Community Outreach and Support
Building essential infrastructure and programs to support community development
Community Outreach and Support
Building a sense of community to drive change is the first step to creating impact. We have created programs and supported community initiatives that build a sense of ownership and community amongst the less improvised. Our model to create a work life community for blue collared workers has been recognized globally and continues to be at fore front of what we do. We also financially support relevant community initiatives that are inclusive, encourage diversity and give voice to important social issues.
key facts
our programs
Lending our support through funds, medical aid, necessary provisions, infrastructure rebuilding and manpower during natural disasters
Conscientization Initiatives
Conscientization is as important as providing welfare. At the heart of what we do we focus on these two critical points – building ability and providing the immediate need. The first initiative of the Faizal and Shabana Foundation was to create a Community Center for blue collared staff. Blue collared staff often live away from their families especially in the Middle East. They often have no sense of community and belongingness.
To improve the lives of our workers we created the Community Center Model. This model sees Community Centers being built at the factory site where employees can use to relax while also developing their skills. The foundation community center offers employees sporting facilities, English and computer skill classes, catering and entertainment facilities amongst others. The Foundation built its first center in UAE, and has plans to open a similar center in India.
Community Support
The Foundation supports community initiatives through financial aid to support, in the past we have worked with the TERI initiative, light a Billion Lives which focuses on the need for clean, easily accessible and cost effective solar lighting for rural areas. The project targeted rural areas and supplied lighting equipment to remote sites in rural Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Karnataka. The Faizal and Shabana Foundation pitched in with its support to set up Solar Charging Stations (SCS) in all these regions. As many as 65 such SCSs were setup directly impacting 16,000 lives. Besides that, it also created a direct impact on the larger goal of clean lighting, reducing carbon footprint and safeguarding the environment.
We have also supported festival celebrations and activities for the underprivileged in the Middle East to ensure that they have sense of celebration and community during festivities.
Event Support
We continually rally the community and engage them by organizing initiatives that will benefit them at large. From regular Blood donation camps, to health talks, to encouraging community herb gardens we believe that working together and engaging people in the initiatives creates a larger impact. Community initiatives are determined by working with people within the area, we organize focus groups to understand current issues and work together with them to create sustainable solutions that are driven through them at the grass root level.
testimonials
- Niranjana, School Student, G.V.H.S.S for Girls, Kozhikode India
Faizal Sir and Shabana Ma’am are truly an inspiration and role model to us because we don't find many people who believe in giving back to the society and especially helping us girls create our lives.
Niranjana, School Student, G.V.H.S.S for Girls, Kozhikode India - Jaluse K, Principal & Non-Vocational Teacher, G.V.H.S.S for Girls, Kozhikode, India
"The Faizal and Shabana Foundation has done a fantastic job of improving the school on all levels be it infrastructure, sports facilities, cultural and art programs, teacher training and engagement. The ambience at the school is truly one of positivity, with eager students proud of the changes the foundation has brought about in their lives."
Jaluse K, Principal & Non-Vocational Teacher, G.V.H.S.S for Girls, Kozhikode, India - A. R. Rahman
“The dedication of Faizal and Shabana to the PRISM project to make the Nadakkavu school the first Govt. school to be recognized in the Top 10 schools in India in 5 years’ time is extremely commendable
A. R. Rahman, Oscar & Grammy Award Winning Singer-songwriter, Music Producer, Musician and Philanthropist
- Ronaldinho, Footballer, Brazil
"I have really enjoyed my visit to the GVHSS Nadakkavu School and I am extremely impressed by the facilities the school has to offer. I congratulate the Kerala Government and the Faizal & Shabana Foundation for giving these young talents access to this state-of-the-art football facility, which will help them better hone their skill."
Ronaldinho, Footballer, Brazil
True happiness and joy, comes from creating a positive impact – this philosophy has defined the work Faizal Kottikollon has done as a passionate social entrepreneur.
An ingenious humanitarian he believes in always Giving Back in a manner that is long-term, sustainable and impactful. This thought process is one of the cornerstones of every initiative the Foundation has undertaken including, creating a sustainable school intervention model to reform government education practices in India, and empowering and educating farmers in new practices and techniques. His forward thinking has also played a significant role in enabling the creation of low-cost, yet high-quality basic infrastructure like schools, hospitals and food subsidy canteens in India through the use of technology, and has also helped up-skill construction workers in the country.
Faizal has always looked at his work as a way of creating a positive impact to create a better future. He consistently harnesses the latest technology, believing that it has the largest and fastest impact to help the underprivileged and build a more equitable world for everyone.
Shabana Faizal cares passionately about people, development and community building. Across her over 20-year entrepreneurial and philanthropic journey she has always focused on developing avenues that empower and provide sustainable opportunities for those less privileged. This forms the other cornerstone on which the Foundations programs and activities are visualized.
From providing village women a platform to share their art through her first speciality retail venture in 1995, to creating a one-of-its-kind community development centre for workers in UAE, to helping deserving students and community members to educate and train themselves and find a sustainable livelihood, – Giving Back is intrinsic to Shabana’s value system.
Today under her guidance the Foundation has grown and created a ripple effect that has impacted the lives of thousands of people across the Middle East and India. As she continues to dedicate her time and resources to causes most close to her, she believes that there is a lot more work yet to be done to create an equitable community, and a better tomorrow for everyone.
With a PhD in social work to his credit, Dr. Joseph Sebastian has over two and half decades of social development experience. Starting his career as a community development worker, Dr. Sebastian went on to become an academician, a professor and the Principal at Yashawantrao Institute of Social Sciences, Maharashtra. Prior to becoming Head of the Faizal and Shabana Foundation, Dr. Sebastian was the Executive Director of Indo Global Social Service Society. In an earlier role, he has also served as Director-Operations and Director-Monitoring and Evaluations at Project Concern International, a US-based non-profit organization.
Passionate about working with people and impact creating projects, Dr Sebastian brings to his work grass roots as well as board room level through processes. He is at ease working with villagers – young and old; women and men and at the same time sitting at a table formulating policies. He believes that one has to give the most and the best to those in need and any amount one gives may not be enough as there is so much to be done to bring about fullness of life.
Nimmy Theresa Antony completed her BTech in 2012. Recruited directly from the Campus, she worked with UST Global as software engineer. It’s after working for more than a year, she could take the strong step to follow her passion of working for and with people. She went on to complete her Master’s in Social Work with specialisation in Rural Development from TISS. She has rich experience working with hard to reach communities – economically and socially. Her expertise is in the fields of public health, education, hygiene and women empowerment. Prior to joining to the Foundation, she has worked with CARE India in remote parts of Bihar.
Chelleth Roshan John completed her Masters in Social Work from Nirmala Niketan College, Mumbai in 2004. She has also done a Diploma in MBA and Human Rights Law from National Law School of India University (NLSIU). She has a rich experience working with national welfare organisations like Childline, Vedanta Foundation and Share. Prior to joining the Faizal and Shabana Foundation, she worked with Margdarshak as the Regional Head for CSR in Goa.