Khilafat Centenary Souvenir 1908-2008 — Page 94
development programs. Humanity First was constituted as a non-religious charitable organization so it would easily be able to assist wherever there was a need, without receiving objections that it was a religious organization trying to propagate or take credit. Under this organization, programs were structured such as Orphans' Care, under which an orphanage was set up in Sierra Leone. Information Technology training centers have been set up to provide training to individuals who are then able to get jobs and support their families. Twenty- five such centers have been set up in Sierra Leone, Gambia, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Liberia, Benin, Mali, Bosnia and Gu yana. Over 13 , 000 people have taken advantage of this program so far. A Darul-Yatama (Home for orphans) was al so established in Rabwah. Between 1993 and 1997 alone, Humanity First provided over 300 tons of humanitarian aid to victims in the war zones of Bosnia. They accomplished this feat with just volunteer support provided by Ahrnadis who collected, transported and directly distributed the aid. Similar assistance was provided during the Kosovo crises. In 1995, relief supplies were sent along with volunteers to the earthquake-hit areas of Japan , as well as to Turkey in 1999. The type of service Humanity First has performed can be illustrated by an example in India, where an earthquake hit in the area of Gujrat in 2001. 57 volunteers helped 20,000 villagers from 56 different villages and distributed relief supplies worth 3. 5 million rupees. In the affected areas, Humanity First volunteers fed 14,000 people and their physicians assisted 29,000 patients. The work of Humanity First was so visible that many Parliament members of India and other political leaders came to its camps and thanked them. It was a result of the input from the recipients of the aid who acknowledged that this organization was at the forefront of helping them. Most of the supplies and personnel were provided from Humanity First UK. In 1999, under the direction of Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih rv rc a, Humanity First implemented the Gift of Sight program in West African countries, where doctors began performing eye operations and treating the partially blind. Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih yaba (2003-Present) Service in Africa: Khalifatul Masih V, Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahrnad aba was also dedicated in service to the needy, prior to his Khilafat. In 1977, Khalifatul Masih rn ra sent him to serve in Ghana. He became the founding principal of an Ahrnadi yy a Secondary School in Salaga, in northern Ghana, where he spent two years. To this da y the school is progressing successfull y. He spent another four years as principal of another Ahrnadiyya Secondary School, this one in Essarkyir, which is in central Ghana. Huzur aba was then appointed manager of the Ahrnadiyya Agricultural Farm in Depali. Ghana was very dependent on imports for its agricultural products and at the time, it was widely believed that wheat simply could not grow in the country. An agricultural scientist by profession, Huzur ba conducted groundbreaking studies during the 1980s in wheat growing, which were presented to the Ministry of Agriculture in Ghana. Successive Ghanaian presidents have thanked the Community for their relentless efforts in helping the country towards self-sufficienc y. Tahir Heart Institute: As noted earlier, Fazl - e-Umar Hospital in Rabwah has become one of the most state-of-the-art facilities in all of Pakistan. Huzur aba, seeking to build on its success, directed the establishment of the Tahir Heart Institute (originally envisioned by the fourth Khalifa) which is one of the world's most modern facilities for the treatment of heart diseases. The USAJama 'at contributed over $3 million to purchase the equipment needed to operate the Institute. Humanity First International: Huzur aba has also further strengthened the efforts of Humanity First and challenged them with new programs, especially to help the distressed people of Africa. Both fund-raising and programming have increased significantly under his guidance. Disaster Relief: Humanity First tirelessly served in the areas affected by the Asian tsunami in 2004 and the Kashmir earthquake and Louisiana hurricanes in 2005. Over 40 tons of aid was dispatched and over one million dollars was donated to the victims. President Musharraf of Pakistan visited a Humanity First medical camp in Pakistan to learn about its efforts and to thank the volunteers for their much-needed assistance. Water for Life: Humanity First has also launched a