Gift of the Givers is a South AfricanNon-governmental organization It is a disaster relief group of African origin. It was established to offer disaster relief and response, together with other humanitarian work. The aim was to reach people worldwide.
Humanitarian Efforts
Gift of the Givers has worked in countries around the world, including Gaza City, Bosnia, Pakistan, Somalia, Haiti and Zimbabwe. During the aftermath of the 2010 Haiti earthquake the organisation sent four rescue teams and aid materials to the country. They provided in 2011 food aid to Somalia, by airlifting 180 tons and shipping 2000 tons of aid. Through Gift of the Givers, South African medics and volunteers have been assisting people during the Syrian civil war. Because of unrest in Syria some of the South Africans were injured or dead. In 2013, victims of flooding in the Karonga region of Malawi were given aid in the form of food. In 2015, after 176 died during flooding of the Shire Valley, and with thousands homeless, the organization provided assistance for citizens in southern Malawi.
Imtiaz Sooliman
Imtiaz Ismail Sooliman, a South African, is a Medical Doctor and founder of Gift of the Givers. He also led the organization.
Roots and education
Sooliman was born on 7 March 1962 in Potchefstroom, Transvaal, South Africa. 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. He is married to Zohra. He is from Islam belief.
Career
Sooliman's drive for the establishing of Gift of the Givers, was the instruction of a Sufi Sheik, Muhammed Saffer Effendi al Jerrahi, which happened in Istanbul, Turkey on 6 August 1992. His organization is funded by normal South Africans. Some of the projects where he has been involved include:
Pierre Korkie- Trying via negotiations to free a teacher, who was held by militants from al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. Korkie died in the rescue attempt
Iraq- Helping local citizen in the aftermath of the war between Iraq and forces of the US and the UK
Mauritania – Building a centre and nursery for woman and children
Syria- Delivered supplies to refugees in the Idlib region where a war was on-going
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.
