Ali Asghar Water Appeal 2020
Jaffari Cycling Club Toronto was honored to participate and fund-raise for the Ali Asghar Water Appeal Sportive 2020 headed by Stanmore Jaffery’s Cycling of the UK.
Road cycling in Toronto in an organized manner within our community is in its infancy, but is growing fast, alhamdulillah. With co-ordination with Nasimco (North American Shia Muslim Communities Organization), we were able to fund-raise over $22,000 CAD (About 12,600 Sterling) for the Ali Asghar Water Appeal Project alhamdulillah, and setup our first dedicated cycling ride.
Our ride was designed to be the approximate length of the Sportive 2020 in the UK from Stanmore to Windsor (return), about 87km. We started early on Sunday Sept, 20 at 7:00, from Jaffari Community Centre in Vaughan, ON, passing through various scenic spots around Northern Toronto such as Lake Wilcox, and Musselman’s Lake. These are part of many routes common to cyclists in the area. We added a final third break stop at Al-Hussein Foundation, site of the community’s Wadi-us-Salaam Cemetary, and then returning back to Jaffari Community Centre. Although the temperature was a cool 5 degrees Celsius (cool for a September morning), it did not deter the spirits and enthusiasm for the riders all assembled on time, ready to ride.
Total riders were 16, and alhamdulillah, all went well, and everyone stayed safe and reached the final destination, without issue. Reaction to the route and the brotherhood fostered for riding together and fund-raising for a fantastic cause were overwhelmingly positive, and every rider is now looking forward to a bigger and better ride next year insha’allah.
We are totally blessed by Almighty to have been given this honor and opportunity to make a little bit of difference in his way. We wish SJ Cycling a very successful and safe event on September 27th, insha’allah. #fundraisingtogether, #brotherhood, #aawa2020.
Project Name: Comfort Aid International Water Projects for Tanzania
Project Description/ Scope of works
PROVISION OF POTABLE WATER FOR KIBAFUTA VILLAGE – Drilling of well approx. Eighty metres/construction of Water Tower/ two water tanks with a capacity of 10,000 litres/ delivery outlets for the school, clinic and community.
Address / Location of the project: Kibafuta Village, Mgegeni District, Tanga Region
Total Estimated Amount: USD 10,000.00
Funding Organization: USD 7,300.00
Start Date: December 26, 2020
Completion Date: January 15, 2021
What will be provided to Beneficiaries: Drinking water for the school with around 500 pupils, Medical centre Mosque & village with a total population of 3,000.
Other details: The large population has been without water; this project will significantly relieve the villagers with very little access to clean portable water, currently dependent on a shallow well with brackish water.
Project Name: Bilal Muslim Mission Mombasa, Kenya, Nzavoni village
Project Description/ Scope of works: To drill a deep borehole at 100m or more at the site identified by a hydrologist searching for potable water in Nzavoni village, Makueni County, in the semi-arid part of Kenya.
Lack of clean water is a significant issue in the region and restricts agricultural development, leading to chronic food insecurity and food aid.
Address / Location of the project: An-Nabbi Centre, Nzavoni, Makueni County, Kenya
Total Estimated Amount: CAD 20,000.00
Start Date: May 2021
Completion Date: July 2021
What will be provided to Beneficiaries: Intended to benefit the community mosque and school, and the villagers. Approximately 2-3000 people.
Other details: Presently, the community uses contaminated water from locally dug shallow pans shared with animals that are not sustainable or purchase water for household use only from private water sellers who bring it from afar. Water is required for the sustenance of its domestic needs. The area is not connected to any water supply system.
KARBALA WATER WELL PROJECT-MNAN’GOLE, LINDI, TANZANIA
In memory of Marhoom Al Haj Sheikh Abdallah Seif . Early student of Allamah Syed Saeed Akhter Rizvi.
The passing away of Alhaj Sheikh Abdallah Seif on September 11th, 2020, is an irreplaceable loss not only to his family members, students and colleagues but to the entire Shia community in Africa.
Sheikh was under the tutorship of Allamah Syed Saeed Akhter Rizvi Saheb for many years. In 1968, he along with two of his colleagues travelled to Basra by ship for studies in Hawza of late Ayatullah Sayyid Muhsin al-Tabatabaei al-Hakim in Najaf, Iraq. He also studied in Lebanon and later on went to Qum where he studied for 7 years, a total, 11 years of religious studies. He returned to Tanzania in 1979 and continued serving Bilal Muslim Mission of Tanzania. Sheikh Abdallah Seif was bestowed title of Sheikh upon his graduation in higher religious studies by Grand Ayatullah Sayyid Muhsin al-Hakim.
Sheikh was born in 1939 in Mnan’gole Village, Lindi, southernmost coastal town in Tanzania. He was a learned, humble and pleasant personality and served the institution with great dedication and remained deeply committed in propagating the Shia Ithna-Asheri faith till his last breath.
Lindi is located in the southern belt of Tanzania, 520 kms from Dar es Salaam. In the rural Lindi, access to clean and safe water is a huge challenge. Mnang’ole is one of the villages of Lindi Region, whose inhabitants are mostly engaged in agriculture and fishing.
Mnang’ole Village has an interesting history for the Shia community. It is the birth place of Sheikh Abdallah Seif, who was not only amongst the first converts to Shia Islam, but also one of the students in that first batch of new shias who were specifically picked by Allamah Syed Akhter Rizvi to go to Najaf for further studies.
The current source of water for the villagers is a seasonal pond, 2 kms from the village, that collects rain water, but dries in the summer. Unfortunately, and sadly, not fit for human consumption at all. But the residents have no choice but to use that water.
Women and young girls walk to the pond in the early hours of the morning and one can imagine the return journey with a 20kg load on their head for 2 kms. DAILY!!!!
On June 18th 2021, volunteers from Care Aid Africa Foundation visited the village and witnessed the heartbreaking challenges faced by the villagers, women and girls in particular. They met with village elders and residents and also water experts at the offices of the Lindi City Council. Their biggest and deafening cry was WATER WATER WATER. Video clip attached.
The team highly recommends assisting the village with a deep borehole, as shallow wells yield very salty water, the village being close to the ocean.
The team proposes to gift the village with safe water within reasonable reach to most of them, that would relieve women and young girls of great hardships they have to endure on a daily basis.
The team wants the well to be dedicated in the memory of Marhoom Sheikh Abdallah Seif, a highly respected personality in the village, for his sacrifice and dedication in the service of the Ahlul Bayt(as).
Location for the well: The masjid established by Sheikh Seif. Easily accessible to most of the villagers.
The total cost for the project is CAN10,350.00.
Scope of work includes: Bore-hole (100-120 meters deep); tower for storage tank; 3,000 litres water tank; submersible water pump; all related plumbing and electrical works.
Current Status: Completed
| Canada | |
| Total Collected | $26,125 |
| Nzavoni, Kenya | $20,000 |
| Lindi, Tanzania | $10,350 |
| Deficit (subsidized by Nasimco) | $4,224 |
| USA | |
| Total Collected | $2,917 |
| Tanga, Tanzania | $7,300 |
| Deficit (subsidized by Nasimco) | $4,383 |
Photos from the Ride
Photos from the Tanga Project
Photos from the Kenya Project
Photos from the Lindi Project
