Latino Muslims account for 8% of all Muslims in Illinois with the overwhelming majority being recent converts.There are more than 6 Million Latinos in the Midwest, which is more than a 20% increase from just 10 years ago.Although Ojala Foundation has been featured on the front page of several local new papers and multiple television stations we have yet to have our own home to cater to the needs of our vibrant and growing community in a way that only we can because we are Latino Muslims and know deeply what struggles are faced by those of us Allah chose. We are asking for your support to help us spread this beautiful way of life to our friends and family with a Latino Muslim Outreach Center that will be the first of its kind anywhere in the country 

Convert Care:

We were founded by converts who have been involved in Convert Care for over 25 years. 

We know the beauty and fear that follow one’s shahada. 

How will they tell their family, friends, and work? 

How do you change all that you have known to now live as a Muslim? 

Ojala Foundation is intentional about being there for new Muslims for every step of their journey. 

Our dawah does not stop when someone utters the shahada. Ojalá understands that after someone enters Islam, that is when the real work begins. 

We currently follow up with individuals, invite them to public and private dinners, engage in ongoing conversations about growing in our faith, and help them implement Islam into their daily lives, including navigating the many questions of family and friends. 

Ojala Foundation holds weekly iftars to foster the love of Ramadan and community.  We also hold a free Eid celebration open to everyone and have performed the first Eid khutbah in the Spanish language in Illinois. 

This Outreach center will not only allow us to have a permanent place to call our own, but will allow us a beautiful environment to introduce and educate all the hundreds of people reaching out to us for information, interviews and school presentations about Islam from the Latino community in a way that respects and understands both cultures completely.

Ojala's work falls under zakat eligible categories that include:  helping those in poverty, softening the hearts of those interested or new to Islam, and funds to help new Muslims cover their expenses and constraints.  

This Campaign is Zakat-certified, you can donate your Zakat, Zakat funds will be used according to the Zakat guidelines.

Dawah:

The center will be in a predominantly Latino area; a region with the 4th largest concentration of Latinos in the U.S.  Latinos continue to be the fastest-growing minority embracing the faith of Islam. In line with Ojalá’s goal, the center will help us to build bridges between the Latino and Muslim communities. We want Latinos to see visibly Muslim individuals in their community. 

These Ojalá community members will provide educational materials on Islam, resources, and smiles in a language that these residents will understand and appreciate. Ultimately, the most effective form of dawah is through action, and Ojalá has a proven track record of impactful deeds. We want to continue that action and grow it within an already existent Latino community. As Islam becomes less foreign to those in the Latino community, insha’Allah there will be an increase in people that decide to embrace it. 

Your donation is Sadaqa Jariya! Few things in life will have the ripple effect of changing someone's life and the generations that follow. We pray that you are rewarded with seeing lines of Muslims whose good deeds trace back to the support you are giving today.  

Please share this campaign. May Allah make this task easy, successful, and beneficial for all of us Ameen! 

Visit us https://linktr.ee/ojalafoundation