By Azeezullah Faisal, TwoCircles.net,
Vellore: Mash’al Educational and Charitable Trust (MECT) is a registered not-for-profit charity organization founded about an year ago by a group of individuals who are mostly from a small conservative town called Vaniyambadi, located north west of Tamil Nadu, about 200km west of Chennai. MECT, like any other Islamic welfare organization was founded to “seek the pleasure of Allah by providing community service to brothers and sisters of the ummah of Prophet Muhammed (PBUH).”
They hope to expand their scope to other regions as appropriate. The 3-day Discover Yourself workshop organized by the then budding Mashal Team did wonders to MECT founders and to the people in Vaniyambadi as well.
MECT has undertaken numerous projects over the past one year. The nature and size of projects range between few thousands to about couple of lakhs of Rupees, whether it’s helping a poor and deserving kid with his/her tuition fees, an interest-free financial loan to revert brothers/sisters/family to be self-sufficient or to get them out of money lenders’ clutches, helping brothers/sisters in need of critical medical attention who could not afford their medical care & bills, build or renovate Masajid in remote localities, facilitate water resources for these mosques, or planting trees in the township, assisting people with conducting free medical camps, conducting career guidance programs and encouraging students to consider IITs, IAS posts as career option, or encouraging school kids with enhancing imagination and intellectual thought process by conducting science programs and competitions in schools, MECT has provided help where ever we could see an opportunity to contribute constructively to the community.
Recently, as part of GO GREEN initiatives, the task of planting 200 trees in the beds of the river Paalar branch was undertaken. The plantations were started on Monday Feb 04 2013 around 7 00 am. This project is being done under the leadership of Chairperson Dr Neelufar Kafeel. Several NSS student volunteers from Islamiah College (Autonomous), Islamiah Boys Higher Secondary School and Khaderia Higher Secondary School participated in this event. MECT will be planting over 1,500 trees as part of their GO GREEN initiatives. The actual goal is to make the town green and clean by reviving a Sunnah of our Prophet (PBUH).
MECT is always on the look-out for like-minded individuals and invite them to join hands in their many endeavors and to work with them to improve the quality and standards of living for all sections of the community, not just the needy ones whether it’s social, financial, infrastructural, spiritual, healthcare, educational or any other cause that would take them closer to Allah in seeking His pleasure. MECT members feel there’s no limit to what we can achieve as a TEAM. And needless to say that what has started will continue and will grow in strength and magnitude, God Willing! (InshaAllah!)
They invite brothers and sisters from all walks of life to actively participate in their initiatives by whatever means they could afford, not just financial support, but even logistical support goes a long way too. They strongly feel that the knowledge, expertise, experiences and background from Muslims from diverse professional background would add tremendous value and would make them stronger!
They welcome likeminded Muslims to contribute to their cause by whatever means. For those of who wish to learn more about MECT or their work and/or donate funds or provide logistical support about / to any of their initiatives, you can contact them via their Facebook site or directly to the executive board members: