Hassel Foundation
Afghanistan is one amongst the poorest countries in the world. In Afghanistan, poverty is widespread in rural and urban areas. According to the Afghan government's estimates, 42% of the Afghanistan's total population lives below the poverty line. Also, 20% of people living just above the poverty line are highly vulnerable to falling into poverty.
Hence development of charity foundations and serving the needful layer of society is a crucial requirement for a developing country like Afghanistan.
Considering this, the ADF as an impartial development fund, besides its enormous aim to revolutionize the agriculture sector in the country through nonstop efforts took an initiative to establish a charitable foundation
became the first financial institution in the country to establish a charitable foundation;
In 2012, with an objective to receive some funding as fines from the delinquent clients in account of Islamic finance penalties and utilize the collected amount in some social development activities in the country. After completion of all the formalities and following the approval from the High Council HASSEL (Dari word for “harvest”) was officially registered with the Ministry of Justice in the same year.
The aim behind formation of the HF was to spend the money recovered as penalties from the negligent Client, in the support of people/individuals in need.
The whole idea behind the program is to enable ADF as a financial institution to improve its lending activities by behaving strict with those of the client’s with weak repayment performances by making them disciplined and more thoughtful/careful while dealing with ADF, and from the other side serving the Afghan community with charitable activities.
Introduction
The HASSEL (Dari word for “harvest) Charitable Foundation is the social arm of the Agricultural Development Fund (ADF). The ADF is a government owned financial institution established through Presidential Decree No. 6620 of January 30, 2012 (1390/10/11).
The ADF is expected to generate discretionary income that, as per its Islamic Finance Policies and Procedures must be used for charitable activities; hence the HASSEL Charitable Foundation will constitute the conduit to utilize those funds for the benefit of the least fortunate. At times, as per the discretion of the board of directors, the foundation provides internships or volunteerism which shall provide opportunities for involvement in said activities and programs in order to have a greater impact for change.
Mission Statement
The tripartite Mission of the Hassel is to:
- Help and support vulnerable communities in times of distress and need.
- Finance youths get desired education especially in the fields of agriculture. and
- Advance agricultural entrepreneurship in all its forms.
Foundatoin STRucture
According to Hassel Foundation statute, the Hassel Foundation is managed by its Executive Board, Director, Deputy Director and a Member. The Foundation is consist of 15 members, with a Board of Management and a Finance Committee. All authorities and responsibilities of the Foundation is controlled by its Board of Management consist of three affiliates. All members are the staff of ADF who work on volunteer basis for the foundation.
opportunities
The Foundation provides direct material support in kind, specifically food, clothing and access to medical services to communities in need. The Foundation also provides funding and technical assistance to youth groups in the areas of entrepreneurial education, entrepreneurship competitions and will fund the organization of national and regional entrepreneurship competitions.
Funding resources
The Foundation generates funding through 2 resources:
- a) Fees and cash penalties for delinquency in Islamic Finance of Agricultural Development Fund.
- b) Personal and organizational donations.