Br. Abbas Aly, Trustee of Imam Hassan Foundation (Australia), Visits Africa Federation Headquarters

Our Ref:  AFED/PR/014/2026                                         Date: 10 February 2026 

The Africa Federation (AFED) had the honour of welcoming Abbas bhai Aly, Trustee of the Imam Hassan Foundation, Sydney (Australia), during his visit to the Africa Federation Headquarters in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on 27^th January 2026.

Abbas bhai was received by AFED Hon. Secretary, Alihassan bhai Kassam, Nominated Councillor, Aunali bhai Khalfan, and Chief Operating Officer, Mohammed Kazim bhai Sheriff. 

During the meeting, Abbas bhai expressed his admiration and humility at the depth of charitable work being undertaken by AFED, coupled with the continued generosity of its donors. He acknowledged AFED’s impactful contributions across multiple sectors, including education, tabligh, economic empowerment, healthcare, capacity building, and housing. Abbas bhai further advised that increasing the visibility of these noble initiatives would help attract greater financial support from generous donors in Australia, Europe, and the wider Western world.

Alihassan bhai noted that while AFED has traditionally remained humble about its achievements, enhanced support from donors outside Africa would enable the Federation to expand its reach and deepen its service to the community.

Abbas bhai highlighted that infrastructure development for the needy remains a core objective of his Foundation. He shared updates on projects in war-affected areas of Lebanon and in Iraq, including an initiative to build 1,000 houses in 1,000 days, and noted that the Foundation is presently assessing infrastructure needs for the Bilal Community in Tanzania. 

Alihassan bhai highlighted the growing demand for housing within the Khoja community in Africa, particularly in Dar es Salaam, Mombasa, and Madagascar. He apprised Abbas bhai of the various housing projects currently being implemented by the AFED Housing Board and the constituent Jamaats, outlining how community members have benefited from rent-to-own schemes that promote affordability and long-term security. 

On the lines of higher education, Abbas bhai reflected on the success of the Higher Education Loan Program (HELP) under AFED’s Education Board, noting that many beneficiaries are now well-established professionals across Australia, Europe, and North America. He emphasized that it is a moral responsibility for these successful individuals to give back, enabling AFED to educate and further specialize future generations within the community.

Conveying the sentiments of AFED Chairman, Alhaj Amine bhai Nassor, Alihassan bhai Kassam expressed sincere appreciation to Abbas bhai for his time and valuable insights. On this occasion, Aunali bhai Khalfan presented Abbas bhai with AFED’s publication, “Dhows to Diaspora: The Khoja Journey and the Legacy of the Africa Federation.” 

The AFED Secretariat extends its heartfelt gratitude to Abbas bhai for his highly motivational and insightful engagement and looks forward to fostering a close and meaningful collaboration with Imam Hassan Foundation (Australia) to further strengthen and empower the Khoja community in Africa.

Secretariat