Community Grantees
MS Taman Foundation Press Release 2024
This past year, 2024, we at the Mahmoud S Taman Foundation have been proud to witness the resilience of our communities around the world and here in Northern Wisconsin who have continued to uplift their community by providing support and direct aid despite the ongoing worldwide humanitarian crisis and era of political uncertainty. These grassroots organizations, non-profits, and individual dedicated community members have changed the lives of many through their hard work throughout the year by continuing their efforts with the support of the Taman Foundation, utilizing grants funding through our Community Grants Program. Thousands in funding was granted this year alone to several different organizations and initiatives locally, nationally, and internationally who have mobilized their communities, organized, and created impactful change.
Since the conception of the Taman Foundation in 2011 by Dr. Taman, over $135,000 has been distributed in grants, scholarships, and financial support to initiatives around the world working tirelessly to improve the lives of others and provide assistance to those in need of additional support. The Foundation honors the legacy of Dr. Mahmoud Shawky Taman - a community leader and psychiatrist who lived and served in the Chippewa Valley in Northwestern Wisconsin for 44 years. The Foundation's purpose is to advance missions and projects which strive to better their communities by providing support in areas such as youth education and the arts, mutual aid, food and water insecurity, multicultural and interfaith events and efforts, and international medical aid.
The grantees this year are making tremendous changes in their communities and are driven by small but powerful teams supported often through volunteering, grassroots networks, and mutual aid. Across the world we saw individual community members such as Ms. Amal Al Iraqi take initiative to provide support to her community in Egypt which utilized grant funding from the Taman Foundation for textbooks and tuition support for students pursuing Islamic Studies under Al Azhar University. These students are advocated for by Ms. Al Iraqi who also directed grant funds into the community as food donations for families and provided inaccessible medical supplies and equipment necessary for members of the community seeking safe and proper healthcare. Every year the Taman Foundation focuses grant efforts into individuals and organizations that are working tirelessly to end food and water insecurity around the world. In Wisconsin, long-time grantee Agnes’ Table at the Legacy Community Center used grant funds to support their operations providing free meals to the community and families in need of additional support. These grantees have proven their dedicated efforts to providing needed resources to their communities at home and abroad through vital mutual aid efforts.
In arts education grants this past year, the Foundation was thrilled to support first-time grantee Georgia State Student Film Festival at GSU in Atlanta, GA, a student-led local film festival that showcases Georgia State students work in emerging media productions. Four students received recognition at the Festival for their short films and the Foundation helped to provide award funding for student film festival winners. Congratulations to the winners and those students whose films were selected for the final program screening! Here in Northern Wisconsin, another first-time grantee, The Pablo Center at the Confluence in Eau Claire used grant funding to expand their theater arts programming as part of an effort to ensure diverse artistic voices are showcased within our local community. Grants were applied to supporting the participating artists in the Improbable Fiction series which helps amplify the work being done by emerging artists within the theatre arts community.
In 2025, the Taman Foundation intends to continue to provide financial support for community organizations, projects, and initiatives through funding of grants up to $1000. Our grant recipients this year are a testament of the kindness and passion for transformative change that exists in the hearts of our community members here in Wisconsin and around the world. Advocates and pioneers of justice are needed now more than ever and it is our goal to carry out the legacy of Dr. Taman through grant funding supporting direct action within our communities.
Apply for our Community Grants Program here mstamanfoundation.org/community-grants
For more information please contact us at mstamanfoundation@gmail.com
Our Impact Around the World
The Sydyk Alaichi Uulu Public School #87 in rural Kyrgyzstan received a community grant from the Mahmoud S Taman Foundation and was able to purchase one-hundred Kyrgyz to English dictionaries, twenty English grammar supplements, and twenty English - Kyrgyz - Russian phrasebooks.
This project is facilitated by Noah Bratcher who served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Kyrgyzstan from July 2019 to March 2020, when all Peace Corps volunteers worldwide were evacuated back to the United States due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Since then, he has worked for the Uyghur American Association, helping to spread awareness of the oppression of the Uyghur people in China. He plans to return to Peace Corps service in Kyrgyzstan in the summer of 2021 when Peace Corps hopes to resume its global operations.
In the image to the right, Sydyk Alaichi Uulu Public School #87 in Kyrgyz-chek village, Kara-Suu Region, Osh Oblast.
Sydyk Alaichi Uulu Public School is a typical rural village school, with limited resources. Prior to this donation, the school did not possess a single Kyrgyz to English dictionary.
Kyrgyzstan is a majority Muslim, Turkic nation in Central Asia. It was formerly part of the Russian Empire and subsequently the Soviet Union, during which time the Russian language was introduced. In Bishkek, the capital city, Russian is more widely spoken, but in rural areas Kyrgyz language is predominant. After becoming an independent country in 1991, parents in Kyrgyzstan were given a choice as to whether their children study their subjects in Kyrgyz or in Russian. Despite Kyrgyz being the native language, many parents, even in the rural areas, choose Russian as the language of instruction because it is perceived to be a more modern, useful language, providing more employment opportunities. Furthermore, there are very limited resources for learning subjects through the Kyrgyz language medium. The English language is a mandatory subject in Kyrgyzstan, but even those students who opt to learn English through the Kyrgyz language are left using Russian language resources in many cases.
In the image to the left, students at the school show off their new books.
Now the school is likely one of the most well-resourced schools in rural Kyrgyzstan in terms of Kyrgyz to English study materials.
Students who previously were frustrated in their efforts to learn English by the lack of resources can now study effectively and fruitfully. Most importantly, they can feel proud that their own native language is a viable academic language, capable of being used to learn foreign languages without the need to defer to the Russian language.
In the image to the right, The author and manufacturer of the books, Jalalabad State University professor Bakyt Kurmanakunov (right), delivering the resources to the school's director, Altymysh Topchunbaev (left).
The following organizations and community initiatives received funding from the Mahmoud S Taman Foundation to support their efforts.
Eau Claire Area Hmong Mutual Assistance Association
To support the collaboration with JONAH and Welcoming New Neighbors WI to hold the annual River Prairie Multi-Cultural Festival in Eau Claire, WI
PBS Wisconsin Muslim Project
To support their event in Eau Claire featuring local community members and speakers as part of a panel on the growing diversity of Wisconsin communities including the culture and contributions of the Muslim community
Kalpak English Academy
To support their students and teachers based in rural Kyrgyzstan in pursuing youth education, adult continuing education, and English language skills
The Boys and Girls Club of Chippewa Falls
To support their after school childcare program that focuses on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in local youth education
The Sojourner House-Catholic Charities
To support the opening of a homeless shelter in Eau Claire, Wisconsin
Eau Claire Regional Arts Center
To support the annual Chippewa Valley Book Festival over the years
The Medina Clinic, Inc.
To support the free medical clinic in Grandview, Missouri
Midwest Artists Academy
To support scholarships for a transformative pre-college program for high school artists in the summer of 2021
MIZNA Arab Film Festival
To support the annual Arab Film Festival Collaboration
Wisconsin Institute for Peace and Conflict Studies
To support the annual Wisconsin Institute for Peace and Conflict Studies Faculty-Student Conference focused on the interdisciplinary field of peace studies
Circles of Change
To support a family book kit project which aims to provide diverse and inclusive reading material to families in Eau Claire, Wisconsin
Patriarch of Alexandria, Egypt of the Egyptian Orthodox Church
For medical needs of Egyptians during the revolutionary protests of 2011
Arab Medical Union
For medical needs of Egyptians during the revolutionary protests of 2011
Chippewa Falls School District
For trauma-information education for grade school students
Camps A Rising
To support educational and peaceful activities that demand action reducing climate change by distributing requested support gear and supplies to leaders on the front line
The Islamic Society of Northern Wisconsin
To support Sunday School at the Altoona Masjid
Erickson Park Chippewa Falls
To support the addition of handicap accessible ramps, fishing docks, and kayak launch
Eau Claire County Jail
To support the “Stop and Think” group psychotherapy treatment
Ex-Incarcerated People Organizing
To support the staff
Burnt Bridges Back to School Drive
To support a free community event in Southern Virginia providing backpacks and school supplies to families and children in the area
Celine Anderson M. Ed. Arts Educator and Practicing Multi-Media Artist
To support childrens arts education in Richmond, Virginia by providing access to unique tools and resources for art-making to develop creativity in the next generation
The Arab Film and Media Institute
To directly support selected artists in their annual Arab Women’s Showcase featuring Arab women artists from around the world in a multi-media virtual exhibition
Welcoming New Neighbors
To support the resettlement of Afghan refugees in the Northwest Wisconsin area, providing housing, funds, groceries, and community care
JONAH
To support taskforce initiatives over the years for homelessness, immigration, and formerly incarcerated persons
Rokyan High School
To support the establishment and upkeep of a school library with free access to students at Rokyan High School in Afghanistan
Chippewa Valley Post
To support the start-up of an online community publication
The Egypt Conference Inc.
To support the conference on post-revolution Egypt in Washington D.C. in 2011
The African American Holiday Association
To support a documentary on African American Muslim Women directed by Zarina Shakir
Islamisk-Kristent Studiecenter
To fund humanitarian efforts towards providing medical aid to Syrians
The Community Table
For serving meals in a safe, welcoming environment and connecting those in need with existing resources by engaging diverse volunteers in service
Amal Al-lraqi Foundation
For medical treatment, Islamic studies student’s tuition, and charitable assistance, including a food bank, to people in Alexandria, Egypt
Mecklenburg Senior Citizens
For a food bank for seniors, funds go to restocking inventory and adding items to the menu that are in demand in Mecklenburg County, Virginia
RVA Community Fridges
To support the opening of the first community fridge in Virginia which provides access to healthy and fresh groceries for neighbors in need
Hope and Future Society of the Village of Shubra Bas
To fund an adult literacy program in Shebeen ElKoum, Monufia, Egypt
Hunar Ghar Welfare Foundation
To support improving job skills for girls and women in Karachi, Pakistan
Boys and Girls Club of Menomonie
To support the ongoing efforts towards furthering education and afterschool programs for students
Northern Spirit Radio, Eau Claire
To support their mission to promote world healing through radio broadcasts of voices of peace and social justice
Appalachian School of Law
To support student-led organizations
Agnes Table
For providing nutritious meals and hospitality to the community while raising awareness of hunger and food insecurity
Chippewa Valley Writers Guild
To support a program on freedom of religion
