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HDF booth at ISNA Convention 2002
By Saima Huq
 Over
30,000 Muslims attended that annual
convention of the Islamic Society
of North America (ISNA) in Washington,
DC over the long Labor Day weekend.
Muslims of every racial background
from Alaska to New York and beyond
came together to learn their constitutional
rights, attend lectures on sharia-conscious
investing, and discuss being a Muslim
in post-September 11 times.
The four-day convention also featured
a bazaar with booths dedicated to,
among other goods and services, non-profit
organizations, such as the Human Development
Foundation (HDF). HDF has a mission
statement “to facilitate a non-political
movement for a positive social change
and community empowerment.”
HDF has projects in Pakistan to achieve
these objectives via increased literacy,
improved education, universal health
care and micro-credit loans for entrepreneurs.
The foundation uses a “helping
people help themselves” model
by teaching community people to plan
and establish projects using their
own local people and resources, thus
ensuring the issues are addressed
long-term by those whose lives will
have the most impact.
 The
HDF booth at the ISNA convention received
many visitors interested in learning
more about the foundation. Many already
served on like-minded non-profits
and sought to combine knowledge and
resources to serve the greater good
in Pakistan. It was a pleasant surprise
that a large number of university
students signed up to learn more about
holding fundraisers and increasing
student involvement on their own campuses
in every region of the United States.
Many people attended the presentaions
given by Dr. Shahnaz Khan, HDF Co-Chairperson
and other board members who volunteered
at the booth. They were informed about
the goals and objectives of the organization,
its current projects and future plans.
 Many
volunteers worked at the booth, who
explained HDF’s programs to
the public and gathered donations
for charity. The volunteers were mostly
college students and young professionals
who worked together in shifts throughout
the convention after attending a mandatory
training on Friday evening. Many of
the members of Board and supporters
of HDF also volunteered at the booth,
among them Touseef Siddiqui, Saghir
Aslam, M. Suleman, Atiya Khan, Irfanul
Huq, Massod Akbar, Zeelaf Munir &
Shahnaz Khan. The staff members of
HDF, Valerie Simich and Gloris Dunn
put in long hours for this event.
All in all, it was a great success
as Pakistani-Americans were educated
about all the ways they help communities
in Pakistan despite the thousands
of miles between the two countries.
On Labor Day, HDF not only empowered
people in Pakistan but also dozens
of people in Washington, DC to make
a positive social change.
 As
an organization HDF depends heavily
on its volunteers for all its needs,
from working in the central office
to developing new networks to holding
fund raising events.
If you would like to learn more about
HDF and its activities or would like
to donate time, talent or money, please
visit Yespakistan.com
Click
here to see more photos.
Date/Time Last Modified: 11/20/2002 1:16:24 PM
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