TavanYab Magazine
Issue 31, Spring and Summer 2009
Ra’ad Charter
The hopes and aspirations of the founders of Ra’ad have been compiled in a text called the Ra’ad Charity Complex Charter. This charter, consisting of a preface and three sections, has always served as a guiding manual for all managers and stakeholders of the Ra’ad Complex, determining the direction of their actions and implementations.
We believe that:
1. The prevalence of disability means that one out of every ten members of society suffers from physical, sensory, or motor impairments, which necessitates efforts to provide special education for these individuals so that they can also enjoy a pleasant and normal life.
2. Collecting donations and providing allowances ultimately turns individuals with physical and motor disabilities into socially disabled persons.
3. Living without reliance on others is a factor of human satisfaction; therefore, people with disabilities, like other members of society, should have access to independent, honorable employment and lawful livelihood opportunities.
We strive to:
1. Provide professional educational and rehabilitation services to the best of our ability to people with disabilities, offering useful, up-to-date, and practical training tailored to their capacities and resources, with the goal of enabling employment.
2. In providing services to people with disabilities, we consider all segments of society, especially remote and underserved areas, and allocate received aid accordingly.
3. We strive to promote a culture of philanthropy.
We expect that:
1. All members involved with Raad are committed to making decisions based on the divine teaching “And consult them in affairs, and when you have decided, then rely upon Allah” (Quran 42:38), meaning that decisions within the institution are made through consultation, discussion, and majority vote.
2. Each individual staff member and manager of the institute and complex considers themselves a trustee of the generous people, and in the use of funds, gifts, facilities, and aid, they observe the condition of trustworthiness and exercise utmost care.
3. They firmly maintain the “non-governmental” and “non-political” nature of the institute and present it as a suitable model for fostering self-reliance.
In the interview with the CEO of Raad, it was emphasized…
Raad’s goal is the development of higher education and cultural–sports activities.
– Please, at the threshold of the twenty-fifth anniversary of Raad Complex’s establishment, provide a brief overview of the complex’s performance throughout its existence.
I’ll start my perspective from the time I joined Raad as a member of the Women’s Group, which was many years before I became the CEO. In my opinion, Raad has been extremely successful in fulfilling the mission it set for itself.
Seventeen years ago, when I first came to Raad, the complex was limited to just one floor. All units, including management and education, were housed on that single floor, and the number of educational programs was restricted to two or three.
However, now the educational space has expanded to over 4,000 square meters, and the number of educational programs has grown significantly.
All of this has been made possible through the support of the public, the board of directors, and the board of trustees — among which public contributions have played the greatest role.
Another sign of Raad’s growth and progress can be seen in the expansion of its branches. We did not limit ourselves to developing just the main center; alongside its progress, other branches have been established, and so far, 10 additional branches have been launched.
– How many trainees are currently enrolled in the training unit?
We currently have between 200 and 220 trainees enrolled. This fluctuation is due to the different terms. Usually, more trainees enroll during the summer terms. However, this number of trainees is not sufficient for us.
– What are the training courses offered?
We have mainly focused on employment-oriented fields for people with disabilities. In this regard, computer courses are extensively offered, starting from the basics and continuing through programming, graphic software, and AutoCAD, totaling 12 courses in this group. Other courses include carpet weaving, painting, sewing, language, accounting, choir, and theater, with accounting taught up to an advanced industrial level. Alongside these, life skills and psychology classes are also provided.
– Where did the idea of establishing the Higher Education Unit originate?
Over the past years, various managers have always strived to bring more trainees here according to the educational space available, but it has been difficult to reach 250 or more trainees. Meanwhile, the board of directors and the board of trustees concluded that this space could be used for a higher level of education. The growth of the center at previous educational levels had reached its maximum, and it was necessary to pursue growth at a higher level. Additionally, higher education could be very beneficial for creating employment opportunities for our trainees. Considering that we had the required educational space, we took steps to establish this unit. Initial approvals for the license of the Applied Science University are underway, and this unit is about to be established. Currently, classes on new energy and psychology are also ongoing. We hope the legal procedures will be completed as soon as possible so the students can begin their activities here. Initially, we planned to admit both disabled and non-disabled students, with non-disabled students paying tuition fees, but apparently, we were not allowed to do so. If we are to admit only disabled students for free, we will need more financial support to cover faculty salaries and other operating costs since higher education requires highly qualified instructors and substantial expenses. We hope to accomplish this soon. Other subjects include new energy, specialized workshops on human ecology, and cycles compatible with nature.
-Please explain about the other development plans of the complex.
One very, very essential area is sports. The participation of trainees in sports here is very limited because it requires space, and we currently do not have such space. More than 10 years ago, hydrotherapy pool plans were prepared by engineers, but due to lack of space and budget, the project was not implemented. Currently, a plot of land adjacent to the complex, apparently owned by the municipality, has been requested from the municipality to be allocated to us for establishing this cultural and sports unit, which is a very necessary step for the health of the trainees. Unfortunately, we have not yet received a response, and we hope to be able to work on this land. The assistance they provide will directly benefit the disabled individuals and will have very positive effects.
What was the purpose of forming working groups in the complex?
The proposal to form working groups was put forward by the honorable chairman of the board, Mr. Engineer Mirzakhani. When he established the Taleghan branch, he utilized working groups, which are quite similar to support groups—meaning these are people who simply want to help Raad. The difference is that their contributions are more intellectual and decision-making oriented. Accordingly, working groups for Public Relations, Finance, Education, Social Work, and Employment were formed.
– How do you evaluate the performance of the working groups?
I cannot say that all of these working groups have been successful. The most successful one has been the Education working group, which holds regular meetings every 15 days. Also, the Public Relations working group is active and supports all programs that require advertising and PR involvement. The Education working group is very successful because all its members are knowledgeable and experienced. Additionally, the community’s Education Manager is part of this group, which ensures good communication; therefore, educational issues are thoroughly reviewed and followed up.
Another successful working group is the Social Work group, managed by one of the women from the Women’s group and the community’s Social Work supervisor. Among the Women’s group members, this group attracts the most interest because they directly and tangibly see the results of their efforts.
What are the sources of the community’s income?
Our main reliance is on public donations, which are given in various ways such as bank transfers to the community’s account or in-person visits to donate. Another source comes from the programs organized by the community’s administrative groups—specifically the women’s and youth volunteer groups. These programs include bazaars, lectures, and concerts authorized by the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance. There is also membership, but so far we have not been successful in properly managing membership fee collection.
– How do you evaluate the performance of the volunteer groups?
The activities of these groups have been very important. Since the beginning, the Women’s Group has been able to hold annual bazaars that, in addition to generating income, have played a significant role in introducing Raad. Also, the Youth Group has become more active in the past two years and, with the programs they have organized, is on track to even surpass the Women’s Group. It is natural that the youth, relying on their energy, gradually take the place of the elders. Overall, I don’t think these groups are underperforming. Many of these women may have people working for them at home, but here, because it is for God, they put their whole heart and soul into it—just like the youth. Some of the young people might not even do chores at home, but here they truly work hard and put in effort. In my opinion, what needs to be done to develop these groups is to recruit more members, which the Youth Group has been much more successful at compared to the Women’s Group.
– How do the staff members of the center operate?
I can say that most of the center’s staff and instructors work as full-time employees, and of course, some also collaborate with us on a voluntary basis. Ms. Parvin works voluntarily in the Life Skills department, and Dr. Lashgari in Accounting also volunteers with us. Additionally, Dr. Rasoulian collaborates voluntarily in the Psychology department, and Ms. Rahmati in the Literary Criticism classes.