indianamuslims.org

MAI Women's Fund

• Director of the Women's Fund Biography
• Why Muslim American Women Need Your Help?
• Abuse and the Muslim American Women - At a Glance
• What the MAI Women's Fund Does?
• How are we funded?
• Why the Julian Center?
• Achievements of the Women's Fund
• Survivor Stories
• A National Problem: A Community Approach
• MAI Responds to the killing of Aasiya Hasan

The Muslim Alliance of Indiana Women’s Fund (MAIWF) was established to give Muslim Hoosier women more voice in our community while alleviating problems stemming from domestic violence and abuse.  The MAIWF was established in partnership with the Julian Center.  The Julian Center is Indiana’s largest domestic violence shelter that serves over 1500 families a year.  The Center has been recognized by President Bush as one of two “Family Justice Centers” in the country.  The Center consists of a shelter, transitional housing apartments, counselors, a public school, mental  health counseling center, medical clinic, art therapy clinic and houses the domestic violence units of the Police Department and Prosecutor’s Office.

This program has been able to help a number of Muslim Hoosier women but the demand is so high that more financial assistance is needed.  Islam always calls us to protect the weak and oppressed.  These women need our help and with your assistance we can continue to grow this amazing program.  MAI has partnered with institutions like the Julian Center and NCLC to allow Muslims to take advantage of available resources in our community in a Muslim friendly way.  To establish a Muslim institution with the same resources would cost over $20 million.  This partnership allows us to participate and take advantage of existing infrastructure.

MAI is committed to strategic partnerships like these to reduce the burden on the Muslim community while providing the best service possible.

The US Department of Justice awarded the Muslim Alliance of Indiana a two year grant for the MAI Women's Fund.  The grant provides the MAI $13,000/year for the next two years to hire a part-time attorney to work with Muslim Hoosier women that are victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.  Earlier this year MAI establihsed the Women's Fund to meet the urgent requests of Muslim families suffering domestic violence or sexual assault.  In partnership with the Julian Center and Neighborhhod Christian Legal Clinic, the MAI Women's Fund has been providing serviced to domestic violence and sexual assault victims.  "This grant signifies the important work that MAI is doing for the Muslim's of Indiana," stated Dr Aisha Zafar, Chair of the MAI Women's Fund. "By applying for grants like these and partnering with established institutions like the Julian Center and Nighborhood Christian Legal Clinic we are offering effective programs for the Muslim Hoosier community without burdening them."
 
The program will train domestic violence and sexual assault professionals about Islam and Muslims, provide legal services to Muslim Hoosier victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, find safe shelter for these victims and assist them in being able to become financially and emotionally self-sufficient through employment training, ELS classes, driving licenses and resolving immigration related issues.
 
The US Department of Justice requires that MAI seek matching funds up to $12,000/year from the Muslim Hoosier community.  Grant specialists believe that if MAI is able to raise $12,000/year from the Muslim Hoosier community this grant will probably be renewed as it will prove sustainable.  "What is vital is not just donations but Muslim Hoosiers willingness to donate through monthly donations through their credit cards or checking," states Rafia Zakaria, MAI Women Fund Director. "Rather than donation $1200 a year the program will be better served through a donors automatic monthly donations of $100 as this proves to the US Department of Justice that we have Muslim Hoosers committed to this program."
 
In order to make a one-time or establish monthly donations Muslim Hoosiers may donate through: https://www.juliancenter.org/donate_cc_mai.html.  For further information about the program please contact Rafia Zakaria at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 317-941-2265.