The desire to practically show what faith means and how they can "live faith" led several believers of the Majlis of the Islamic Community in Rasovo near Bijelo Polje to start a humanitarian organization to help the poor. Thus, in 2012, the humanitarian organization "Hilal" was formed in Bijelo Polje.
Few of them could have guessed that in time their humanity would go beyond the boundaries of not only Bijelo Polje, but also Montenegro and the Balkans, and that, in addition to helping their fellow citizens with food, treatment, heating, providing help in the renovation and construction of houses ... also become famous for having built a large number of wells, plantations, schools and six mosques in as many villages in the African country of Burkina Faso. Instead of initially looking for donors, now donors are looking for them.
The vice president of "Hilal" Nusret Erović says that in the beginning they only sporadically helped poor families from their town.
"We started with a modest monthly membership fee for believers, and our activists simultaneously created a database of those who need help. Over time, the story became more serious and resulted in the establishment of a humanitarian fund. In the beginning, these were humanitarian actions, once a month. Namely, during the month, based on the collected information about who needs help, we made plans for the realization of help. On average, we helped 10 to 15 families a month. Some more active work began after two years of the organization's existence," says Erović.
In the beginning, the number of donors was not large, which is normal, because it took time for them to gain trust and for people to accept them.
"After many years of work, the number of donors has grown over time. We are glad that, in addition to individuals, companies are also coming forward to donate and help," he explained.
People who are humane, Erović says, and who feel the suffering of others, and if they are believers, they easily find a motive to help someone.
"The goal was to help as many grandparents, children, the elderly, the sick as possible, to show that the Islamic community in Bijelo Polje has its own mission, to show and deliver good for people, to their homes. The idea of the "Hilal" fund is to put a smile on the face of all those who are in need, and whom we manage to help," says Erović.
Although it is ungrateful to talk about donors individually, because everyone is equal to them, giving as much as they can from their wealth, I cannot but mention the humanist and founder of the "Hemiias" Foundation, Hajriz Hačko Brčvak.
"Hačko made a huge contribution to our organization and helped many families in Montenegro and the region. We are very pleased to be partners in a common mission, to help people. "Trust and honesty in work is what keeps us together and that we act equally and effectively as two organizations," he said.
It is difficult to enumerate donors who have helped poor people in recent years, and donations have come from Montenegro, Western European countries and Turkey to America.
Among socially vulnerable families, the most aid went to single mothers, the elderly, children, and orphans.
"Knowing that human troubles never come alone, our activities have expanded over time to other forms of assistance, scholarships, help with treatment, heating, securing assistance in the renovation and construction of houses, auxiliary facilities, barns... Many high school students and students, who interrupted their education due to lack of money, continued and completed their education precisely thanks to this fund.
The "Hilal" fund points out that during 2015 they helped the action of the Mosque of the Islamic Community in Montenegro, when they delivered a large contingent of aid to the Syrian refugees in Preševo. In addition, "Hilal" delivered aid to refugees in refugee centers in Sjenica, Tutin and Belgrade.
Many have learned about "Hilal" recently, since the emergence of the corona virus.
"In the last three years, we delivered about four hundred packages annually for socially vulnerable families in Bijelo Polje, but also in other cities of Montenegro."
During the current situation related to the Covid 19 virus, aid was delivered in cooperation with the Hemiias foundation, as the main donor, and with the NGO "Izvor Života", aid was delivered to the Red Cross in 14 cities of Montenegro. The "Hemiias" foundation provided about 1,500 packages with food, and through the "Hilal" fund, another 200 packages were provided.
Over time, "Hilal" became famous in Africa as well, where in addition to numerous wells, planting plantations and schools, he built six mosques, for the same number of villages.
"Projects in Africa will be a special story in the work of the fund, especially the construction of wells for poor villages in the African country of Burkina Faso. It's something we didn't plan, but over time it turned out to be a very humane move. Special help and coordination with these projects is provided by the chief imam of the Majlis of the Islamic community of Bijelo Polje, Enis Burdžović. In communication with him, we try to find the best solution to help the people of Burkina Faso. "In addition to wells, the help is reflected in the construction of mini village schools or the purchase of school supplies for students, then help with the planting of potato and peanut plantations, where in this way families in the villages of this African country are helped in the long term," said Erović.
Volunteers from seven to 60 years old
There are no employees in "Hilal" and everything functions exclusively on a voluntary basis. Fortunately for everyone, volunteers are rarely missed.
"There are quite enough volunteers, all depending on the type of action being implemented, from five, 10 or 30 people, and sometimes more. The age of the volunteers is what we are proud of, from the youngest of seven to those who are over 60 years old. The implementation of actions is often followed by the most urgent situations, and we devote ourselves to them the most. "With the good coordination of the Management Board of the "Hilal" fund, with volunteers and donors, we almost always manage to react on time," emphasized Erović.
Burdžović: Along with wells, sprouts and plantations and schools
The commitment to help the African country followed the association of the chief imam of the Majlis of the Islamic Community in Bijelo Polje, Enis Burdžović, with his colleague Bari Abdullah from the country of Burkina Faso, during his studies at Al-Azhar University in Egypt.
"We met in the student campus for foreigners, where students from 82 countries lived. Earlier, we rarely heard from each other, and in recent years with the advent of smartphones, much more often", said the officer. Burdžović.
He was moved by the struggle of a friend, who instead of chasing a visa or asylum for a European country, gathered a group of lovers of charity, working modestly within their means.
"The first project was equipping about fifty poor primary school students for school, and their joy that they received clothes, books and all school supplies in one year simply put us in debt," he says.
Women who walked miles for water inspired a fund to build a well.
"Interestingly, only for the first well, "Hilal" was looking for donors. For everyone else, donors asked for "Hilal", wanting to help people. Plantations sprouted next to the wells, which especially benefited these proud people who, although they live in extreme poverty, do not want to be given help, except for the means to work".
During each ceremonial opening of the well, the construction of mini-schools and literacy centers, mosques...
Locals of a village where "Hilal" built a well brought Abdullah the first income of peanuts, potatoes, peppers, which they grew with water from the well. They were, as he says, disappointed that "Hilal" could not receive their gifts.
"This story shows that with a lot of sincerity and small efforts give big results, changing the lives of thousands of people. We are glad that, as a fund of modest resources, we were able to operate on the other side of the world, to present our community, city and country in a good way", says the officer. Burdžović.
Humanity does not know who is of which religion, nationality and skin color
Burdžović says that "Hilal" helps everyone and that humanity must not know differences in religion, nationality and skin color.
"'Hilal' has attracted special attention with its activities during the fight against the Covid 19 virus, it plans to build a humanitarian center in Rasovo, as well as, if the need arises, the operation of a soup kitchen, announced Enis Burdžović.
The Fund emphasizes that they try to provide help to everyone who appeals to them, with the sole motto of making the lives of others better.
"We believe that Montenegro and its people can be proud that the people of Montenegro and the diaspora are very humane and ready to help at any time," said Erović.
Bonus video:
