WOW Charity · in formation
Water. Orphans. Widows.
WOW Charity is the charity arm of Muslim Ummah: a small group of New Yorkers coming together to bring clean water, lasting support and practical help to people in need in Bangladesh, and to serve our neighbours here at home.
Not yet collecting donations
What we do
Three needs, one simple promise
Each letter of WOW stands for a group of people we want to serve. In every case we give something that lasts.
Water
Clean water for villages in Bangladesh and, in time, elsewhere in Asia, through hand-pumped tube wells installed where they are needed most.
- A single tube well costs about 8,500 taka to install.
- Any member of the community can sponsor a whole well.
- The committee chooses installation sites within each selected district.
≈ $100
sponsors one tube well
Orphans
Steady support for orphanages that already exist, and new orphanages if funding one day allows it.
- We give lasting, income-generating assets rather than cash.
- Goats can be raised and bred, so a gift keeps providing for years.
- Orphanages are chosen by district, through the same fair lottery.
Goats
instead of cash
Widows & needy families
Practical help for widows and families in hardship, in Bangladesh and here at home, drawn from a carefully checked list of people eligible for zakat.
- Each family is identified through trusted local sources.
- Help is matched to need: a sewing machine for one, goats for another.
- Every gift is meant to build an income, not just meet a single day.
1 family
a sewing machine or goats, as needed
How we work
Fair, open and hands-on
A few plain rules keep the work honest and make sure help reaches people directly.
A fair lottery decides where we go
Each year the districts we serve are drawn by lottery, so no one can say a place was favoured. The committee then chooses exact locations within them.
Every district gets its turn
Once a district has been served it leaves the draw. When every district has had a turn, all the names go back in and the cycle begins again.
Goods, never cash
We buy tube wells, goats and sewing machines and hand them over directly. Nothing is given out as cash.
Every distribution is filmed and shared
Executive members deliver the help themselves and record each handover on video. Every video will be published so supporters can see exactly where their gift went.
Run by volunteers
WOW Charity is run by its members in their own time. Members keep up their existing personal giving; this is a way to do more, together.
Our first goal
$10,000 by next Ramadan
Our first target is to raise $10,000 by next Ramadan and share it across 10 districts of Bangladesh, with no more than $1,000 going to any one district.
- Water: 10 tube wells in one district≈ $1,000
- Orphans: 10 goats for an orphanage in another≈ $1,000
- Widows: 10 goats for 10 widows in a third≈ $1,000
We are not collecting money yet. A progress tracker will appear here once donations open.
- District 1$1,000
- District 2$1,000
- District 3$1,000
- District 4$1,000
- District 5$1,000
- District 6$1,000
- District 7$1,000
- District 8$1,000
- District 9$1,000
- District 10$1,000
First-year total$10,000
Why we give
Charity at the heart of faith
Giving is woven through Islamic teaching. These are the ideas that move us most.
مَّثَلُ ٱلَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ أَمْوَٰلَهُمْ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ كَمَثَلِ حَبَّةٍ أَنۢبَتَتْ سَبْعَ سَنَابِلَ فِى كُلِّ سُنۢبُلَةٍۢ مِّا۟ئَةُ حَبَّةٍۢ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ يُضَٰعِفُ لِمَن يَشَآءُ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ وَٰسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ
“The likeness of those who spend their wealth in Allah's way is as the likeness of a grain which groweth seven ears, in every ear a hundred grains. Allah giveth increase manifold to whom He will. Allah is All-Embracing, All-Knowing.”
A charity that keeps on giving
The Prophet is reported to have taught that when a person dies their deeds come to an end, except for three: a continuing charity, knowledge that benefits others, and a righteous child who prays for them. A well that serves a village for years is a clear example of that continuing charity, known as sadaqah jariyah.
Reported in Sahih Muslim
Giving water
When asked which charity is best, the Prophet is reported to have pointed to giving people water to drink. Water is the simplest of needs and one of the most rewarding to meet.
Reported in Musnad Ahmad and other collections
Caring for orphans and widows
The Prophet is reported to have said that the one who looks after an orphan will be close to him in Paradise, and that whoever works on behalf of widows and the poor is like one who strives in the way of God.
Reported in Sahih al-Bukhari
Membership
Two ways to be part of it
Membership is how WOW Charity is run. Contributions will begin once the charity can accept them; for now, tell us you would like to join.
Executive member
A small core group of 10 to 20 people who carry the work forward.
$100 – $1,000per year
- Take part in the yearly district lottery and planning
- Deliver distributions in person and record them on video
- Help decide where else in Asia we might serve
Regular member
For anyone who wants to stand with the work and help it grow.
$20per year
- Hear how each year's projects are going
- Share ideas and feedback at the monthly meeting
- Help find sponsors in your mosque and community
Every member is invited to a one-hour WhatsApp meeting each month to share feedback and ideas.
Once we can accept donations, we will also seek support from mosques, organisations and individuals with halal income.
Here at home
Serving our neighbours in the USA
Charity begins close to home too. Alongside our work in Bangladesh, members will plan local projects together through the year.
Feeding the hungry
Meals and food support for neighbours who are going without.
Welcoming new Muslims
Friendship, guidance and practical help for people who have recently embraced Islam.
Helping people into work
Support for Muslims looking for jobs, from advice to introductions.
Bringing our children in
Involving the next generation, so the work carries on long after us.
Districts in the lottery
All 64 districts of Bangladesh
Every district starts with an equal chance. The first draw has not taken place yet, so each one is still awaiting the lottery.
Barisal Division6 districts
- Barguna বরগুনাAwaiting lottery
- Barisal বরিশালAwaiting lottery
- Bhola ভোলাAwaiting lottery
- Jhalokati ঝালকাঠিAwaiting lottery
- Patuakhali পটুয়াখালীAwaiting lottery
- Pirojpur পিরোজপুরAwaiting lottery
Chittagong Division11 districts
- Bandarban বান্দরবানAwaiting lottery
- Brahmanbaria ব্রাহ্মণবাড়িয়াAwaiting lottery
- Chandpur চাঁদপুরAwaiting lottery
- Chittagong চট্টগ্রামAwaiting lottery
- Comilla কুমিল্লাAwaiting lottery
- Cox's Bazar কক্সবাজারAwaiting lottery
- Feni ফেনীAwaiting lottery
- Khagrachhari খাগড়াছড়িAwaiting lottery
- Lakshmipur লক্ষ্মীপুরAwaiting lottery
- Noakhali নোয়াখালীAwaiting lottery
- Rangamati রাঙ্গামাটিAwaiting lottery
Dhaka Division13 districts
- Dhaka ঢাকাAwaiting lottery
- Faridpur ফরিদপুরAwaiting lottery
- Gazipur গাজীপুরAwaiting lottery
- Gopalganj গোপালগঞ্জAwaiting lottery
- Kishoreganj কিশোরগঞ্জAwaiting lottery
- Madaripur মাদারীপুরAwaiting lottery
- Manikganj মানিকগঞ্জAwaiting lottery
- Munshiganj মুন্সিগঞ্জAwaiting lottery
- Narayanganj নারায়ণগঞ্জAwaiting lottery
- Narsingdi নরসিংদীAwaiting lottery
- Rajbari রাজবাড়ীAwaiting lottery
- Shariatpur শরীয়তপুরAwaiting lottery
- Tangail টাঙ্গাইলAwaiting lottery
Khulna Division10 districts
- Bagerhat বাগেরহাটAwaiting lottery
- Chuadanga চুয়াডাঙ্গাAwaiting lottery
- Jessore যশোরAwaiting lottery
- Jhenaidah ঝিনাইদহAwaiting lottery
- Khulna খুলনাAwaiting lottery
- Kushtia কুষ্টিয়াAwaiting lottery
- Magura মাগুরাAwaiting lottery
- Meherpur মেহেরপুরAwaiting lottery
- Narail নড়াইলAwaiting lottery
- Satkhira সাতক্ষীরাAwaiting lottery
Mymensingh Division4 districts
- Jamalpur জামালপুরAwaiting lottery
- Mymensingh ময়মনসিংহAwaiting lottery
- Netrokona নেত্রকোণাAwaiting lottery
- Sherpur শেরপুরAwaiting lottery
Rajshahi Division8 districts
- Bogra বগুড়াAwaiting lottery
- Chapainawabganj চাঁপাইনবাবগঞ্জAwaiting lottery
- Joypurhat জয়পুরহাটAwaiting lottery
- Naogaon নওগাঁAwaiting lottery
- Natore নাটোরAwaiting lottery
- Pabna পাবনাAwaiting lottery
- Rajshahi রাজশাহীAwaiting lottery
- Sirajganj সিরাজগঞ্জAwaiting lottery
Rangpur Division8 districts
- Dinajpur দিনাজপুরAwaiting lottery
- Gaibandha গাইবান্ধাAwaiting lottery
- Kurigram কুড়িগ্রামAwaiting lottery
- Lalmonirhat লালমনিরহাটAwaiting lottery
- Nilphamari নীলফামারীAwaiting lottery
- Panchagarh পঞ্চগড়Awaiting lottery
- Rangpur রংপুরAwaiting lottery
- Thakurgaon ঠাকুরগাঁওAwaiting lottery
Sylhet Division4 districts
- Habiganj হবিগঞ্জAwaiting lottery
- Moulvibazar মৌলভীবাজারAwaiting lottery
- Sunamganj সুনামগঞ্জAwaiting lottery
- Sylhet সিলেটAwaiting lottery
A note on where we stand
WOW Charity is in the process of being registered as a nonprofit. Until that registration is complete, it does not accept money of any kind, and gifts made to it would not be tax-deductible. We will update this page as soon as donations open.
Get involved
Help us build something that lasts
Whether you would like to become a member, sponsor a tube well when we open, or simply share an idea, we would love to hear from you.
Join or pledge interestwowcharityinc@gmail.com