The Heart of Assalam: Why We Are “Conservative Hippies”
When you look at the Assalam Community Foundation (ACF), what do you see? Do you see a sustainable ecovillage in Zanzibar? A place of serious faith and charity? Or maybe a crew that loves art, music, and social good?
If you feel a little confused, you are not alone. For years, we struggled with the “tanımlanamazlık belası” (curse of the undefinedı). We are all these things at once, and trying to explain that complexity often left people scratching their heads.
The Struggle to Stand Tall
The truth is, like many strong women we know, ACF often has to project an image of perfect control: “No panic, everything is under control,” we tell our teams. But building this model 7,000 kilometers from home is hard, and sometimes we don’t sleep at night.
We face criticism from every side: some accuse us of simply enjoying an ocean-view campus, while others question our faith because we integrate art and entrepreneurship. We are sometimes overwhelmed by the financial weight of our dreams—in fact, we recently had to let go of 20 employees just to meet payroll.
“Bir model kurmak ne kadar da zormuş.”
But then, a moment of clarity came. A Turkish official in Tanzania stopped us mid-explanation and said: “Size muhafazakâr hippi diyebilir miyim?” (“Can I call you a Conservative Hippie?”).
Yes, you can. It was the perfect description for the tree we are struggling to become.
Our Secret: Produce, Share, Regenerate
We realized our model isn’t based on Western, linear economics (“Take, Make, Dispose”). It is based on something older, something deeply rooted in faith and community: the Circular Economy.
Our promise is simple, built on three acts of love:
1. Üret (Produce): We Create Our Own Strength
We are tired of the old charity model where aid ends when the money runs out. Our focus is on impact, not profit. Our mission is to help people become producers, not just recipients.
“Kâr değil, etki odaklıyız!”
- Our Impact: This isn’t just theory. Thanks to our social enterprises like KangaAfrika, over 300 women have started their own sustainable businesses. When we help one woman, she often cares for five other people. That means our impact reaches 1,500 people every day, providing food, education, and dignity.
- The Difference: We could distribute food to 15,000 people, but that aid would last a few weeks. What we do—helping them stand on their own—lasts a lifetime.
2. Paylaş (Share): We Are Family
Our ecovillage is open to everyone. Our doors are open to volunteers, students, employees, and orphans. When you visit Assalam, you don’t stay alone.
“Buraya gelen herkes bilir ki, burada kimse yalnız kalmaz.”
- The Experience: This isn’t a typical holiday resort. Our rooms are beautiful and air-conditioned, but you come here to produce and share, not just to consume. You share the same table, you cry and laugh together with people you just met. Your experience heals your soul and helps Africa.
3. Yeniden kazan (Regenerate): Helping People Help Themselves
We believe true goodness is helping a person stand back up and find themselves again.
As Tanzania’s founder once said, “You cannot develop people. You can only help people develop themselves.”
“Siz hiç kimseyi kalkındıramazsınız. Sadece insanların kendisini kalkındırmasına yardım edebilirsiniz.”
- Our Children: We have 170 students in our school. We look into each of their eyes and nurture them with such care, knowing that one day, they will be the future of this island, needing help from no one. This is how we regenerate the community.
Embracing Our Identity
Our “Conservative Hippie” identity is simply a modern term for ancient wisdom. The principles of not wasting resources, distributing wealth through Zakat, and using foundations (waqf) for future generations are not new Western trends; they are part of our faith.
We may have forgotten these ways. But until we fully remember them, we will proudly be the ones bringing the world together to produce, share, and regenerate.
“Unutmuşuz, o başka.”
Check the full article here -> Indyturk Article
