SHINE Launched: A Legacy for Generational Empowerment
- Secretariat
- Mar 25
- 3 min read
Our Ref: AFED/PR/016/2026 Date: March 21, 2026
SHINE Launched: A $3 Million Legacy for Generational Empowerment
As part of the 80th Anniversary commemorations of the Africa Federation (AFED), a historic milestone was marked with the formal signing of the SHINE Endowment Fund documentation at the AFED Tower Training Centre in Dar es Salaam on Thursday, 29th January 2026.
The concept was first formally floated at a Supreme Council Meeting earlier in the year, where it received principled support.
It was subsequently affirmed at the World Federation ExCo meeting on 31st January 2026, where it was formally announced that USD $3 million had been remitted to establish the SHINE Endowment Fund.
This was not merely the signing of documentation; it represented the prompt execution of a long-envisioned strategy for sustainable community development.
Sadiquebhai Jaffer shared that the idea of a structured endowment dedicated to long-term empowerment was first envisioned nearly 25 years ago but, at the time, did not come to fruition. As he noted, visionary ideas do not disappear due to inactivity; rather, they endure, awaiting the convergence of the right leadership, courage, and collective commitment. By the grace of the Almighty, this dream has now been revived, made possible through the generous support and contributions of fellow donors, for which he expressed his sincere appreciation. He further emphasized that working with the Africa Federation is the most effective way to serve the community and commended the leadership of past Chairman Shabir bhai and current Chairman Amine bhai Nassor for their vision, wisdom, and continued guidance.
During AFED’s 80th year, that convergence occurred. Through renewed collective resolve, and by the grace of the Almighty, the vision has now been realized.
SHINE (Supporting Hope, Innovation, and Nurturing Empowerment) represents a decisive shift from the prevalent modality of short-term relief and pivots toward sustainable long term empowerment; from reactive rescue to structured generational impact.
SHINE has been established as an independent and dedicated endowment body, developed in collaboration with AFED and its founding stakeholders. While AFED remains the mother Federation and a key beneficiary of SHINE’s long-term impact, the fund has deliberately been structured with its own governance framework, compliance standards, and strategic oversight.
This independence ensures integrity, accountability, and disciplined stewardship. Projects proposed through AFED must therefore demonstrate:
Sustainability
Transparency
Measurable long-term impact
Alignment with SHINE’s objectives and compliance framework
Funding decisions will be made solely at SHINE’s discretion in accordance with these criteria, ensuring that every supported initiative reflects responsible governance and lasting value.
Operating as a pooled impact endowment initiative, SHINE is designed to preserve capital, generate compliant returns, and reinvest responsibly to grow the corpus over time.
Rather than depleting resources through one-time allocations, the structure enables continuous reinvestment for long-term development.
Its primary focus remains the upliftment of marginalized and vulnerable members of the Khoja Shia Ithna-Asheri community, particularly across the African continent, through structured financing mechanisms rooted in prudence and accountability.
As AFED marks eight decades of service, the establishment of SHINE signals institutional maturity and financial foresight. It reflects confidence in the community’s future and a commitment to ensuring that entrusted resources are managed with discipline and transparency.
This milestone will stand as a defining chapter in AFED’s history, one when vision matured into structure, and commitment was translated into a sustainable legacy designed to serve generations to come.
The SHINE initiative is a collaborative project led by:
Alhaj Mohamed Jaffer of the Jaffer Foundation (Kenya)
Alhaj Mukhtar Karim of the Lady Fatema Trust (UK)
Alhaj Mohamed Taki Jaffer and Alhaj Sadique Jaffer of the Jaffer Family Foundation (New York)
Alhaj Shabir Najafi
Their shared vision, foresight, and commitment have been instrumental in transforming this long-envisioned model into a structured and enduring reality.
Below are some photographs of the ceremony:
The Secretariat of the Africa Federation expresses its sincere and humble gratitude to all dignitaries who participated in and attended this landmark event, and prays that this initiative becomes a source of lasting benefit for our communities.
Secretariat
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