Why did you join Penny Appeal?
I joined Penny Appeal Canada in October 2020 because I was offered an opportunity to make a huge impact locally and abroad. Penny Appeal Canada gave me a platform to be a servant leader and find ways to empower Team Orange volunteers, supporters, organizations, and communities. I find happiness when I am able to serve others and make their lives a little better.
What has been the most interesting campaign/project you worked on for Penny Appeal?
I would say the best campaign I worked on for Penny Appeal Canada was the Winter Warmth Campaign to support families locally and abroad with the Sh. Mishary Alafasy Tour across Canada in Calgary, Vancouver, and Toronto. This project showed me how resilient our staff and volunteers are and how hard everyone worked to make it a success. This spiritually elevating tour raised $1,350,000 in a span of 5 days for those who need it the most, alhamdulillah.
What has been the most challenging campaign/project you have worked on for Penny Appeal?
I would say starting from scratch is no doubt a daunting task and or project. When I first joined in October 2020, I had the enormous task of building a new humanitarian brand and culture like no other, and I was ready for it. It was very difficult, but not impossible. It was by far the most challenging project I have taken on, especially with an organization that is very new to Canada. Alhamdulillah, Penny Appeal Canada is present in every province in Canada, coast to coast!
You were raised in Makkah Al-Mukarramah and in Madinah Al-Munawwarah; what was that experience like? How did it shape you into who you are today?
Growing up in Makkah and Madinah has been the greatest gift that my Lord has bestowed upon me! I spent ten years of my life there, living there culturally and traditionally as a local, seeking Islamic knowledge, spending time with some of the greatest scholars today, and further developing my ability to understand the Arabic language and Islamic texts. I am indebted to my Lord and to my parents, who have blessed me with this experience, and I must give back what I received to support communities all over the world. My mission is to pass on whatever little knowledge I know to others and help others become closer to their creator through knowledge and good action insha Allah.
Who has been your biggest inspiration?
My biggest inspiration that keeps me going is the wonderful volunteers called Team Orange. Team Orange volunteers inspire me daily as they spend their God-given gift of time towards causes that require hard work and effort for the sake of Allah. They all have kept me going as they are so eager to do more and always are asking to do more and excelling at what they do. I could not have asked for more amazing people than Team Orange. Within Team Orange, there is my 9-year-old son Qais. If there is one thing that Qais does, is he keeps asking me about the next project that he can attend and help others alongside me even if it means he will travel with me. This has had a huge impact on me since he holds me accountable and keeps pushing me to do more. Volunteering has helped him to form a solid foundation of being selfless and serving his Creator by serving humanity, and this inspires me every single day, alhamdulillah.
Where can people learn more about Penny Appeal?
You can find us everywhere! Penny Appeal Canada is a relief and development organization with a really BIG vision for the world. We want to create the best societies we can and break the cycles of need and poverty for good with our long-term sustainable solution approach. That’s why we work to turn small changes into a BIG DIFFERENCE. Visit us on our website, https://pennyappeal.ca/ and on our social media channels, like Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Will you join?
