About Iqraa Trust
Iqraa Trust was established in 1994 by Shaikh Saleh Kamel, the founder of the Albaraka Banking Group. The beneficiaries of the trust are charitable, welfare and educational institutions which are engaged in humanitarian activities. Over the years the Trust has facilitated and promoted capacity building within organisations by funding the development of infrastructure, equipment and the acquisition of skills. The Trust has also provided assistance for humanitarian programmes and projects designed to alleviate the effects of poverty. The scope of the Trust’s activities covers the fields of education, healthcare, social-welfare, skills development, training, providing solutions to climate change and disaster relief.
Sheikh Saleh Kamel was a prominent Business Man and a Philanthropist from Saudi Arabia. He was the Founder of many companies in Saudi Arabia and in many other countries around the world. He was also the Founder of the Albaraka Banking Group (ABG) which has a presence in 14 countries. Sheikh Kamel believed strongly in education and human development as an approach to create jobs, therefore he initiated many projects in Saudi Arabia, the Arab world, Africa, Asia and Europe. Sheikh Kamel established many charitable and welfare organisations such as Iqraa Trust in many countries in the Arab world, Africa, Europe and the United States. Sheikh Saleh Kamel passed away in 2020.
The Late Shaikh Saleh Kamel Founder of Iqraa Trust
Dr Mahmoud Youssef Baker is the Co-Founder and first Executive Chairman of Iqraa Trust. He is an Economist, Banker and Philanthropist from Egypt. He is also the Founder of the Iqraa Trust Knowledge Centre and Co-Founder of the Orphans Endowment Fund. He was the Economic Adviser of Sheikh Saleh Kamel, one of the Founding Directors of Albaraka Bank. Dr Baker was one of the academic moderators of banking, finance and governance at Regent Business School and a member of the board of trustees of the Durban University of Technology Foundation.
The First Executive Chairman of Iqraa Trust, Dr. Mahmoud Youssef Baker
Our Mission
Our Mission is to uplift the quality of life for all South Africans from impoverished backgrounds by promoting and supporting humanitarian programmes that are designed to help those who are most in need, to help themselves.
We intend to use the resources that are placed at our disposal to develop and implement solutions that will empower people to obtain knowledge and skills and to contribute positively towards the building of a better society in South Africa irrespective of race, colour or creed.