By staff writer
YohWhatAYear: Scrolla.Africa is counting down the heroes and horrors of 2023. At number three on the nice list is the Gift of the Givers founder Dr Imtiaz Sooliman.
“You feel the calling, you feel the need, you see the suffering of man and you want to do something,” says Dr Imtiaz Sooliman, founder of Gift of the Givers.
“There’s a lot of prayer involved. You’ve been shown what the right way is; what to do and what not to do. And things are put very clearly in front of you.”
Sooliman gave up his career as a medical doctor to pursue humanitarian aid, which for him transcends the boundaries of race, religion, culture, class and geography.
Born in Potchefstroom, in the North West, he qualified as a doctor at the then University of Natal Medical School in 1984.
In 1992, at the age of just 30, he founded the Gift of the Givers Foundation after receiving a message from his spiritual leader in Istanbul, Turkey.
“My son, you will form an organisation. The name will be Waqful Waqifin, and that name is translated into ‘Gift of the Givers’,” his spiritual leader, Sufi Sheikh Muhammed Saffer Effendi al Jerrahi told him.
“You will serve all people of all races, of all religions, of all colours, of all classes, of all political affiliations and any geographical location. You will serve them unconditionally.”
Sooliman immediately heeded the calling and has since delivered many millions in aid, and more, to over 22 countries, including South Africa.
The Gift of the Givers Foundation is the largest non-governmental disaster response organisation of African origin on the African continent. In its 31 years of existence, the foundation has developed into one of the most respected international humanitarian agencies.
Sooliman has travelled to some of the most desolate, war-torn and disaster-struck areas of the world, heading relief missions. Through his work with Gift of the Givers, he and his teams have responded to the needs of countless people affected by a wide range of natural and man-made disasters, including floods, famine, tsunamis, earthquakes and wars.
He has facilitated the establishment of hospitals, run clinics, created agricultural schemes, dug wells, built houses and provided food and shelter to millions.
None of it would be possible without the dedication, energy and faith in humanity embraced by Dr Imtiaz Sooliman.
Pictured above: Dr Imtiaz Sooliman.
Image source: X
