a connection. Allowing our donors to see our villagers as human beings, fostered a connection that ushered in nearly $5,000 in total donations - all within a two-week span.

We used the first $500 to purchase 50, five-liter water buckets, that we installed with water purifiers. The water purifiers filter up to 5,000 liters of clean, fresh water. The water they use comes from the water well projects we have built in those villages. We provided a few of those buckets to our schools and the rest to the surrounding community.

The remaining funds were dedicated to providing one of the most essential, yet scarce resources in the villages - healthcare. We are in the process of registering 550 children to receive healthcare insurance for 2 full calendar years. 460 of those children are students at the Zam Zam schools and the remaining 90 are children in the local area.

The heart and compassion of our domestic donors paved the way for thousands of Rwandans to have the priceless safety-net of health insurance. Every act of kindness has rippling effects. Only the Lord knows how many lives will be saved from this last minute fundraiser. 

Rwandans are some of the most grateful people we’ve come across. They thanked us, but in reality, it was us who needed to thank them for allowing us to connect with them. Apart from the monetary contributions, the biggest gift was the gift of love. 

With Love,

Omar Kohgadai

Formidable Joy

"Things don't happen by accident..."

Hi everyone –

Cindee Rood here from Formidable Joy.

Zam Zam & Formidable Joy just completed our very first water project together in Malawi, Africa at Dzaleka Refugee Camp. Malawi is known as the “warm heart of Africa” because of the friendly nature of the people. It is one of the least developed and most impoverished countries in the world - currently ranked #6 by Global Finance Magazine.

In a country of 18 million, an estimated 20% of the population (over 3.6 million people) lacks access to clean water. As with many developing nations in the world, it is women & girls who bear the responsibility of fetching water for the family. 

Located in Dowa, Malawi, Dzaleka Refugee Camp is home to 38,000 refugees, a camp originally built for only 9,000. Over 80% of the refugees come from the Democratic Republic of Congo, followed by Burundi and many more surrounding countries. The camp currently only has 32 water wells for a population of 38,000 (an average of 1,187 people per well). The water wells at the camp are so congested that they run 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!

Formidable Joy works with local organizations and drilling teams to identify schools, health centers, and communities in need. Many of the villages and/or schools we serve rely on dirty water sources - from rivers and streams to hand-dug holes. We work with experienced, Malawian-owned drilling companies. We also rehabilitate old, broken pump/boreholes that were installed by other NGOs or the Malawian government. A simple repair can bring an old malfunctioning borehole back to life; thus improving the quality of life for a community.

We implemented our first solar water system at Mercy James Centre – the only state-of-the-art children’s hospital in the entire country.  We partnered with Raising Malawi, an organization started by Madonna where 1,639 surgeries were performed at the hospital in its first year.

Formidable Joy is based in Los Angeles and was founded by Cindee Rood. She has personally assessed, spearheaded, and completed 36 water projects throughout 10 districts in Malawi - from remote villages to primary & preschools to health centers - impacting over 35,000 people to date.

Cultivating Relationships:

Our work together is thanks to a delayed flight, talking to strangers, and the cliché of, “there are no accidents”. I was en route to Malawi a few months ago. The flight leaving Los Angeles was delayed, so I struck up a conversation with the man standing next me. Our brief conversation at 1:00am in Los Angeles led to coffee 20 hours later in the Addis Ababa airport in Ethiopia. Over coffee we spoke of our mutual love of Africa and of serving others. He is one of the loveliest people I had ever met, and also one of the biggest humanitarians I’ve come across. He is a husband, father, grandfather, runs his own nonprofits, and is a board member on several others. He’s a professor and it turns out he just happened to have an interest in clean water projects, as he serves on Zam Zam's Advisory Board.  He suggested Yusuf & I connect, and the rest, as they say, is history. The “he” in this long story of mine is Jim Losi. 

I want to offer my heartfelt gratitude to Jim Losi and Yusuf Nessary. Installing an additional water point at Dzaleka Refugee Camp is the first project Zam Zam has completed in Malawi, and the first of (hopefully) many more collaborating effort. It’s a beautiful story of two organizations coming together for one common goal – providing access to clean water for people in need. The moral of the story is “there are no accidents”. You never know who’s listening and who wants to serve. Over 1,000 people benefited from a chance encounter.                                       

So on behalf of the beneficiaries at Dzaleka Refugee Camp, Thank you to all the Zam Zam supporters – YOU made this happen!

Zikomo kwambiri - Thank you very much

The Smile: 10 years later

There is a Dari saying: “When someone you love is hurting, your soul feels it way before you find out.” June 7th, 2008 was an ordinary summer day, yet something felt so wrong about it.  A heavy knot in my stomach, an uneasy feeling that had settled since morning. This was my soul preparing me for the worst moment of my life. June 7th became a day forever etched in our hearts as the day my loving brother, Faridullah Abbasi, was taken from us. 

This year, it will be ten years since he was taken from us; not a single day goes by where our family does not think of him.  Faridullah, or “Fred” to his friends and family, was only 23 years old when his life was brutally cut short. Yet, he was no ordinary soul. His short life was filled with many hidden deeds of generosity and kindness. Almost every day after Fred passed away, it felt as though someone new was coming forward to share their story of how he had touched their lives.  Every day for the last ten years, our family has constantly been reminded of his giving nature; even though he has left this world, his good deeds and shining example still remain.

This year, our family decided to honor Fred's memory by coming together with Zam Zam in an effort to continue his legacy of serving others. We sought to construct two water wells in Kabul, Afghanistan in time for his 33rd birthday on May 8, 2018. It was only due to the tireless efforts of the Zam Zam staff that our hope to have the water projects built in time to mark Fred's birthday became a reality. Zam Zam turned the impossible into the possible. Our family will forever be grateful to Zam Zam for providing us an opportunity to dramatically improve the quality of life for two of the most impoverished communities in Kabul. Just as the month of Ramadan began, these communities now have reliable access to a clean water supply. We hope that Allah (SWT) will accept this work as another one of Fred's good deeds, perhaps one that will continue to benefit these two communities throughout the years.

Every year,  our family gathers at the cemetery on May 8, to visit Fred on his birthday. It wasn't quite the same this year, though. As we all stood there at the cemetery, reciting Surahs from the holy Qur'an,  an aura of calmness and serenity filled the air.  If we closed our eyes, we could almost feel Fred standing amongst us, embracing us with his big radiant smile. On June 7th, the 10th anniversary of his passing, the students of Imam Bukhari Orphan Education Center held a Khatem Quran in honor of Fred. This wonderful feeling, this moment of grace, would not have been made possible had Allah SWT not intended for it, through the work of the Zam Zam. For you see, after all these years, it still bears true that “Indeed, Allah is with those who patiently endure.”

-Sharifa Abbasi

An Open Letter to The Zamily

Like most of our narratives, being born and raised in this hemisphere of the globe has placed me on a pretty high scale when it comes to the levels of privilege around the world. As an adult, I’ve done my fair share of zakat every year; always made sure to give a few dollars to the homeless I come across on the streets, sometimes even buy them a meal if time permits; I make sure to extend my help to distant family members at times of need (and actually act upon it); I put money in the donation box every time I attend the masjid; I attend funerals and pay my respects to the elderly; I pray as much as I can; and I’m genuinely a kind person (sounds so horrible to say that about yourself; please bear with me for the sake of proving my point)--but I mean, that’s about it. That’s where it ends. Give or take a few, that’s where it ends for the most of us.

For those of you who know me, you know how close my sister Hila and I are. When it comes to our free time that's not occupied with work, we’re pretty much doing something together. Whether it's going out for a meal to try out the newest mom and pop shop, a quick hike up the nearest canyon, or simply going over our next “big” idea for a film that came to one of us the night before in our sleep; one could say we’re basically attached at the hip.

However, in the past few years there's been a decline in our hangouts due to other commitments, which is totally understandable--we’re growing up, we have different social circles, we have different priorities. But one thing that always left me perplexed was when I would see Hila working on Zam Zam related work at two in the morning or missing out on a movie night (ok, that one really hurt) because she had a meeting scheduled with the Zam Zam Creative team and needed to dedicate her time to the organization instead of me.

At times, I legit thought she was the only crazy one (apart from Yusuf) dedicating her free time to this cause. It’s just another charity. There are a million of others out there. No charity has ever saved any country. And this is where it gets bad; Just another organization with big egos who are trying to place their mark on the world for the sake of making themselves feel better when we all know these third world countries don’t need non-profits, they need a structure in the country itself; complete waste of money and time.

After all, it's just another charity organization.

Oh bacheem, was I wrong.

Due to our steady decline in sister bonding time, Hila had been after me to fly up to the Bay Area so I could attend the 2018 Zam Zam Gala with her this year. “Come on man, it’s just one night, for a few hours. We could totally hang out the other nights and be tourists around San Francisco!”...she got me there. All those years of visiting the Bay as a child, but only driving through Fremont where we made the obligatory pilgrimage to Maiwand Market, stacking up on enough bread to feed all of Orange County and then visiting random Khala Jaans and Kaka Jaans in the outskirts of the Bay had left an unimaginable void in my heart. This sounded like the perfect opportunity to fix that. Ok, lets do it.

Before I knew it, we were landing in San Francisco on the Friday night before the Gala. Hila, will your friends like me? What if they think i'm weird? Why did I agree to come. Jesus, my social anxiety is on another level right now. Should've stayed back. Yep. Wait, Who Cares? Only going to see them for a bit. We’ll be spending most of our time out and about. We all know how that ended. Nothing touristy. In fact, Hila lied, ditched me and spent all weekend--up till the Gala--dedicated to editing Zam Zam’s newest highlight video, again. *Que Michelle from Full House: HOW RUDE*

But actually, no; not rude at all.

How courageous.

How marvelous.

How moving.

While she was away from me prepping for the event or mingling amongst the guest at the Gala, I finally began to slowly understand her. This madness was all starting to make sense. Hila wasn’t the only crazy one. In fact, every single volunteer was just as crazy as her; they all had embedded their souls deep into the cause and were essential pieces that shaped the Zam Zam puzzle together.

And to every single volunteer at Zam Zam, whether we managed to find the time and have a deep conversation amongst those few nights we were there, or seeing how you interacted with one another from afar, I saw how dedicated you were and it left me in awe. Thanks to your all nighters, skipping out on your free time and dedicating your absolute all to Zam Zam, The Imam Bukhari Orphan Center will have their doors open for another year. Another year to serve 300 beautiful souls. Another year to hear 300 prayers. Another year for 300 more stories.

This isn’t just another charity. This is a group of individuals wanting to create a strong foundation for children in these underprivileged areas. This is a group of individuals who are going to make sure these children become well rounded individuals. This is a group of individuals who care about where these orphans will be in 30 years. This is a group of individuals who care for the impact this will put on children's lives and the future of the world.

I am so proud of you guys and thank you all for allowing me to experience this with you. At times when I think about my experience, I feel like I went on some sort of spiritual pilgrimage. I now understand it shouldn’t end with just the basics. Passing out a few bucks to someone in need or doing tasks that we are morally obligated shouldn’t make us feel like we’ve done enough. It’s never enough. We just have to surround ourselves with the right people to understand that. The energy, the aura, the love, the compassion, the moments of wanting to strangle each other, the tears, the pimple that formed on my right cheek out of the blue was all worth it.  

I planned on being a tourist while watching the ripples of the Bay hit the shoreline near the Golden Gate Bridge whilst taking nice Instagram photos, but instead I ended up being a tourist at Zam Zam and finally realized Hila wasn’t crazy after all.

To my sister, thank you for dragging me across the Pacific. It is safe to say, Zam Zam’s ripples had reached me.

Much Love,
Homeyra Hamidi

All Photos Provided by Masood Mawlavizada from Amanah Photos

Empowering afghanistan, one student at a time.

Bejan - Neghena - Munija - Nadia - Omar

Last week, a group of us had the opportunity to visit the Imam Bukhari Orphan Education Center in Kabul, Afghanistan. The 4-story center was completed just four years ago serving over 300 boys and girls. Imam Bukhari provides the children with exceptional teachers, a library filled with a variety of books, a computer lab, different kind of classes - Science, Mathematics, Recitation of Holy Quran, Islamic Education, Farsi, and English. They prepare the students for higher education and the possibility of future internship opportunities. Other than education, the children are provided with food, clothing, resources, guidance, and most importantly the feeling of empowerment. The Imam Bukhari Orphan Center gives them the opportunity to enjoy their childhood while also preparing them for a future. It gives them the opportunity to overcome their obstacles and become the best version of themselves. They have built an environment for these orphans to prosper and the orphan center is creating a bond between the kids that will last a lifetime.

Visiting the Imam Bukhari Orphan Center was an experience like no other. We were not ready for this emotional rollercoaster of being surrounded by 300 orphans. All with a heartbreaking story. Upon our arrival to the Zam Zam Blue building, which brings color and life to the surrounding areas, we were welcomed with so much gratitude and love; not only from all the children, but from the staff, especially Dr. Suliman Nessary, the Executive Director. Once we walked into those blue doors, the children were lined up greeting us with flowers. It was an absolute joy to see the smiles on the kids’ faces. Our broken Farsi was the joke of the hour, but it was worth seeing their smiles. Faisal, one of the boys, welcomed us with a beautiful poem he had written. His voice was so powerful and moving, every verse he read came from the heart. Walking through the halls, you can see the showcases of students that placed “awal numra”- top students of the class. The showcase represents a sense of accomplishment and reward for their hard work and dedication.

After leaving the orphan center we had a sense of hope. These kids are the future generation of Afghanistan and they will soon be the change the country has been waiting to see. We have never been in the presence of such disciplined and respectful kids. Every single soul was kind, respectful and welcoming. Regardless of everything that they have experienced, they continued to have a smile on their face.  The professors have been raising these kids to be strong and smart individuals so that one day they can follow their dreams and aspirations. These children are the future. Each one is a beacon of hope.

Today’s Imam Bukhari orphans are being prepared to be tomorrow’s leaders. Being labeled as an orphan does not define their (in)capabilities for success. They will be the ones to end the cycle of violence seen in Afghanistan, because they are survivors. They will overcome their struggles thanks to the worldwide love, support, and guidance they have received. We all made a promise that we will continue to help the Imam Bukhari Orphan Center, as well as visit every year, and will always be a supporter of Zam Zam. What they do and what they stand for is very inspiring and we wish them all the success. May God bless these children and all their supporters!

“We want our kids to grow up and further their education in hopes of them being successful and one day returning to help the future students of Imam Bukhari.” - Dr. Suliman Nessary

- Nadia Ramin, Munjia Ramin, Omar Ramin, and Bejan Ramin 

A Family’s Resilience: The Story of Matin Mesdaq

In coming together with Zam Zam Water in memory of a son, brother, friend, and much more, Matin Mesdaq was a young 23-year-old that departed this world too soon. He was honored in the beautiful community of Dasht E Barchi, Afghanistan. The resilience the people of Afghanistan contain is not only admirable but desirable. Our Afghan-American identity was attained from that same resilience. The ability of bringing an idea and vision to life is incredible, especially one that serves so many. So many, implying not only the beautiful people of Dasht E Barchi but also the impact it had on us as a family. It is truly incredible how we can all help one another with proper use of resources, not only physical but also the unseen. This is what Zam Zam Water has done for us as a family. March 6, 2018 marked not only the two-year anniversary for Matin but also the day Zam Zam presented our family with a beautiful way of honoring our Matin. Entrusting Zam Zam with a request so personal on a large scale has allowed us to gain so much more in return. Our family is certainly nothing short of appreciative and humbled that we are a small part of the incredible work that Zam Zam has and will continue to produce.

"Every soul shall taste death" (Quran 3:185). Our hearts were fighting against our minds and the verse indeed was right before us. Although we had always believed it, now it had to be lived. What was practiced through words now had to be implemented by our actions, emotions, and heart. A mentality of acceptance gave us peace and a reason for persistence. Matins janazah (burial) was led by the same mentor that exposed and instilled within us at a young age that death would approach regardless of age and situation. There was no way around it. He was now leading one of his own students janazah and what we were taught and learned from had now come to a full circle and was being implemented in reality "to Allah we belong and to him we shall surely return" (Quran 2:156). 

Matin never waited for the perfect moment but instead just any moment, never depending on the future. He acknowledged his imperfections always with sincerity in the way he carried himself and we were reminded of that constantly by many on that very day. The amount of Muslims and non-Muslim’s that stood, cried, and prayed with us respectfully on the day of his funeral showed us how important it was for him to always go beyond what was comfortable for him. Bringing closer and engaging with those that were different than him always. He never wanted to live in fear, in turn creating fear within us of losing him. We were left with the following question: does the perception of having control over so many aspects of our life, make the lack of control when death reaches us a difficult hurdle to overcome?

-Mesdaq Family 

Matin Mesdaq

Winters in Gaza

In anticipation of another devastating winter with below freezing temperatures, we decided to push for a new initiative at Zam Zam - a clothing drive for the children of Gaza, Palestine. 

Our initial goal was to raise $15,000, which would go towards purchasing winter bundles for the children of Palestine. Each bundle of clothing included: sweaters, gloves, socks, shoes, and undergarments.

For the past five years, Freshta Kohgadai, Rahat Mawlavizada and I have done similar winter drives, independent of Zam Zam, resulting in $3,000-$13,000 of funds raised per year. Therefore, this year’s goal of $15k seemed relatively attainable. 

Once we had launched our campaign, magic happened. Our initiative spread like wildfire, and the donations poured in due to the Zam Zam following, as well as, the undying generosity of the Palestinian-supporting community, including our partners at PaliRoots and MECA. We achieved our goal in a matter of days. Our goal of $15k became $25k, then $30k and beyond. I can still recall the conversation over the phone with Yusuf, founder of Zam Zam, telling him that we’d close out at $50k, fortunately, I was wrong. 

At the end of our drive, our donors exceeded all of our expectations and we ended the campaign at approximately $67,000, an astonishing $52,000 more than our initial goal. We were able to provide nearly 2,700 Palestinian children with winter bundles which helped them survive their chilling winter. Aside from providing warmth, we provided jobs and stimulated their local economy because all items were manufactured and purchased directly in Gaza. More importantly, we gave these children something more valuable than just clothing; we gave them hope. The priceless expressions of joy indicated that they felt our love from afar. To be able to provide care to nearly 2,700 children is a feeling that I’m still trying to grasp. That’s 2,700 smiles. 2,700 dreams. Lives that may have been sadly cut short, were it not for our supporters. 

On behalf of Freshta, Rahat, and the entire Zam Zam family we are eternally grateful for your contributions. We appreciate all of your efforts whether it was a donation, sharing our campaign, or simply engaging and bringing awareness to the the plight of the Palestinians; you made a difference. 

We would like to share some pictures of the children, which you've protected from frigid temperatures, as they receive their warm clothes. As you see the faces of these angels, our hope is that you feel a sense of fulfillment knowing we achieved this goal together.


Peace and love,
Omar Kohgadai