PROJECTS

In the decade since Ismail (R.A)’s passing, the Vohra family has witnessed the increasing needs of the Muslim community in the entire Connecticut region, and planned to address these needs for the long-term.

Stratford

An Noor International Foundation purchased 396-400 East Main Street, Stratford, CT (Marges Sandwich Shop) in December 2013 for $300,000.00 to expand parking and masjid area.

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Experience and Expertise

An Noor lent its experience and expertise to the establishment of Al Madany Islamic Center, Norwalk, CT in 2014; the University of New Haven musalla for students of the university in 2015; and Masjid Ahl Sunnah, Windsor Locks, CT in 2019.

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Ansonia

Upon request from Muslim residents living in the Naugatuck Valley region, , An Noor International Foundation purchased existing church located on 95 Bishop Williams Court in Ansonia, CT and established Masjid Samiya (www.masjidsamiya.com) in August of 2017.

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However, there is a pressing need to meet the growing religious, social, and educational needs of the rising number of Muslims in Connecticut and specifically the Fairfield and New Haven Counties. It is integral institutions are established to effectively provide sound Islamic knowledge in order for the future generations of Muslims to thrive and flourish in the American society.

There are currently about 8 to 12 million Muslims in the United States according to the US Census Bureau and this number is projected to increase with new generations of Muslims being born and raised in the United States and an unprecedented number of Americans who are reverting to Islam daily.

An Noor’s Masjid Expansion and President Institute projects are planned to meet this growing need.

MASJID EXPANSION PROJECT

Due to a combination of original design, space utilization, and other factors, the Masajid in Ansonia and Stratford, CT serve mostly as places of communal prayer only. Thus, community efforts beyond daily prayers and Jumu’ah have been limited.

Our goal at An Noor International Foundation, Inc. is to help fulfill the wholistic needs of the community by reviving the core purpose of what is intended by a place of worship. This includes youth and female involvement, traditional Islamic education, programs specifically catered for reverts, and interfaith efforts.

In this regard, we decided to renovate and expand the existing facilities in Stratford and Ansonia.

ANIF has consulted with architects, builders, contractors, electricians, local fire chiefs, health officers, code enforcement officers, and zoning boards to develop the design and framework for the current facilities in Stratford and Ansonia. Our facilities will:

Be an integral part of the community and reflect community pride
Use durable materials requiring ease of maintenance minimizing
Control sources of pollution
Include facilities for worship, education, events, sports and recreation, washing and shrouding the dead etc.
Provide for possible future expansion and additions
Have the minimum impact on the environment

Allow for Broad utilization and Community involvement Use modern technologies
Be energy efficient
Include elements to contain, channel, and minimize the exposure to acts of violence
Be handicap accessible
Allow easy flow of traffic

Information about the Masjid Expansion Project is provided below.

Check out the videos below to learn about our progress and how you can help to support them.

Donate to support this effort

THE PRESIDENT’S INSTITUTE

The President’s Institute Formation Project is planned as a long term, self- sustainable project to meet the religious and educational needs of Muslims in the south-western areas of Connecticut and to contribute to the community’s growth and development.

The President’s Institute will offer the following advantages

Providing an expanded comprehensive, globally oriented curriculum to develop and strengthen the religious knowledge, academic and leadership skills of students
Preparing students to excel in colleges, universities and beyond in this life and in the hereafter
Making Arabic accessible as a second language

Programs specifically catered for reverts
Developing students’ character, ethics and morals through mentorship and exemplary behavior under Islamic guidance in a positive and structured school environment
Noticable youth and female involvement

The project design is beyond a building project. It is to establish an institution of worship and learning, provide an environment in which these can take place and help foster a positive outlook for the community’s future.

It is for the purposes of accomplishing this end-result that the development, planning and implementation process of forming The President’s Institute is divided into phases:

Curriculum Development and Construction

Funding

Conceptualization and Acquisition of Property

Self-sustainability and Continuity

The President’s Institute will be a day school with a population of about 300 students. The Institute will comprise of 2 schools – a middle school (6th to 8th grade) in Stratford, CT and a High School (9th to 12th grade) in Ansonia, CT. Stratford and Ansonia provide strategic and centralized Locations that is easily assessable to families from the two counties and for the Institute to be able to provide Means of Transportation to Students and Families Outside the Immediate Vicinity of the School, Within a 35 Mile Radius. The curriculum of both President’s Institute schools will be coordinated to ensure easy transitioning of students. The school will maintain relationships with local elementary schools, all the masjids in the area, Islamic and other civic and community organizations.

The school will also seek and maintain strategic relationships with local and foreign colleges and universities to help maintain parity with the best global standards and to improve student chances of student placement.