Rescue & Restore Women From Slavery of Pimps, Gangs & Drug Dealers  

MY Project USA is a nonprofit based in Columbus, Ohio. We are addressing sex trafficking, drugs and prostitution linked to addiction in the Hilltop area of Columbus. We have been working mostly on the prevention side for four years, now we are asking for community's support to start more focused direct services to women on streets. The proceeds from this fundraiser will cover the cost of Street Outreach and Case Management to help free the victims from the slavery of pimps or the drug dealers. We are partnering with another very reputable non-profit, Alvis, to provide the rehab and other services to the individuals who need help in getting off the street and be free.

 ​"Imagine 12-13-year old girls being sold over and over for sex all day long in [today's] America. Imagine a bar-code being tattooed over her neck or hips or thighs. Imagine the name of her pimp(master) being tattooed on her wrist. Imagine any other branding mark on her body as if she is an animal or a slave.
As a matter of fact, girls like Fatima exist and serve as sex-slaves every day and night in today’s America. Due to many different factors, their number is only increasing." (Read More)
It is incumbent upon us to take care of these refugees, homeless and needy people at home. We are responsible to save our daughters from being sold as sex slaves and our boys from being doped and incarcerated for the things that happen due to the negligence and the ignorance of the community.

Thousands of Muslim Youths At Risk in Ohio 

Wedgewood Village Apartments on the west side of Columbus sits right off Sullivant Avenue that has been a hub of sex trafficking, prostitution and drug dealing for some time. There are about 2000 children in this community, mostly Somali Bantu Muslim refugees. This is a subsidized housing complex with the poorest residents who could not afford to leave the place regardless of the high crime rate. They are trapped there, and their children are being impacted the most.
There were 17 shootings and 7 homicides in the Wedgewood community in the first 7 months of 2017

It was called the deadliest location in Columbus that year. All shooting incidents involved Muslim refugee youths.

MY Project USA immediately took that neighborhood under their wings and started several programs for youths and adults.

We got the situation under control. Today, with our work that community has been transformed into a better peaceful neighborhood more focused on education and sports for children and families. Now we are focusing on capacity building, employment and youth development within that community.

Wedgewood is just one community though. Wedgewood youths are a few among thousands other in Columbus. Columbus has been a home for about 70,000 refugees. It has the second largest Somali refugee population in the US for two decades. It has also been a home for refugees from Iraq and other countries. Majority of them are Muslims. Ohio ranks fourth in human trafficking.Ohio is also considered "ground zero" for the opioid epidemic. Therefore,there are thousands of under-privileged youths in Columbus and around Ohio that live in communities infested with drugs dealers and pimps.

MY Project USA has now proven that the model we are following on prevention side is working. While we are taking that model and replicating it in Dayton, OH, we are also upgrading our work on intervention side. We are now partnering with another nonprofit Alvis to curb the sex trafficking and prostitution on Sullivant Ave and Greater Hilltop Area. 

Alvis is equipped with all kind of services, shelter and transitional housing and staff that is crucial to rescue and restore the victims of trafficking and drug addicts that are in prostitution due to their addiction, poverty or any other challenges. we need your help in achieving this goal. This year, we need about $100,000 to hire case workers who would reach out to the women on the streets to connect them with the services available within our community. With the help of Alvis, we will be able to help them in getting back on their feet as a dignified person. Alvis’s program is already proven to have positive outcome for hundreds of people, we believe it will work for our target population as well.  But we cannot do it without your help.

Your donation and Zakat can help us save hundreds of families and youth this year. Please donate generously. Every Dollar Counts.  ​

• Street Outreach & Case Management for Women on Street.
  
• Support Programs at Shelters & Transitional Houses for Sex-Trafficking Survivors, drug addicts and Abused & At-Risk Sisters
• Youth & Family Counseling 

MY Project USA Is Zakat Eligible & Tax Exempted

We Fit Six Out Of Eight Categories of Zakat

 "Zakat expenditures are only for the poor and for the needy and for those employed to collect [zakah] and for bringing hearts together [for Islam] and for freeing captives [or slaves] and for those in debt and for the cause of Allah and for the [stranded] traveler - an obligation [imposed] by Allah . And Allah is Knowing and Wise. (Quran 9:60)"

The first and second category of “poor and for the needy” applies since we are helping poor local and refugee Muslim families.

The fourth category of "bringing hearts together" applies since we serve all needy people regardless of their faith, ethnicity or race. We also work with individuals that are attracted to Islam and Muslims and prefer working with us to learn more. 

The fifth category “freeing captive” applies since we are addressing human trafficking, the modern day slavery, prevention and intervention. We are specially focusing on freeing sex-slaves from their masters and then helping them in re-establishing their lives.

The sixth category of "paying the debt" applies since we take care of families, single moms and family violence victims dealing with debts and financial instability. 

The seventh category “the cause of Allah” applies because we are protecting and empowering Muslim youth and families in America. Through our work we are addressing drugs, gangs,violence, suicides, radicalization, homelessness, and hunger through capacity building of the individuals and the community. Through the documentation and publicity of our work we seek to address Islamophobia as well. Our goal is to preserve Islam and Muslim community in America at its best.

According to the majority scholars, Zakat can be given to those who volunteer to fight in the cause of Allah (SWT) and do not receive a fixed salary from the government.This also applies to the operational cost/salaries of a non-profit organization like ours that fits the other categories of zakat eligibility. 

Of course people can also donate from any Sadaqa funds for this cause as well.

Three Things That You Can Do Right Now:  

Please remember that in this fight against pimps and drug dealers everybody and each dollar counts. 

1. Please donate generously. 

2. Keep us in your prayers.

3. Help us spread the words. Please use LaunchGood Tools on the top of this message to spread the word via social media.