Stevenson High student honored for efforts to help Afghan refugees; ‘It’s important to give back and help others’ – Chicago Tribune

Fairness is a driving power behind the philanthropy of Aminah Syed, an Adlai E. Stevenson Excessive College junior from Lengthy Grove. It’s a elementary a part of her Fairness Schooling Program, Inc., not for revenue company.

“You’ll be able to’t have equality with out fairness,” Syed stated. “Fairness is ensuring all people has what they have to be profitable. The way in which to succeed in that is by training.”

With Ramadan approaching April 1, Syed, a Muslim, stated she wished to discover a venture to assist folks in want, so she began a clothes and fundraising drive to assist refugees from Afghanistan looking for new lives in the US.

Syed delivered scores of baggage of clothes and a $5,000 verify to the City Muslin Minority Alliance (UMMA) Wednesday in Waukegan to assist its effort to settle Afghan refugees who started arriving in the US in August after the Taliban takeover of their nation.

When she arrived with the garments and verify Wednesday, she was honored with an award from UMMA and one other from the Council of Islamic Organizations of Higher Chicago for her efforts.

Waukegan Mayor Ann Taylor, who helped current the awards together with council Chairman Irshad Khan and UMMA Government Director Robert Montgomery, was impressed with each Syed’s effort and her skill.

“She is a really spectacular younger girl,” Taylor stated. “She has an excellent head on her shoulders, and understands the wants of the neighborhood. She is a kind of individuals who will get it accomplished.”

A 12 months in the past, Syed stated she ran a faculty provide drive to assist youngsters in want. As Ramadan approached, she once more wished to do one thing to assist others. It’s a part of her religion.

“One of many 5 pillars of Islam is zakat (charity),” she stated. “I wished to do one thing to present again. I made a decision to do one thing to assist the Afghan refugees.”

Contacting the mosque she attends — The American Muslin Peace Group (AMPO) — in Mundelein, she requested if folks might deliver the garments there. She obtained a sure. As she was utilizing social media and different avenues to solicit donations, she obtained a name from the AMPO.

“They stated, ‘Are you able to please come and decide it up, we’re overflowing,’” she stated. “I couldn’t consider it.”

A daughter of immigrants herself, Syed stated she is lucky to have grown up with wealth and success round her. Her father, Mehmood, got here to the US in 1988 from Pakistan by way of Cypress, and labored his method by school.

Mehmood Syed stated he’s now an funding banker who raises cash for small companies and a serial entrepreneur. By the point Aminah Syed was born and was acutely aware of her environment, she was solely conscious of her household’s success.

“It’s vital to present again and assist others,” Aminah Syed stated. “I’m grateful and wish to assist.”

“She’s wonderful,” added Taylor.

Khan stated the wants of the refugees are acute. They arrive with the “garments they’re sporting,” and get some authorities help for 90 days. After that, housing, meals, medical care and different requirements should come from someplace else. His group has helped greater than 200 households.

Montgomery stated UMMA has helped 5 households thus far. The group continues to assist two and located sponsors for the opposite three. With a part of its mission discovering folks jobs, he stated UMMA tries to try this for the refugees. With $50,000 raised thus far to help the refugees, Syed’s donation boosted the hassle 10%.