Our Mission & Vision
Our vision and mission is elevate the intellectual capital of our community by facilitating higher education
The average cost of attendance for a public university in the US is over $25,000 per year. Most students cannot finance their higher education without taking on substantial interest bearing debt. This adds to an already expensive process of obtaining an education and leads to $100s of thousands of dollars spent on interest and fees.
Mission & Purpose
Anjuman Wazifa Sadaat O Momineen (AWSOM) has developed a platform which supports Shia Students pursuing higher education in the US by providing them with interest free loans of up to $32,000 for their undergraduate education and up to an additional $40,000 for graduate education. Our mission is to increase affordable access to lending for students and their families, to lessen the financial burden of pursuing their education, and ultimately elevate the intellectual capital of our communities.
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Our Beliefs & Values
All Islamic traditions forbid Muslims from dealing in riba which was traditionally translated as usury and in modern form is understood as interest. We seek to eliminate the use of interest within our community as a goal.
“… if the reward of charity is 10 parts, then the reward of an interest free loan is 18 parts.”
– Imam Jafar Al Sadiq
Who We Are
Our Team & Leadership
Our dedicated team is comprised of professionals in various fields who bring a wealth of experience and expertise to the organization. We are completely volunteer run and no member of the Advisory Board, Board of Directors, or the Executive Committee is paid any renumeration for their service.
Shiraz Hussain
President
Shiraz is a Financial Services Executive with over 18 years of experience within Investment and Commercial Banking. He joined AWSOM as a volunteer in 2009 and is currently serving as President of the Anjuman Board of Directors. He lives in Northern New Jersey with his wife and two young boys.
Mohamed Haider
Secretary General
Waheeb Rizvi
Treasurer
Maqbool Ladak
Director
Shehryar Haider
Director
Faisal Ladak
Executive Committee
Zeshan Azam
Executive Committee
Erum Ladak
Executive Committee
Shazia Momin-Rizvi
Executive Committee
F.A.Q.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Much Can I Borrow?
As of January 2022, undergraduate students can borrow up to $4,000 per semester ($8,000 per year) and graduate students can borrow up to $5,000 per semester ($10,000 per year)
When Can I Apply?
We have 2 application cycles every year. The fall cycle begins on June 1st and ends on June 30th 30th. The spring cycle begins on November 1st and ends November 30th. You can apply using the ‘Apply Now’ button on our home page which will be active during the two cycles.
What Is A Gurantor?
A Guarantor is an individual who agrees to guarantee the loan of a student in the event he or she goes into default. A guarantor must be a member of Anjuman Wazifa in good standing for 2 consecutive years.
What is the eligibility criteria?
- Proof of Admission to an accredited College or University in the US
- Record of Scholastic Achievement
- Practicing Muslim of Jafari Faith
- Guarantor Sponsorship from a current Anjuman Wazifa Member*
- Ability to Demonstrate Financial Need
Can I borrow more than the limits?
Our loan limits are capped at $4,000 per semester for undergraduates and $5,000 per semester for graduates however in some instances we may be able to make a nominal scholarship award available to exceptional students provided funds are available.
When do I have to pay back the loan?
Repayment commences upon graduation and our standard promissory note has a 10 year term. Keep in mind that you will apply each semester and each promissory note maturity will be based on loan issuance date.