Awareness, activism, empowerment, and education. These goals of the Tharwa Foundation are what direct its tireless efforts to develop and strengthen Muslim communities throughout the Mideast. The institution’s Director, Ammar Abdulhamid, explains that one of the ultimate objectives is for individuals to make greater political strides, becoming more
involved in their governments’ futures, and to personally define what they expect from their fellow countrymen and themselves. This Maryland-based non-profit acts as the mechanism to help thousands of Muslims highlight cross-culture commonalities and set aside divergent ideologies. In operation since 2001, the Tharwa Foundation has outlined a number of exciting proposals, such as the Tharwa Institute for Leadership and Tharwa Radio & TV, to launch its business capabilities to the next level. Learn more about the foundation and how you can become part of its ever-growing movement in this week’s Non-Profit Spotlight.
University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, BS in History, 1992
Work Experience
Tharwa Foundation
Director
2005-present
The Saban Center for Middle East Policy
The Brookings Institution
Non-Resident fellow
2005-present
Ethnicity
Arab
About the non-profit
The Tharwa Foundation is an independent non-partisan institution that seeks to shed light on the concerns and aspirations of the various communal groups inhabiting the Muslim World, to improve communal ties, and create more awareness in the region and the world regarding diversity issues as part and parcel of ongoing efforts at modernization and democratization.
These are indeed highly ambitious goals, and the founders and team members of Tharwa are quite aware of that. As such, they are under no illusions that their work will proceed smoothly or that the desired goals will be achieved in their lifetimes. But, such is the nature of our current challenges in the region that ignoring such issues is no longer tenable, and tackling them can only be effective when people are reconciled to the necessity of taking one small step at a time, and having the patience to see our efforts through. This commitment is exactly what unites the Tharwa Team all through the region and the world.
The Tharwa Foundation comes as a culmination of efforts launched in mid-2001 under the name of the Tharwa Project in Damascus, Syria. The Project went regional, as planned, in January 2003. Indeed, the regional dimension of the Project is part of the message of Tharwa, namely that the region needs to see itself again as a commonwealth of nations, and ethnic and religious groups. This, we believe, captures the true and historic essence of the region.
For all its ethnic diversity, the region, to which many refer alternatively as the Middle East, the Greater Middle East, and the Muslim World, among other inaccurate appellations, and to which we shall refer here as the Tharwa Commonwealth (an entity still in search of itself), has many common intrinsic problems that could lead most of its states to the brink of political and social disintegration and implosion at one point or another in the not-so-distant future, an event that will have serious reverberations and repercussions throughout the world.
These long-neglected problems within states, between states and between the region and the rest of the world are slowly but surely coming back to haunt its peoples, with the more prosperous states in the region being no less susceptible to their impact than the poorer ones. States outside the region may pay an equally heavy price, as their interests are threatened and their continued dabbling in the region gradually becomes more overt, problematic and, not simply unavoidable, but also addictive.
Blaming others for this state of affairs and/or for taking advantage of it to pursue their interests at our expense is pointless and somewhat hypocritical, as we are often unwilling to accept blame for what has been done in our name in the past in the pursuit of our perceived interests at the time. We are equally unwilling to accept blame for what we tend to do to each other, which is often even more heinous than what is being done to us by “outsiders.”
Indeed, it is not the responsibility of others to empower us, nor should we expect them not take advantage of our current situation in their pursuit of the interests, boisterousness to the contrary notwithstanding. States seldom live up to the dictates of morality and ethics, and peoples have always taken advantage of each other’s weaknesses, troubles and divisions in their struggle to empower themselves and satisfy their needs, no matter how base or selfish, justifying their actions on the basis of all sorts of ideologies and pretexts.
For this reason, our efforts are better spent on trying to empower ourselves through tackling our basic developmental problems, because, in this day and age, empowerment is all about development, which is primarily premised on education.
Managing this situation requires an unlikely yet necessary mixture of short-term pragmatism and long-term idealism. The peoples of the region need to be educated and empowered through the gradual introduction of a different revolutionary zeal, one based on strong commitment to humanist values, democratic principles and nonviolence, in order to counterbalance the impact of radical ideologies, justified, for the most part, on religious bases, and to help bridge the trust and awareness gaps separating the region’s civil leaders and rights and democracy advocates from the grassroots.
In this, the Tharwa Philosophy should not be introduced as some sort of a new ideology, even if dressed in a liberal garb. Rather, the Tharwa Philosophy should represent a new frame of mind characterized by openness to difference and the need for constant revision of our goals and stands in a continuous attempt at reworking our priorities in accordance with the spirit of pragmatism and without losing sight of our declared principles, ideals and stated goals. Indeed, we need to constantly challenge ourselves as well as our peoples into changing their/our ways, mores and values.
Moreover, we have to approach our struggle in the spirit of hope, love and magnanimity. Hate will not facilitate our integration into the fabric of modern civilization. On the contrary, it will render it impossible. The cause of integration requires a higher sense of appreciation of the benefits of modern civilization, and a stronger commitment to its ethical foundations, even if we feel victimized at times by the very peoples, powers and states that claim to be the founders and early adherents of these principles. In fact, our resilience should be amply demonstrated during such times to show that our commitment to these ideals is true, strong and deep, not merely tactical.
In our struggle to empower ourselves, we need to become the moral leaders with influence not only in our part of the world, but all over the world. This is the only way we can be credible. This is the only way we can be effective. This is the only way for us to succeed.
What are your day-to-day responsibilities?
Managing such an institute as the Tharwa Foundation, at this particular stage in time, as we move towards establishing a US presence and as we plan to upgrade our sites and further expand the scope and institutional nature of our work is quite challenging, and sometimes I do feel that I am not really well-suited to the task. I am much more suited to be a novelist and a poet than a civil society leader, activism is something I stumbled upon as I tried to live up to my words, I guess, but I never envisioned that it would take me so far.
Administrative work and communicating with people as a team leader are quite daunting, and had I not been blessed with a very supportive wife and very talented and understanding team leaders. Tharwa would have remained just a dream, or an afterthought.
Nowadays, I spend a lot of time responding to emails, writing proposals to fund Tharwa’s activities for 2008 and beyond, work on finalizing our training modules for regional activist for 2007, and finalizing the curriculum for the launch year of the Tharwa Leadership Institute, in collaboration with a very talented team members, academic advisors and international activists. This in addition to giving lectures around the nation, taking part in various conferences, writing op-eds, and giving interviews.
Most notable milestones
June 2001, planning for Tharwa Project begins.
March 2003, Tharwa is officially launched in Damascus, with the support of a wider regional and international network.
September 2005, Tharwa Director told to leave country due to increasing activities of Tharwa (communal relations is a very sensitive topic in Syria and the region). Tharwa is forced to close its offices in Damascus. But Tharwa Team in Syria still maintains an active presence in the country.
November 2005, Tharwa Foundation establishes an official presence in Lebanon.
December 2006, Tharwa Foundation files for a 501c(3) status in Washington, D.C.
What’s the niche?
Tharwa’s uniqueness lies in its insistence on working directly on one of the region’s most sensitive and taboo issues: communal and diversity politics. Even when it focuses on issues related to youth activism, women’s rights and environmental activism, Tharwa always opts for a multi-communal approach so as help the region’s various communities shatter stereotypes and fears and establish bridges of trust by working together on a variety of issues of mutual benefit.
What’s the biggest challenge?
Reaching out to a wider grassroots audience with the limited means that we currently have under our disposal. Our message is both important and timely, and need to be heard as widely as possible.
What’s in store for the future?
The Tharwa Community will be drastically redesigned and upgraded by the end of February.
An online portal for the Tharwa Institute for Leadership will be launched in April.
The seeds for Tharwa Radio and TV are being planted for 2008.
Who would you like to be contacted by?
Tharwa is always on the look for interns and volunteers for our DC office and to support our regional teams and chapters. We would like to encourage people to visit our new Tharwa Community site by the end of February, to sign our Tharwa Manifesto and become active members of various types in our little but growing community.
But, the most important thing of all is to keep on reaching out to people from all different walk of life, no mater ho difficult and strenuous this happens to be. After all, non-profit work is first and foremost about people.
Guiding principle in life
Difference is Wealth. Small Steps Count.
Yardstick of success
The number of Tharwa Community Members by the end of 2007, and the volume of visitors to our various sites, commenters on our blogs and activists applying for enrollment in the Tharwa Institute.
Goal yet to be achieved
A team of volunteers and supporters in every major city all through the region, and on many campuses an in many major cities all through the world.
Best practical advice
Be patient and, no matter how lofty the goals and ideals are, how interesting the ground work can be, and how dull and tedious administrative tasks look by comparison, don’t neglect the administrative stuff, it will come back to haunt you sooner than you think and, if not properly handled, could threaten to undermine all that has been achieved.
Supportive words from a family member or friend on your venture
“No matter how frustrating, annoying and infuriating it gets sometimes, and at the sure risk of you taking more advantage of it, you know I’ll always be there for you.” Khawla Yusuf (my wife).
Mentors
My Dad who taught patience, my Mom who taught ambition, and life itself who continues to teach me how I have to manage both.
What motivated you to get started?
The same thing that prevents me from ending it: a deep sense of folly and destiny.
Like best about what you do?
The daydreams.
Like least about what you do?
The administrative work.
“Beware people with messianic tendencies, especially when they are sincere and nice.”
At age 10, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A Sailor.
What was your first job?
A worm-counter (I got a job at the University counting the number of various worms and other creatures in mud samples collected by a PhD student of biology).
Biggest pastime outside of work
Blogging.
Leader in business most interested in meeting
George Soros, because I admire the combination of smart business sense and commitment to active philanthropic activities.
Three interesting facts about yourself
1. I was a fundamentalist Muslim Preacher between 1988-90.
2. I am a published novelist and poet who writes in English.
3. Since my exile in 2005, I have become quite active in the Syrian opposition circles. My political activities often get confused with my Tharwa activities, which complicates things even further.
Three characteristics that describe you
1. Self-engrossed.
2. Dutiful.
3. Easygoing.
Three greatest passions
1. Saving the world.
2. Saving me from me and the world.
3. Saving the world from me.
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