2023 Impact Report | Imam Development Program

2023 Impact Report banner highlighting achievements of the Imam Development Program

You’ve helped us make a meaningful difference to the Imams on the Imam Development Program as well as their communities.

Join us as we share a few of our proudest moments of 2023:

R24 million / $1.3 million

Spent this year in supporting, activating, and empowering Imams to uplift their communities.

Map showing 458 Imams supported across 10 African countries

Imam holding a goat for Qurbani distribution to the community

4513 Qurbani in 9 Countries

We partnered with 11 organisations to implement Qurbani. Qurbani is performed by our Imams at their masaajid and distributed within his community. It aids in elevating his position in the community.

Community members collecting water from a newly installed borehole

100% Borehole Requests Fulfilled

16 boreholes were requested this year by Imams for their communities. All 16 were fulfilled. Their communities can now benefit from access to clean drinking water, Alhamdulillah!

Imams in white ihram clothing at the Kaaba in Makkah performing Hajj

3 Hajj and 2 Umrah

5 Imams had the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to visit the Blessed Lands to perform Hajj and Umrah.

Community members gathered at a mosque for an open day event

Imams gathered together during a brotherhood retreat

Imam Brotherhood Retreats

Two retreats were organised for our Imams in Tanzania and Zimbabwe this year. The retreats offer them an opportunity to build bonds, network, and collaborate on common issues.

Imams receiving granted wishes including appliances and community resources

247 Imam Wishes Granted

From washing machines to boreholes for their communities, we asked Imams to submit their wishes. Generous donors like you helped fulfil 247 wishes for Imams and their communities throughout Ramadaan!

Hamza Tzortzis and Mohammed Hijab meeting with IDP staff and Imams at the office

Hamza Tzortzis & Mohammed Hijab Visit

Brothers Tzortzis and Hijab were in South Africa to speak about Modern Issues Facing the Ummah. We seized the opportunity to host them at our offices for the benefit of our staff and some of our Imams.

12 Imams visiting historical sites during their trip to Türkiye

12 Imams visit Türkiye

Türkiye Diyanet Foundation (Religious Affairs), hosted 12 of our Imams. They traveled from Ankara to Istanbul, learning about the inner workings of Diyanet and drawing inspiration to become better leaders in their communities. Watch their learnings from the trip here.

Children participating in Fun Friday activities at the madrasah

More Fun Fridays

A little bit of candy and some games go a long way. “Fun Friday” began as a way to encourage madrasah attendance so that Imams can teach classes filled to the brim with enthusiastic students, a win-win for all!

CEO Sh. Bilal Ismail receiving the Excellence in Executive Leadership award

Leadership Award for our CEO

Sh. Bilal Ismail was awarded “Excellence in Executive Leadership” at the Mercy Mission Summit in Türkiye in November.
Sh. Bilal in the words of Azim, CEO of Mercy Mission: "He's infectious. You sit with him, and you feel excited. You sit with him, and you feel moved. You sit with him, and you think I wish I had that energy!"

Imams receiving new motorcycles to improve their mobility for community service

Making More Imams Mobile

30 Imams across 4 countries received brand-new motorcycles and helmets. Their mobility allows them to reach more people for Dawah and to serve their communities better.

Community members receiving meals distributed during Ramadaan

37 000 Meals Strong

Your generous donations during Ramadaan were able to provide 37 000 meals to recipients in our Imam’s communities.

The new IDP office space providing dedicated workspace for the team

A New Base for Impact

We’ve moved into our first dedicated office space since IDP’s inception in 2014. Previously, Team IDP worked remotely and in recent years, out of an office that fitted only 3 people. The new space comes with ample workspace as well as storage space to house Imam requisites.