Thaakat Foundation

Thaakat Foundation made one man’s dream of a free school in Ghana a reality.

I am a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer and the person who introduced Thaakat to the Konadu Basic School, and I am consistently blown away by the progress that they have made possible together.

When Clement expressed a need for a new school bus in 2014, Thaakat rallied and raised the money needed within a matter of months. Because of that bus, kids are now able to attend school for free from six different communities where before it was just two.

In 2015 the main focus was getting easy water access to the students. After many, many failed efforts to drill for water, Thaakat refused to give up hope and kept providing funding to get water. Finally, the water well was established, and these young students no longer have to travel great distances with water jugs atop their heads.

These are just a few examples of the miracles that Thaakat made happen.

When I first met Clement in 2011, the school was just one teacher and a handful of students. Our collaboration with the Peace Corps gave us some modest growth in the form of beekeeping, pig rearing and a small initial classroom built from waste tires. That was two years of on-the-ground work with Clement. But once Clement connected with Thaakat, the school skyrocketed to success. A huge growth in students. More teachers and now they can be paid. More and bigger facilities with amenities. And their dreams and goals are continuing to grow with an outlook to getting electricity, and a computer learning program within the next year.

Without Thaakat’s moral, promotional and financial support the big dreams that Clement and I had five years ago would have never been realized. Trust me, we were working every day for two years in that little village of Tanoboase! It is hard to get things done without the kind of rare support Thaakat provided.

Josie_M has no idea the journey and hard work we have been through in the last five years to get to where we are now. She was misinformed about Thaakat’s involvement in the school and tried to make it her own after being so impressed with its success – success that was made possible by Clement’s partnership with Thaakat.

Thaakat adopted Konadu and has nurtured it into the strong school you see now. Have there been other contributors to this project? Of course. Six communities, institutions, Peace Corps grants, and countless parents and teachers who have volunteered their time to make Clement’s dreams come true. But only one non-profit has worked tirelessly to get them the sustained funding needed to make sure it both grows and remains a free school in Tanoboase - Thaakat.

Organizations like Thaakat are one of the rarest finds. Led by a team of young people who dedicate their day and night to keep this organization going.

I look forward to all Thaakat events. There are a few organizations that provide the transparency Thaakat provides its donors with, along with thorough and clear invoices to help keep track of donations.

It's amazing how successful the organization runs considering everyone only works on a voluntary basis

I don't think there is a single person who donated that has felt anything more than proud for what they are supporting.

I remember reading a statement from one of Thaakat's site managers that said something to the extend of 'Thaakat has done in 8 years what some organizations take 20+ years to do" this was enough for me to find that donate button. I like their transparency and the fact that they have stood by these communities to not just give handouts but to transform them all around. I can't wait to see where some of the people they've helped are 10 years from now.

UPDATE: The reaction from the Thaakat Board after reading this review was to send 2 personal emails to me, calling me, amongst other things, hateful, uncaring, selfish, ignorant and that I was "interfering" with their projects. Before adding - apparently without a sense of irony: "if you can't think of anything nice to say, stay out of it". I have also never met or had any contact of any kind with anyone called Austin, so I am unsure who has commented on my actions and intentions in a review above.
Not every experience with every organization will be positive and how an organization responds to such critical feedback speaks volumes. I have worked all over the world with various organizations, most of the time happily, and am doing so again now. Do I "hate" Thaakat? No.... Do I know, and have I worked with, other fundraising organizations that behave in a more compassionate way? Absolutely. I can only speak of my own experience; any facts can be backed up with written evidence. Opinions are my own :)

MY EXPERIENCE: I had a negative experience with Thaakat Foundation. They demanded ownership, access and full control (including private passwords!) of a website that I had set up, purely because it was about a project that they were donating to. As I had understood at the time, from the person running the project, this was a stand-alone project with several sponsors. I wasn't involved in any fundraising but the site manager asked me to help him recruit volunteers to various assignments. Initially they asked for full access to my website and social media accounts, but said they would understand if I said no. As this would have allowed them access to my private messages etc, I said "no", but said I would only post anything after discussing it with them. At this point., they demanded I remove the website, and associated social media pages, which I did. They offered no reimbursement, even though this website had cost in excess of $100 of my personal money to set up.

Thaakat Foundation, along with various other donors give money to a project in Ghana. Yet they initiated nothing and have never visited. The project grows mushrooms and has a school among other things - all initiated by someone else. I work in this sector and realize that is not that unusual with international charities if they are donating large sums, but I was unaware of Thaakat at the time. They do not even know the name of the man who initiated "their" mushroom project. (it was DONATED by a local permaculture organization, who instructed the site partner in how to use it. Thaakat neither financed nor had any input into setting it up - this is according to the people involved in the area). They have provided nothing at all in terms of practical teacher training, or sending skilled volunteers to work on projects that would reduce the long term financial dependency. They did however send a photographer who the Executive Director of Thaakat told me, would take awesome pictures for their website.

I cannot speak for their other projects but I confirm that the Ghanaian project is not run on any level by Thaakat. The mushroom growing, bee keeping and women empowerment groups are all ideas from somebody else. The project also receives big financial donations from other sources that Thaakat refuses to acknowledge.

By taking ownership of projects set up by other people in vulnerable situations, who depend on the donations and will therefore agree to any terms, Thaakat can infer that they are doing so much more than they are. As someone else said below, they appear to thrive on taking credit for the work of smaller organizations who do the real work on site. This is not that uncommon unfortunately, especially in the developing world and is something that perhaps needs to be addressed in general. However, the way that I was treated by Thaakat and the language used by them towards me both during this period (and update: since I have written this review) have shown me an organization that I really cannot recommend at all.
There are sadly, plenty of impoverished people around the world, all of whom need help as much as the next person. If you wish to donate money, I strongly recommend donating to a different charity .

this organization pockets a majority of donations in "administraion expenses" and takes credit from smaller organizations abroad who do the real heavy lifting. the only reviews on here are thaakat members who are benefiting.

My experience in the Thaakat organization has not been the longest, but it truly has been one of the most inspiring and enriching experiences I have had yet! I have been in various events hosted by this non-profit organization and I have learned and gained valuable information and traits from each activity I have attended. Volunteering to help the community, supporting victims or those in need and promoting awareness of medical ailments such as those in need of bone marrow donations are just some of the many events that has changed my views on life. Thaakat has far exceeded my expectations and is a very organized, kind and thoughtful organization filled with dedicated members who are devoted to a similar cause. I absolutely love working with Thaakat and hope to continue supporting them in order to help reach its goals!

During my years of being a member of Thakaat, I have come to truly understand what it means to serve. Thakaat is all about bringing courage and hope to others while serving and helping them find their inner strength. Every thing we do in Thakaat is purely self-less and bringing more to those who are in need of it. I have loved and truly enjoyed my time with Thakaat thus far, and I know that even greater things are in store in the future.

Volunteering and being a blogger for Thaakat has been the most amazing experience I have ever had working with an organization. It is my favorite club on campus not only because it has a positive message, transforms local and global communities, but because it brings a sense of diversity to volunteerism that is especially unique and important. It is the most diverse group on campus but it feels the most connected . At Thaakat I feel as though I am to express my creativity as a writer, grow as individual by learning and serving with different cultures, and be apart of something great!

My Thaakat Journey...

One day in April 2011, as I was scrolling through the Thaakat wordpress, I became amazed by all the things the Thaakat team had been doing. I asked myself, “I wonder if I can start a Thaakat chapter in Atlanta?”, and immediately I messaged Uzma Bawany Ali, the founder of Thaakat and my cousin, asking about it. From there, it became my new dream to establish a Thaakat Atlanta chapter because everything about Thaakat was inspiring. I realized how life is not just about the latest fashion trends or shopping all day, it’s about making a difference in someone’s life. I worked day and night to make it happen. Although it was a rocky start, I was determined to have my dream turn into reality because I knew that one day my hard work would pay off. The thought of being able to reach out to people in need kept me going. Of course, to make Thaakat Atlanta official, I made a Thaakat Atlanta Facebook account. On May 10, 2011 Thaakat Atlanta was officially founded.

On September 14, 2011, Thaakat Atlanta was officially registered at Oglethorpe University. Throughout the semester, we planned many events and tried to get involved on campus as much as we could. Today, we have 30 members on our team, including support from our family, friends, and professors. We are blessed to have passionate people on our team. Everyone on campus was always asking about ‘Thaakat’! It has been the most amazing experience to watch Thaakat Atlanta grow. My dream had become a reality in less than a year.

On April 10, 2012 we received the Dean’s Award to Thaakat for Outstanding Achievement by a Student Organization. That day my whole team could not stop smiling, we were all so proud of ourselves. I was on top of the world because all that hard work paid off! I am so thankful to God for my Thaakat team and all the supporters we have today. Receiving this award has motivated our team to work even harder and achieve even more in our upcoming years. Today, Thaakat’s mission is my mission. Thaakat is very close to my heart and I cannot imagine a second without it. Thaakat has changed my life in many ways and I feel like a new person. Truly, if you strive for a noble cause, God is sure to help you through all the obstacles you may encounter, so never give up. All this positive change has made me a more confident person, teaching me to never stop dreaming.

THAAKAT wants to give people STRENGTH! We come together on one platform to share our compassion of helping others in need. We use our strengths to make people's weaknesses into strengths. Thaakat promotes charitable giving among students and encourages our youth to be more involved in the community. Thaakat believes that we can make a difference, whether you contribute in a big way or small. Everything counts. We use our talents to bring positive change in the world for a brighter future tomorrow for people in need. It is about being unified as people. Thaakat embraces diversity and looks beyond social boundaries to find where the need it most. We all work towards the goal of giving people Thaakat (Strength).

Thaakat Foundation contains the most wonderful people I have ever met in my life! Starting a Thaakat chapter is so worth it! I wanted to do something in life where I could help people in need. I realized that all the little things we do together can create big differences in people’s lives across the world. It really changes your life and gets you to think outside of the little world you live in. Thaakat provides peace, love, and happiness throughout their organization, guaranteed!

Thaakat is one of the most admirable organizations active today! Their spectrum of activities and outreach to community is admirable because their board and members reflect their mission and dedication. I have personally given to the organization to their efforts in helping Hurricane Sandy victims locally and have been part of their efforts to reach out to families affected by domestic violence. When they see an opportunity to help and change someone's life they are at the forefront. I will continue to partner and support Thaakat in everything they do.

I've attended one thaakat event by volunteeriing with them and i find it as an amazing organization that helps locally and universally.. all the members are amazing. they're helpful, kind and sweet so don't sweat it when you need to ask them questions! lol i enjoyed volunteering with them and i would love to again whenever i get the chance! volunteeriing with thaakat has made me realized that if you have a lot of free time and you dont know where to utilize it, do something productive with your time whether its giving someone a hand or actually joining an organization whether it being islamic relief or anything of that sort, also thaakat took my volunteering and used me for certain things pertaining to that event. i mostly folded brochures and helped out with the raffle! and its a family oriented organization! And theres so many words that can describe thaakat foundation such as determined, driven to beat their goals. THAAKAT FOUNDATION IS JUST AMAZING!

Rabia

As everyone probably already knows, Thaakat is a non-profit organization that seeks out projects to help the community at large. Nope. Thaakat is a lot more than just that! I have been fortunate enough to have found Thaakat and be involved with it for the past three years. It has impacted my life phenomenally! It has helped me to see life differently. Thaakat goes above and beyond to help in any way possible. From natural disasters, filling empty plates of the poor, putting a roof over a family's head, building schools, planting trees to speaking up for those who cannot for themselves. Thaakat encourages the youth to stop for a second and look around themselves. To not just be bystanders, but to do something. Something for someone in so many different corners of the world. It shows you that you don't have to be superman to make a difference in someone's life. By just a simple gesture, a dollar, an hour, or even a status to help raise awareness, can change so many people's life around. Thaakat has so touches so many people in so many different ways. Of their many projects, one that I absolutely love is their continuous effort to find matches for those affected by cancer. It's amazing what Thaakat does, and even more amazing to see it's impact on people.

I've had the honor to accompany Thaakat during the 'Thaakat HoopFest Tournament'. I've seen Thaakat grow through the years and do nothing but wonderful things to change the lives and touch the hearts of many people across the world including my own. They are always looking to help the next person, and taking the next step to make a difference for those who need it most. from Pakistan flood relief to Hurricane Sandy relief, and numerous other causes, they have never held back on their word. Thaakat's purpose is to heal, and that is solely what their actions have revealed!

- Sullee J

The organization was established in 2008 and since then there have been more than 10,000 volunteer hours dedicated towards providing service and raising charitable donations for organizations locally and abroad. I have been so inspired by our board members and chapters around the country. Together we have been able to register more than 1700 individuals to the National Be the Match Bone marrow registry and have launched a new initiative called 'Break the Silence' to bring awareness to violence against women around the world. Globally we have adopted two communities in which we are supporting a 15 room schoolhouse and a maternity center. I cannot imagine my life without the cause and the people who are a part of it. The collaborative work of the team and our wonderful supporters has provided us with an outlet to do such amazing things.

I have been part of Thaakat Foundation since the past 3 years. I can not imagine a life without Thaakat. The best part of Thaakat is that it does not just focus on one project. Thaakat sees anyone/project/natural disaster in need of help and it is there there to help them. Thaakat foundation has helped build a school in Kachra Kundi, Karachi, Pakistan. Helped build houses and a meternity center in Sierra Leone. Thaakat hold various volunteer events here locally in the US as well at senior citizen homes and women's shelter. It is an organization working towards making a better world.

It was a random December night and I was making plans to see my friend Baneen. Since I had had an exhausting week at work, I wanted to do something low-key like a dinner and just catch up. Baneen, on the other hand, wanted to go to a fashion show being put on by the Rutgers New Brunswick chapter of Thaakat Foundation. Although I didn’t feel up to it, I agreed to stop by so I could spend time with Baneen. I had heard about Thaakat from another friend Farhan who was extremely passionate about it, and I figured it would be worth a chance. Never in a million years did I think it would change life as I knew it.

First of all, the show was so much fun! It was very interactive, the DJ was great, the performers were very entertaining, and of course, the comedian hosting it was hilarious. There were many high-end designers present like Pakistan’s Alina & Amor with beautiful outfits I can’t even come close to being able to afford. (This of course did not stop me from liking their Facebook page later that evening so I could drool over their trendy yet pricey outfits). Our friends from Profound Aesthetics were also there, showing off their most recent collection of shirts and hats. (Everyone who knows me knows that me going to a fashion show is like a kid going to a candy store. I get mesmerized by everything and it’s near impossible to get me out of there!)

At the end of the fashion show and talent segments, RU Thaakat’s President Nabiha showed a video of who the proceeds of this event would be benefiting. This particular event was going to benefit a village in Pakistan that Thaakat was helping clean up while teaching them how to recycle. This not only allowed the people to have a cleaner living environment but also taught them to use their resources to earn a living. That video (like all Thaakat videos that I have seen since) melted my heart like a Hershey’s kiss on a hot summer day.

And then it happened.

Nabiha asked Uzma Bawany, the founder and executive director of Thaakat Foundation, to come onstage. I expected to see some auntie or older lady, but to my surprise, a beautiful petite girl who was in early 20s strode onto stage in this cute skirt! As she spoke about Thaakat, I couldn’t help but be a little shocked. Wow, I thought, someone so young can make such a big difference! Words cannot describe the incredible amount of respect I gained for Uzma at that time. (Also, I had a hard time getting over how tiny and pretty she is! But that’s beside the point!)

Before leaving that night I ran into my friend Farhan. I asked him how I could help, and he responded by saying that I already was. “How’s that?” I asked. He told me that the ten-dollar entrance fee for the RU Thaakat fashion show was going directly to charity so I was already making a difference.

With those words, Thaakat had amazed me once again – why? Because the team really appreciates everyone and every single contribution. In big and small ways, everyone can help and the members of Thaakat made sure to get that point across. I went home that night knowing that I had spent ten dollars (less than a movie ticket these days!) to watch an awesome fashion show and spend time with good friends, all while making a difference in someone’s life. The satisfaction that came from knowing that was amazing.

After that, I messaged Thaakat’s Facebook account to see how else I could help. Work was becoming boring and I wanted to do something more fulfilling than being a financial analyst for a pharmaceutical company. Working ten-plus hours a day wasn’t exactly my idea of living life to the fullest. To my surprise (I know, so many surprises. I love surprises!), Uzma not only responded, but we exchanged phone numbers and set up a time to meet. I was thrilled to have a chance to be working with the team, but at the meeting I told her I wasn’t sure if I’d be of much help. I asked if I could be an assistant for the national board and take it from there. She agreed.

Apparently Uzma had more faith in me than I gave myself credit for – I had spent just a couple months as a board assistant when Uzma promoted me to the position of Director of Growth and Development. From there, we worked with the board to expand Thaakat’s college chapters. We went from having three to having fifteen (some official, some unofficial). Uzma has since trusted me to take on the role of adviser for Thaakat’s national chapters for which I am so grateful.

I also can’t thank Uzma enough for trusting me to take on the overwhelming responsibility of being a board member for Thaakat. Thaakat, as a group and as a team, has changed my life as I know it. As a group, it has helped me grow as a person by working to help others in need as well as giving me leadership skills that I can translate into real life. The team members of Thaakat – from the national board I am a member of to the school chapters to the individual volunteers and supporters – have become my second family.

Some of these people I have only met once in my life, most I have never had the pleasure of meeting. Still, these people are far from strangers to me, some of them have become my closest friends. Everyone I have interacted with on the team, directly or indirectly, has inspired me in many ways. They have all helped me grow as a person and learn more about my surroundings and my own self. I am so grateful to have worked with a team who will not only cheer me on when I’m right, but who will also tell me when I’m wrong and help me correct my mistakes.

The work each and every person on our team does is incredible. These people are changing lives every day while still keeping up with their busy work and personal lives. The people I’ve have been fortunate to meet through Thaakat have become an important part of my life. I never thought in a million years that after coming back from an almost twelve-hour work day, I’d willingly hold conference calls with student chapters. I have no idea how life before them, how life before Thaakat used to be, but I’m not complaining because the changes have all been for the better.

The point of this long story (sorry I know I talk a lot, but I did warn you!) is that you should never underestimate the impact of the things life throws at you. Every decision you make can ultimately change your life, in big and small ways and for better or for worse. Sometimes you just have to let it take its course so it can lead you to great things – even if sometimes it means listening to your friends and doing something you may not be up for. You never know what great things maybe waiting for you around the corner. Thank you Baneen for taking me to that show – and thank you Thaakat for an amazing (little over a) year!

Thaakat foundation is an AMAZING organization changing the lives of our future for the better. All members are extremely caring and passionate towards helping the needy. The most amazing of them all is their founder Uzma Bawany. Her compassion for others is unbelievable and quickly becomes an inspiration to all that she meets with her charismatic smile and charming personality! My God bless these people with a long and peaceful life where they can continue to benefit humanity!!!!

Thaakat Foundation helped me found something in myself that i never knew existed; love for humanity. From a first random meeting i attended to founding and running a viral campaign (#lethedreambe) for this non-profit, the experience has been out of this world. From meeting new people to putting smiles on the faces of the underprivileged, its been a life changing experience. Perhaps the most important lesson i have learned while working with Thaakat, its us the everyday people that can make a difference in the lives of the needy by putting in a little effort, which goes a long way!

Thaakat does a lot of great things. From helping people locally to helping them globally, they are simply the best.