Gift of the Givers
Gift of the Givers (founded as Waqful Waqifin)[1][2] is a South African non-governmental organisation[3] and disaster relief group,[4] and Africa's largest independent humanitarian organisation.[5] It was established to offer disaster relief and response, together with other humanitarian work, with the aim to reach people worldwide.[6] The organisation’s profile in South Africa grew during the 2010s and 2020s, due to challenges faced by the government in delivering services, including disaster relief.[5]
 | |
 Gift of the Givers building in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa | |
| Formation | 1992 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Imtiaz Sooliman |
| Headquarters | 290 Prince Alfred Street, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa |
| Website | https://giftofthegivers.org/ |
Humanitarian efforts
Gift of the Givers has worked in many parts of world, including Gaza City,[7][8] Bosnia, Somalia, Haiti and Zimbabwe.[4] During the aftermath of the 2010 Haiti earthquake the organisation sent four rescue teams and aid materials to the country.[9] They provided in 2011 food aid to Somalia,[10] by airlifting 180 tons and shipping 2000 tons of aid.[4][11] Through Gift of the Givers, South African medics and volunteers have been assisting people during the Syrian civil war.[12][13] Because of unrest in Syria some of the South Africans were injured or killed.[12][13] In 2013, victims of flooding in the Karonga region of Malawi were given aid in the form of food.[14] In 2015, after 176 died during flooding of the Shire Valley, and with thousands homeless, the organisation provided assistance for citizens in southern Malawi.[15]
Imtiaz Sooliman
Imtiaz Sooliman | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Imtiaz Ismail Sooliman 7 March 1962 Potchefstroom, Transvaal |
| Nationality | South African |
| Spouse(s) | Zohra, Ayesha |
| Alma mater | University of Natal |
| Occupation | Medical doctor, philanthropist |
| Known for | Humanitarian work |
The founder of the organisation is Imtiaz Ismail Sooliman, a South African medical doctor. He also leads the organisation.[16]
Early life and education
Sooliman was born on 7 March 1962 in Potchefstroom,[17] a Muslim. He completed his high school education at Sastri College in Durban, Natal in 1978. He qualified as a medical doctor by obtaining his MBChB at the University of Natal. He ran a medical practise in Pietermaritzburg, Natal up to 1986.[18] He is married to Zohra.[19]
Career
Sooliman's drive for the establishing of Gift of the Givers, was the instruction of a Sufi sheik, Muhammed Safer Dal Effendi of the Jerrahi tariqah, which happened in Istanbul, Turkey on 6 August 1992.[20] His organisation is funded by ordinary South Africans.[21] Some of the projects where he has been involved include:
- 2014 hostage rescue operations in Yemen – Trying via negotiations to free Pierre Korkie, a teacher, who was held by militants from al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. Korkie died in the American rescue attempt.[22]
- Iraq – Helping local citizens in the aftermath of the war between Iraq and forces of the US and the UK.[23]
- Mauritania – Building a centre and nursery for woman and children.[24]
- Syria – Delivered supplies to refugees in the Idlib region where a war was on-going.[25]
- Nepal – Rescue operations after an earthquake in April 2015.[26]
- South Africa – Beaufort West and Fraserburg - assisting the towns with their water crisis.[27]
Recognition
- 19 October 1993 – President's Order of the Star of South Africa from President F.W. De Klerk, which is the highest civilian award in the country.[28]
- 25 April 1997 – Pietermaritzburg City Council Civic Commendation Award from President Nelson Mandela for Outstanding Community Service.[29]
- 30 June 2006 – Presidential Award, Tamgha-i-Eisaar, from the President of Pakistan, Pervez Musharraf, for Pakistan Earthquake.[30]
- 28 November 2008 – South African Medical Association Excellence in Health Care Award.[31]
- 18 November 2009 – Recognised as one of 500 of the world's most influential Muslims in a book by Professor John Esposito of Georgetown University, USA.[32]
- 1 April 2016 – Honorary Doctorate from Rhodes University, in Grahamstown, South Africa.[33]
- 7 September 2017 – Chancellor's Medal from the University of Pretoria.[34]
- 1 February 2018 – FW de Klerk Foundation presented him with the Goodwill Award.[35]
- 20 March 2018 – Honorary Doctorate from the University of Stellenbosch for the establishment of the Gift of the Givers.[36]
- 21 June 2018 – Standard Bank KwaZulu-Natal Top Business Award.[37]
References
- "STRONGER TOGETHER: GIFT OF THE GIVERS & CAPITEC GIVE BACK – The Insider SA". Retrieved 10 March 2023.
- "Indian-Origin Philanthropist Named South African of the Year".
- Lubna Nadvi (2008). "South African Muslims and Political Engagement in a Globalising Context". South African Historical Journal. 60 (4): 624. doi:10.1080/02582470802635703. S2CID 143452202. Retrieved 28 August 2011.
- Nkepile Mabuse; Teo Kermeliotis (13 October 2011). "The Africans giving aid to the world". CNN. Retrieved 2 March 2012.
- "Corporate crisis relief funding goes to Gift of the Givers as distrust in state grows".
- "About". Retrieved 19 September 2018.
- "Disaster Response - Gift of the Givers Foundation". www.giftofthegivers.org. Retrieved 22 March 2019.
- paladmin (1 September 2014). "Gift of the Givers arrives & starts work in Gaza". Free Palestine!. Retrieved 22 March 2019.
- Daniël J van Hoving; Wayne P Smith; Efraim B Kramer; Shaheem de Vries; Fathima Docrat; Lee A Wallis (2010). "Haiti: the South African perspective". South African Medical Journal. Cape Town. 100 (8). ISSN 0256-9574. Accessed 1 November 2017
- Andrew, Miranda (10 August 2011). "Only one aid group in Somalia". Independent Online. Retrieved 28 August 2011.
- Interview cited in Desai, Ashwin (2009). Responding to the May 2008 Xenophobic attacks: A case study of The Gift of the Givers. University of Johannesburg, Centre for Sociological Research. p. 5.
- "Gunfire at Syria hospital causes SA medics to flee" (...'in Syria alongside the Gift of the Givers Foundation, who have gone to assist victims of the civil war...') 20 April 2012, at ewn.co.za Accessed 15 November 2017
- Schalk Mouton, 30 April 2013, "SA volunteer in Syria killed in car accident" ('...team of Gift of the Givers medical professionals ...working at a newly established hospital in Darkoush') in Times Live/ Sunday Times at timeslive.co.za Accessed 15 November 2017
- "Gift of the Givers Foundation reaches out to Karonga flood victims", 24 April 2013, at nyasatimes.com Accessed 1 November 2017
- Chancy Namadzunda, 19 January 2015, "Gift of Givers set aside K50m for flood victims in Malawi", at nyasatimes.com Accessed 1 November 2017
- "Global South African". Retrieved 12 September 2018.
- "Speakers". Sorsa Rssa. Retrieved 12 September 2018.
- "Imtiaz Sooliman". The Presidency. Retrieved 10 September 2018.
- Magubane, T. (15 June 2012). "Gift of the Givers founder hijacked". News24. Retrieved 11 September 2018.
- "Gift of the givers". Retrieved 6 September 2018.
- "Gift of the Givers' Dr Imtiaz Sooliman – angel amongst men – talks about money". 702. 23 July 2018. Retrieved 19 September 2018.
- Nicola (8 December 2014). "Korkie Family Thank Imtiaz Sooliman and Gift of the Givers in Statement". Sunday Times. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
- "SA reaches out to Iraq". Mail&Guardian. 3 June 2003. Retrieved 14 September 2018.
- "Help us build Mauritania's first women's eco-mahdhara". Retrieved 15 September 2018.
- "Gift of the Givers appeals to South Africans to help trapped Syrians". News24. 16 December 2016. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
- "Gift of the Givers joins rescue efforts in Nepal". ENCA. 26 April 2015. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
- Saal, P. (14 November 2017). "Gift of the Givers boosts quest for water in Beaufort West". Times Live. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
- "List of awards" (PDF). Retrieved 31 August 2018.
- Mbongwa, L. (September 2010). "Humanitarian honoured at Spring Graduation" (PDF). Durban University of Technology. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
- "Musharraf gives away rescue, relief awards". Business Recorder. 1 July 2006. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
- "Ceremony" (PDF). Nelson Mandela University. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
- Esposito, J. (2009). "500 most influential Muslims" (PDF). Retrieved 7 September 2018.
- "Rhodes honour for Sooliman". Press Reader. 6 April 2016. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
- Ndlazi, S. (7 September 2017). "University Council award for Sooliman". The Mercury newspaper. Retrieved 5 September 2018.
- "Statement 2018 FW de Klerk Goodwill award". FW de Klerk Foundation. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
- "Special honorary degrees to be awarded in SU's centenary year". University of Stellenbosch. Retrieved 6 September 2018.
- "Standard Bank KZN Top Business Awards 2018". KZN. 2018. Retrieved 9 September 2018.