The non-profit organization Mercy Mission, based in Morningside, has appealed to the public and business community for urgent financial support. This is due to the sudden loss of long-time donors, which has jeopardized the organization's vital social programs.
Mercy Mission manages the Imam Development Program (IDP) and the 'Orphan 7' child welfare initiative. It requires immediate financial assistance to maintain its aid network across 14 African countries.
Founder Bilal Ismail stated that current donors and benefactors are unable to continue support for various reasons. He noted that the organization assists approximately 70 orphans and calls on the community to help improve their lives.
The financial crisis directly threatens the flagship 'Orphan 7' initiative. Launched in December 2022 with seventeen children, the project has expanded to support 70 orphans using a decentralized, community-based model. Instead of placing children in traditional institutions, the program supports orphans living with relatives or guardians. This approach is supported by international experts as a way to reduce risks of abuse and human trafficking.
'Orphan 7' covers seven key aspects of child development: financial support, healthcare, education, social development, spiritual guidance, empowerment, and academic excellence. Ismail explained that this initiative arose from the harsh reality of children growing up without parents in underserved communities who often remain unnoticed and forgotten. The organization continues to assist its wards even after they reach adulthood, helping them with further education and establishing business connections.
The initiative relies on an extensive network of local religious leaders, guardians, and social workers. At the core of this service delivery system is the IDP, which Ismail, born in Tongaat, established in 2014. He founded the program after observing the difficult living conditions of dedicated religious leaders in rural KwaZulu-Natal. Ismail emphasized the importance of imams in any community, as they are leaders whom people turn to for marriage matters, drug counseling, and conflict resolution.
He also mentioned that some imams live on a modest R2000 per month. The program helps increase their income while providing them with knowledge and technology, ensuring that every leader receives a functional smartphone or tablet and training on its use. Since the launch of IDP, he has trained over 640 imams in South Africa, Lesotho, Eswatini, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Mozambique, Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania, Rwanda, Kenya, and Uganda. On average, each imam reaches about 500 community members through weekly services, madrasa classes, and family support, allowing information about employment and educational opportunities to reach remote areas.
Furthermore, IDP has helped launch 130 micro-enterprises, such as mobile phone repair workshops and livestock farms, through corporate sponsorships and partnerships based in Durban. Participating imams undergo rigorous selection, business training, and monthly reporting.
As donor funding has been redirected, Mercy Mission calls on both the public and the corporate sector to intervene and secure the future of both the imams and the vulnerable children under their care. Any interested parties can contact the organization at 084 414 7184.