A Success Story Founded in New York

A seedling that sprouted and branched out to spread care worldwide

BY NAZRADEEN LALLMOHAMED

Participants of AH run sewing class in Cambodia show their work

Guyana’s premiere Muslim broadcast entity, the weekly “Islam for Guyana” interviewed Zeleena Hack, who spoke passionately about the work of Amaana Hands, Inc. (AH; https:// amaanahands.org/).

This charitable and volunteer-staffed organization, which she and her husband Mohamed Nasar Hack co-founded in 1997, has its headquarters in South Ozone Park.

The family has also been involved in establishing other Islamic organizations, such as the Islamic Association of Newark, N.J., the Central Islamic Organization of Guyana and the Guyana Islamic Trust.

Zeleena, who earned a bachelor’s in psychology and serves as AH’s executive director, has conducted an Islamic study circle for youth and adult women at her home. She began this undertaking in 1983, a time when the mosque offered no Islamic lessons.

The parents also entrusted her with their zakat for distribution, which prompted her to launch this initiative. AH’s motto, “Our Foundation is Trust,” is guided by its principle of “Empowering the Poor and Needy with Dignity and Respect.” Now in its 23rd year, it is so proficient and professionally organized that anyone who comes in contact with it can testify to its success.

Nasar, who served as imam at Masjid al-Abidin in Richmond Hill, Queens, N.Y. (https://www.masjidalabidin.org/), is an adjunct professor in social sciences at the Metropolitan College of New York and also works as a senior analyst for the New York City Department of Social Services.

ALL AH PROJECTS ARE GEARED TOWARD FOSTERING SELF-SUFFICIENCY AND IMPROVING THE RECIPIENTS’ STANDARD OF LIVING. ITS VOLUNTEER STAFF USES WELL-DEFINED GUIDELINES TO CAREFULLY DETERMINE IF THE POTENTIAL RECIPIENTS QUALIFY FOR ASSISTANCE TO ENFORCE ITS MOTTO OF TRUST, EQUITY AND FAIRNESS, AND ALSO TO ENSURE THAT PEOPLE’S ZAKAT FUNDS REACH THE INTENDED PARTIES.

In 2011, he published “Selective Narratives” (Nook Book). He also leads Friday prayers at various mosques in the city.

The organization’s mission of serving the poor began when the Guyana-based Imam Hafeez Zid and the author told Zeleena about the severe living conditions of a poor couple in Guyana with several children. AH immediately secured a new house for them, and the rest, as they say, is history.

All AH projects are geared toward fostering self-sufficiency and improving the recipients’ standard of living. Its volunteer staff uses well-defined guidelines to carefully determine if the potential recipients qualify for assistance to enforce its motto of trust, equity and fairness, and also to ensure that people’s zakat funds reach the intended parties.

Current AH projects include arranging for monthly Grocery Hampers and sponsoring orphans and orphanages; providing education and medical assistance, as well as skills training (sewing); and assisting microeconomic projects such as helping a recipient start poultry farming and more.

One of its hallmark projects is sending monthly financial assistance to more than 50 recipients in the U.S. Some of its larger projects include building houses and water wells in several countries and helping widows, single-parent households, women in abusive relationships and divorced women.

AH started its work in Guyana by providing new houses, monthly grocery hampers, clothing, self-sufficiency projects, education and medical assistance and school supplies, along with clothing and footwear for poor children. It morphed into a reliable source for many poor Guyanese. Since then, AH has become active in Bangladesh, where it assists families with their educational and medical needs, as well as builds water wells in many villages.

AH has now reached the shores of Cambodia, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan (Darfur), Afghanistan, Syria, Trinidad and the U.S. It has also ventured into other countries with smaller projects on an as-needed basis. For instance it added Togo, doubling down on its projects to bring much needed assistance to a larger poor population. AH even provided suhoor and iftar meals for workers in the Masjid al-Haram.

Despite having limited resources, AH has been able to impact the less fortunate around the world.

During the current Covid-19 pandemic, it has been at the forefront and relentless in its response both locally and internationally. Again, Zeleena is at the center of this assistance. Unfortunately, the poor have been the most affected and needed assurance that they had not been forgotten in these stressful times. She continues to reach out to families who need financial assistance. During Ramadan, AH organized food and grocery distributions in the U.S. and in the countries where it is active. These distributions, although on a smaller scale, remain ongoing.

Due to the pandemic and the subsequent closing of quite a few businesses, many people have been unable pay their rent, grocery and utilities bills. Again, Zeleena is reaching out to them to bring ease, assurance and comfort. For example, it has helped arrange respectful Muslim funeral and burial services for those who have died from the virus.

In Senegal, AH works with five orphanages and provides support to many widows. It has also found ways to serve people in war-stricken Yemen and Palestine.

In the U.S., the organization has helped refugees after they were no longer eligible for government assistance related to paying rent, legal and other related fees, and made sure that children were ready for school. It also paid for job training and helping with their transportation needs.

Zeleena is truly a quiet rescuer of so many poor and needy people. A selfless humanitarian, she does her best to anticipate what they need, advocates on their behalf and almost never fails in her pursuit to represent their interests.

Well-respected in her community for such advocacy, she also uses her skills as a family and marriage counselor to counsel children suffering from peer pressure and helps the elderly, both Muslim and non-Muslim.

She is a pillar in her community and a true activist for the poor. In addition to all of this, she directs all of the correspondence from Amaana Hands, which is very timely, efficient and of interest to readers. ih

Nazradeen Lallmohamed, a graduate of the Guyana Islamic Institute, is fire safety director at a New York City hotel.